Moscow: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's influential sister, Kim Yo-jong, broke her silence to issue a statement on Monday about her country's position regarding a potential summit meeting with Belarus. This marks her first public remarks in approximately two months.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Yo-jong, who serves as the vice department director of the Workers' Party of Korea's Central Committee, addressed a report by Russia's TASS news agency. The report quoted the Belarusian president as suggesting that North Korea and other Asian countries had proposed a high-level meeting to discuss cooperation. Kim clarified that this was not the case, stating, "If I comment on the report of Itar-Tass on the speaking of the Belarusian president that we proposed a top-level meeting to Minsk for a discussion of the issue of cooperation, there is no such thing, at least, as far as I know."

Kim further elaborated on the matter by acknowledging Belarus's interest in establishing a top-level dialogue with North Korea, stating, "I know well that the Belarusian side has been hoping for the top-level contact with the DPRK from at least two years ago." She emphasized the importance of Belarus clarifying its intentions if it wishes to develop a cooperative relationship with North Korea. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, would welcome such a relationship if pursued with "veracity and frankness."

This statement marks Kim's first official comments reported by North Korea's state media since her criticism of South Korean propaganda leaflets on November 26. Her decision to address the issue involving Belarus, a diplomatically less significant topic compared to her usual focus on Seoul, Washington, or Tokyo, suggests the potential importance of a summit involving Kim Jong-un.

North Korea is actively seeking to enhance its relations with Belarus, an Eastern European ally of Russia, following foreign ministers' talks held in July of the previous year. During a regular press briefing, Koo Byoung-sam, spokesperson for South Korea's unification ministry, highlighted the importance of monitoring the development of bilateral relations between North Korea and Belarus.

"We once again sternly emphasize that Belarus and North Korea must adhere to the United Nations Security Council's sanctions resolutions against North Korea when engaging in bilateral relations," Koo stated.