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North Korea Gives Mixed Messages on Talks with US

William Gallo

   SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - North Korea on Tuesday downplayed the possibility
   of talks with the United States, several days after its leader Kim Jong
   Un hinted at the possibility of dialogue.

   KimYoJong, the influential sister of the North Korean leader, saidin a
   statement thattheUnitedStatesappears to have the "wrong" expectation
   about her brother's recent comments.

   "It seems that the U.S. may interpret the situation in such a way as to
   seek comfort for itself. The expectation, which they chose toharbourthe
   wrong way, would plunge them into a greater disappointment," she said
   in the statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency.

   At a ruling party meeting last week in Pyongyang, Kim Jong Un said his
   country must be prepared for both "dialogue and confrontation."

   White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Sunday
   toldtheABCtelevision network news programThis Weekthat Kim's comments
   were an "interesting signal"but that he wanted clearer signs from
   Pyongyang. He also reiterated that Washington wants to resume direct
   negotiations on North Korea's nuclear program.

     On ABC, [1]@JakeSullivan46 says Kim Jong Un's declaration that he is
     ready for both dialogue and confrontation is an "interesting
     signal." [2]pic.twitter.com/AaqOk1Rvlx
     -- William Gallo (@GalloVOA) [3]June 20, 2021

   The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden completed its North
   Korea policy review last month, saying it was open to talks but
   insistent that North Korea must give up its nuclear weapons.

   During avisitthis week to Seoul, Sung Kim, the U.S. envoy for North
   Korea, said he hopes North Korea will positively respond to meet
   "anytime, anywhere without preconditions."

   The U.S. envoy is meeting this week with his South Korean and Japanese
   counterparts,toportraya unified stance on the North Korean issue.

   Despite the flurry of diplomatic activity, KimYoJong's statement
   suggests there has been little progress on resuming talks, some
   analysts say.

   "We've been waiting for follow up signals from Pyongyang after Kim Jong
   Un's recent remarks to help clarify his meaning. KimYoJong's statement
   starts to do that. While shedoesn'tfully shut out the idea that
   diplomacy can resume, sheappears to suggestit'snot likely for now,"
   saidJenny Town, a Korea specialist at the Washington-based Stimson
   Center.

   North Korea has boycotted talks with the UnitedStatessince 2019. At a
   summit with Kim Jong Un in February of that year, former U.S. President
   Donald Trump rejected an offer in whichPyongyangwould dismantle a key
   nuclear complex in exchange forWashingtonlifting most sanctions.

   Since then, the coronavirus pandemic has upended the equation. North
   Korea went into a severe lockdown in January 2020, cutting offalmost
   allcontact with the outside world and even restraining trade with its
   economic lifeline, China.

   "Paranoid about the pandemic, North Korea has severely limited outside
   contact for a year and a half. It has been eking out national
   'self-reliance' with discreet support from China, but border closures
   have caused much economic disruption," pointedout Leif-Eric Easley, a
   professor atEwhaUniversity in Seoul.

   At a meetingwithsenior leaders, Kim Jong Un last week formally
   acknowledged his country is facing a "tense" food situation.

   Several foreign media reports, quoting sources inside North Korea,
   suggest massive price spikes and increasing food shortages. However,
   confirmation of such stories is difficult since most foreigners,
   including aid workers and diplomats, have left the country during the
   pandemic.

   "Kim feels the need to address domestic suffering by convening
   high-profile government meetings morefrequentlythan his father and
   grandfather. These meetings are largely political theater to cover up
   failures of economic planning and oppressive social
   control,"Easleysaid.

   North Korea insists to the outside world that it has found no
   coronavirus cases within its borders--an almost impossible assertion
   that has been widely disputed by experts. A major outbreak could be
   devastating for North Korea, an impoverished country that lacks
   adequate health infrastructure and medical supplies.

References

   1. https://twitter.com/JakeSullivan46?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
   2. https://t.co/AaqOk1Rvlx
   3. https://twitter.com/GalloVOA/status/1406741579658784775?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

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