Pyongyang: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has indicated his openness to engage in talks with the United States, provided that Washington abandons its demand for North Korea's denuclearization. This statement was made during his speech at a significant parliamentary meeting over the weekend, as reported by the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Monday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Jong-un expressed a favorable recollection of his interactions with former U.S. President Donald Trump and suggested that North Korea is willing to engage in dialogue if the U.S. shifts its focus away from denuclearization. "If the U.S. drops its hollow obsession with denuclearization and wants to pursue peaceful coexistence with North Korea based on the recognition of reality, there is no reason for us not to sit down with the U.S.," Kim stated.

This marks the first occasion where Kim has directly commented on his relationship with Trump, highlighting that their personal ties remain positive. His sister, Kim Yo-jong, had previously described their relationship as "not bad" in July.

The comments come amidst speculation of a potential meeting between Trump and Kim, possibly at the Panmunjom truce village, during Trump's visit to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Trump and Kim had met three times during Trump's first term, but talks stalled following their February 2019 summit in Hanoi.

During the parliamentary meeting, Kim reiterated North Korea's position against relinquishing its nuclear capabilities, emphasizing that their status as a nuclear power is "irreversible" and enshrined in the constitution. He rejected any negotiations that would involve trading denuclearization for sanctions relief.

Kim also addressed inter-Korean relations, rejecting the idea of unification with South Korea and criticizing President Lee Jae Myung's three-stage denuclearization plan as a recycled proposal. Kim described inter-Korean relations as "hostile" and threatened a nuclear attack against South Korea if the North's deterrent capabilities were challenged.

Additionally, Kim highlighted North Korea's achievements in defense, including the construction of new naval destroyers and the development of undisclosed "secret weapons," which he claimed would enhance the country's military capabilities.