Trump-Kim Jong Un Ties "Not Bad", US Must Accept New Nuke Reality: North Korea
-North Korea said on Tuesday the United States must accept that reality has changed since the countries' summit meetings in the past, and no future dialogue would end its nuclear programme, state media KCNA reported.
Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un who is believed to speak for his brother, said she conceded that the personal relationship between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump "is not bad."
But if Washington intended to use a personal relationship as a way to end the North's nuclear weapons programme, the effort would only be the subject of "mockery," Kim Yo Jong said in a statement carried by KCNA.
"If the U.S. fails to accept the changed reality and persists in the failed past, the DPRK-U.S. meeting will remain as a 'hope' of the U.S. side," she said. DPRK is short for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
North Korea's capabilities as a nuclear weapons state and the geopolitical environment have radically changed since Kim and Trump held talks three times during the U.S. president's first term, she said.
"Any attempt to deny the position of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state ... will be thoroughly rejected," she said.
Asked about the North Korean statement, a White House official said Trump was still committed to the goal he had for the three summit meetings he held with Kim in his first term.
"The President retains those objectives and remains open to engaging with Leader Kim to achieve a fully denuclearised North Korea," the White House official told Reuters.
At their first meeting in Singapore in 2018, Trump and Kim signed an agreement in principle to make the Korean peninsula free of nuclear weapons. The subsequent summit in Hanoi next year broke down due to a disagreement over removing international sanctions that had been imposed against Pyongyang.
Trump has said he has a "great relationship" with Kim, and the White House has said the president is receptive to the idea of communicating with the reclusive North Korean leader.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
27 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
America's tariff avalanche catches Switzerland unawares
THE FIREWORKS in celebration of the Rütlischwur, the foundational oath of Switzerland on August 1st 1291, had just subsided when Donald Trump announced that Swiss exports to America would soon face tariffs of 39%. It came as a shock to Europe's most stubbornly independent country. After consulting with businesses and holding a crisis meeting on August 4th, the government announced it will make America a more attractive offer. Switzerland had negotiated early and swiftly. The deal it offered 'was not so different from that of the European Union', says a senior Swiss official. It contained similar pledges to invest in America, an overall tariff rate that was lower than the EU's, a few concessions on agriculture and various other offers, such as collaboration in training American manufacturing workers. Switzerland could hardly open the Swiss market any further: the country had already cut tariffs on nearly all industrial goods to zero, and its currency is overvalued by about 50%, according to The Economist's Big Mac index. What sealed Switzerland's fate was its outsize trade surplus with America. The Eidgenossenschaft (oath confederation), as the Swiss call their country, exported goods worth about $48bn more to America in 2024 than it imported. That comes to about 5% of Swiss GDP—too much for the deficit-obsessed American president, who bizarrely thinks this amounts to 'stealing money' from Americans. The country was lucky that he did not take as his baseline early 2025, when Switzerland's trade surplus with America ballooned to a whopping $54bn in the first quarter alone. What sealed Switzerland's fate was its outsize trade surplus with America. The culprit behind that surge was Mr Trump. Upon his inauguration, uncertainty over America's economic policy rose sharply, leading investors to seek safety in one of Switzerland's main exports: gold (see chart). The country is responsible for about a third of global gold refining, and typically exports around $4.5bn-worth of the precious metal to America each year. But in 2024 America imported $12.5bn-worth of gold from the country. Switzerland's role as a refiner can make trade flows look deceptively big. Although its gold exports amounted to $116bn last year, it also imported $100bn-worth of the metal. With some 1,000 workers in total, the industry is not exactly a jobs-booster. America charges no tariffs on gold imports, and Mr Trump is not likely to impose any on his favourite metal. Switzerland's gold exports, along with the watches and jewellery it sells to America (worth $7bn in 2024), may simply have convinced the president the country is rich enough to bear more. Pharmaceuticals are the other Swiss export that aroused the president's ire. The Swiss shipped $35.5bn of these to America last year. 'We want to be making pharmaceuticals in our country,' Jamieson Greer, the US trade representative, said after the tariff announcement. America is also keen to bring down the prices of medicines. Mr Trump sent letters to 17 pharma CEOs, including those of Novartis and Roche, two Swiss companies, to demand prices in line with the lowest in comparable economies. 'I don't think it was a coincidence that we had a tough call with the president 20 minutes after he had sent out his letters to the pharma industry,' says the Swiss official. Luckily for Switzerland, tariffs on drugs will remain at zero until America makes decisions about its global pharma policy. Because of the exemptions for gold and (temporarily) pharma, Switzerland faces an overall effective tariff rate of just 12% for now. But businesses other than gold and pharma must pay the 39% rate, much to their dismay. They might end up as the main victim of Mr Trump's economically misguided focus on bilateral trade balances. Half of Switzerland's overall trade surplus with the world is with America, because its specialties—pharma, gold, luxury items and high-end machinery—fit American demand. Thermoplan, the sole supplier of coffee machines to Starbucks, a coffee chain, is reluctantly considering a partnership with an American firm to lower the tariff burden. 'There is a wide range of responses among businesses. Some say they will just increase prices, others have already lost half of their orders from America,' says Daniel Kalt of UBS, a bank. Switzerland is likely to face a mild recession, should the tariffs stick. Many hope negotiations will bring down the rate. And Switzerland's flexible economy will be able to adjust. The Swiss will also look more eagerly to co-operate with others. The EU's better deal is helpful because Swiss firms are integrated into European supply chains, and the country trades far more with Europe than America. Yet politically, being slighted by America hurts. The country is moving towards a referendum on a permanent package of agreements with the EU, in place of its long-standing patchwork of temporary deals. Eurosceptics who want to reject that proposal will find their case harder to make. 'Their narrative is breaking down now, being alone out there has not paid off,' says Mr Kalt. That was also the central insight of the Rütlischwur more than 700 years ago.
India.com
28 minutes ago
- India.com
Neither F-35 nor Su-57... Why is India not buying 5th Gen fighter jets? Will Pakistan benefit from this?
Neither F-35 nor Su-57... Why is India not buying 5th Gen fighter jets? Will Pakistan benefit from this? India's ambition to acquire fifth generation fighter jets is once again in the news, but there are several roadblocks. The indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is expected to be ready by 2035, but by then regional rivals, especially Pakistan and China, would have further strengthened their air power. Recently, India has sought the US's permission to acquire the fifth generation fighter jet.F-35 LightningII, while doubts also remain over Russia's Su-57. On the other hand, Pakistan has increased India's concern by planning to purchase China's J-35A stealth jets. In such a situation, the question arises: when will India have 5th Gen fighter jets, and will it be able to face regional challenges in time? India's ambition to modernise its military power and gain a strategic edge in the air is currently at a crossroads. The country's indigenous fifth generation fighter jet project, the Swadeshi Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), is still at least a decade away. While Donald Trump is pressuring the US to sell the 5th Gen fighter jet F-35, there are also clouds of uncertainty over the Russian Su-57. On the other hand, Pakistan has increased India's concern by planning to purchase China's J-35A stealth jets. In such a situation, a very important question is being raised whether India will have fifth generation fighter aircraft in time? And will Pakistan leave India behind in this race? How much is the need for 5th Gen fighter jets? The strength of the Indian Air Force (IAF) is currently limited to 29 squadrons. The retirement of old MiG-21 aircraft and the delay in the purchase of new jets have further deepened this shortage. At the same time, the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is expected to be ready by 2035. The AMCA program is being developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). This twin-engine stealth jet will be equipped with features like AI-based electronic pilot, supercruise, and internal weapons bay, but the first flight of its prototype is possible only by 2027-28 and it will take more time for full production to begin. Meanwhile, India's neighbours are increasing their air power. China already has J-20 stealth jets, and is testing sixth-generation prototypes like the J-36 and J-50. Pakistan, on the other hand, plans to acquire 40 J-35A stealth jets by 2026-27. This is a serious challenge for India, especially after the recent Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, when tensions between India and Pakistan were at their peak. Why does India not want to buy F-35? Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump had offered India the F-35A Lightning II fighter jet. Trump had described it as the 'world's most high-tech stealth jet' and talked about strengthening India-US defense relations. However, India did not show any special interest in this proposal. According to a Bloomberg report, India has indicated to the US that it does not want to buy the F-35. There are many strategic and political reasons behind this cold attitude. The cost of an F-35 fighter jet is $80 million (more than Rs 700 crore). Then the cost of its maintenance and spare parts is also huge. America has full control over the software and stealth coatings of this jet, which can affect India's strategic autonomy. On the other hand, a large part of India's defense purchases comes from Russia. The US had already excluded Turkey from the F-35 program due to the use of the Russian S-400 defense system. In such a situation, India fears that purchasing the F-35 may affect its strategic relations with Russia. Why should India avoid the Russian Su-57E? Russia, on the other hand, hasSu-57E offerThe deal includes technology transfer and the promise of local production at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). This is attractive to India because the existing infrastructure of the Su-30MKI can be used. But the Su-57's stealth capability is questionable, and in 2018 India decided to exit its co-development program (FGFA) because it did not live up to expectations. In addition, the Russia-Ukraine war and Western sanctions have affected the production of the Su-57. Is it Pakistan's ploy or India's strategy? Pakistan's claim of acquiring J-35A jets is a matter of concern for India. Pakistan, which imports more than 80% of its weapons from China, is now also discussing building KAAN aircraft with Turkey. This increases pressure on India's northern and western borders. Defense experts believe that India needs 5th Gen jets urgently, as waiting for 10 years for AMCA can be risky. The IAF recently made a presentation to the government, recommending the import of 2-3 squadrons (40-60 jets). A committee headed by Defence Secretary RK Singh also highlighted the need for 5th Gen jets to enhance readiness on the northern and western borders. But retired Air Marshal Anil Chopra says neither the F-35 nor the Su-57 are fully suitable for India. He advocated focusing on AMCA and involving the private sector.
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Should India join hands with Russia and China to take on Trump?
Should India join hands with Russia and China to take on Trump? In the face of Trump's bullying over tariffs, the wise course for India is to stay firm. But reviving the Russia-India-China trilateral summit will send a stronger message of defiance
