North Korea Maintains "Maximum Hardline Response," Says "No Change in U.S. Policy Toward North" Despite Trump’s Overtures for Dialogue

North Korea has declared that it will maintain its stance of "maximum hardline response" despite repeated dialogue messages from U.S. President Donald Trump, insisting that there has been no change in U.S. policy toward North Korea. This is interpreted as a rejection of Trump’s gestures for dialogue in response to Washington’s reaffirmation of the principle of “complete denuclearization.”

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was reported by Korean Central Television to have attended the Victory Day 73rd anniversary commemorative parade at the Pyongyang Gymnasium and Tourism Hall on the evening of the 27th of last month. Photo by Yonhap News.

On the 31st, a spokesperson for North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a message released through the Korean Central News Agency(KCNA), "There is not the slightest change in our policy toward the U.S. which is to respond in the strongest possible terms to America’s unwavering hostile policy."

The spokesperson referred to several issues: the U.S. Department of State’s announcement on the 26th that the United States remains committed to North Korea’s “complete denuclearization” and that there has been no change in policy toward Pyongyang; the “Freedom Edge” multilateral joint military exercise involving South Korea, the United States, and Japan; and growing U.S. criticism over North Korea’s human rights issues.

The spokesperson then argued, "The Trump Administration has reaffirmed its persistent hostile policy toward our country, as demonstrated by the uproar over 'denuclearization,' provocative 'human rights' schemes, and military threats, all gravely infringing on our national sovereignty, political system, and security interests."

The spokesperson further stated, "The increasingly aggressive U.S. nuclear posture, the acceleration of Japan’s remilitarization as part of the U.S.-Japan-South Korea trilateral military cooperation framework, and South Korea’s military buildup have all led to a more unstable security environment in the region, compelling evidence of the situation."

They continued, "The position of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, made permanent by its supreme law, will not be weakened or diluted by the United States’ repeated expressions of 'denuclearization.' An empty obsession with the past cannot in any case hold on to the present reality or suppress the future." This reiterates North Korea’s unwillingness to accept the U.S. approach that sets denuclearization as a precondition for negotiations.

This statement comes as President Trump has repeatedly expressed a willingness to hold talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. On the 19th, Trump emphasized that he maintains a good relationship with Kim and responded positively when asked if he expected to meet Kim within the year. Even while announcing plans to scale back joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises, Trump left open the possibility of resuming dialogue by citing his ties with Kim. He later stated that he hopes to meet Kim within the year.

In contrast, the U.S. administration continues to state that its fundamental principle regarding denuclearization remains unchanged. On the 26th, the U.S. Department of State said that Washington remains committed to the “complete denuclearization” of North Korea, and officials have also confirmed that there has been no change in U.S. policy toward Pyongyang.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.