Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump will pursue the "complete denuclearization of North Korea," a White House official stated Tuesday, amid questions over whether Trump's recent reference to the North as a "nuclear power" indicated any policy shift. National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes made the remarks shortly after North Korean state media reported that leader Kim Jong-un visited a nuclear-material production base and a nuclear weapons institute.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Hughes emphasized that President Trump will seek the complete denuclearization of North Korea, similar to his approach during his first term. "President Trump had a good relationship with Kim Jong Un, and his mix of toughness and diplomacy led to the first-ever leader-level commitment to complete denuclearization," Hughes added. This refers to the agreement made during the first summit between Trump and Kim in Singapore in 2018, where both parties agreed to work towards denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and establishing new bilateral relations.
Earlier in the day, another U.S. government official confirmed that there has been no change in the United States' policy towards North Korea. "There has not been any change of policy regarding the DPRK," the official mentioned on condition of anonymity, using the acronym for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Last week, Trump's description of North Korea as a nuclear power raised speculation about a potential shift in U.S. policy. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also referred to North Korea as a nuclear power during his recent confirmation hearing. This language could imply U.S. recognition of Pyongyang's nuclear capabilities, which U.S. officials have generally avoided. However, Hughes' statement aims to dispel such speculation.
The report from North Korea's Korean Central News Agency about Kim Jong-un's visit to nuclear program-related sites might be an attempt to increase leverage ahead of potential talks with the U.S. During a Fox News interview, Trump indicated his intention to reach out to Kim again, describing him as a "smart guy" and "not a religious zealot," suggesting the possibility of future dialogue.
During Trump's first term, he held three meetings with Kim, including the historic summit in Singapore in June 2018, a summit in Hanoi in February 2019, and a meeting in the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom in June 2019. The last working-level nuclear talks between the U.S. and North Korea occurred in Stockholm in October 2019.
Some analysts suggest that Pyongyang's interest in reengagement with Washington may have diminished, as it now relies on Russia for food, fuel, security assurances, and other forms of support following its military support for Russia in the conflict in Ukraine.