US notes 'with interest' North Korea's recent statement hinting at openness to dialogue

Washington:  A US diplomat said that the United States notes “with interest” a recent statement by the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that apparently signaled Pyongyang’s openness to diplomacy with Washington while rejecting any dialogue on its denuclearisation.

Seth Bailey, acting deputy assistant secretary in the State Department’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, made the remarks during a public event, referring to last week’s statement by Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of the North’s ruling party’s Central Committee.

“We have also seen high-level statements from the DPRK leadership, including recent statements from Kim Yo-jong, which we note with interest,” he said at the event that the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) hosted for the family members of the troops who went missing, mostly during the 1950-53 Korean War. DPRK is short for the North’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

“Both President Trump and Republic of Korea President Lee have shown their commitment to diplomacy and engagement with North Korea,” he added.

Last Tuesday, Kim, the vice department director, said that the personal relationship between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is “not bad” — a rare remark that apparently signaled a degree of Pyongyang’s interest in engagement with the Trump administration, Yonhap news agency reported. (IANS)

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