In a recent development, a senior North Korean diplomat who defected to South Korea has indicated that North Korea is planning to reopen nuclear negotiations with the United States if Donald Trump is re-elected.
The defector, Ri Il Gyu, shared these insights in an exclusive interview with Reuters, marking his first interaction with international media since his high-profile escape from Cuba last month.
Ri, who was the highest-ranking North Korean diplomat to defect to South Korea since 2016, revealed that North Korea has prioritized strengthening its foreign relations with Russia, the US, and Japan.
He emphasised that Pyongyang is keen to reopen negotiations with the US under a Trump administration, aiming to lift sanctions on its weapons programs, remove its designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, and secure economic aid.
This approach marks a significant shift from North Korea's recent stance, which included dismissing the possibility of dialogue with the US and warning of potential armed confrontation.
Ri partly blamed the failure of the 2019 summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Trump in Vietnam on Kim's decision to rely on "inexperienced, clueless" military commanders for nuclear diplomacy.
Additionally, Ri suggested that if Trump wins re-election, North Korea's foreign ministry would take a more prominent role in negotiations, making it challenging for Trump to impose conditions without offering concessions.
