What's happened
As of late September 2025, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reaffirmed his refusal to denuclearize but expressed openness to talks with the US if Washington abandons its denuclearization demand. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung proposed a phased approach prioritizing exchanges and normalization before denuclearization, signaling a shift in Seoul's strategy amid rising regional tensions.
What's behind the headline?
Shifting Dynamics in Korean Peninsula Diplomacy
North Korea's recent diplomatic gestures, including Vice-Foreign Minister Kim Son-gyong's visit to New York, mark a subtle but significant thaw after years of isolation. Kim Jong Un's insistence on retaining nuclear weapons while expressing willingness to meet US leaders if denuclearization demands are dropped reflects Pyongyang's strategic confidence bolstered by its expanded arsenal and alliances with Russia and China.
South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung's "END Initiative"—Exchange, Normalisation, Denuclearisation—signals a pragmatic pivot from the traditional US-led denuclearization-first approach. This sequencing aims to build trust through gradual engagement, potentially opening pathways for dialogue that were previously blocked by rigid preconditions.
The prospect of a Trump-Kim summit during the APEC forum, while uncertain, underscores the complex interplay of personal diplomacy and geopolitical strategy. Trump's past summits with Kim, though ultimately unsuccessful in denuclearization, established a precedent for direct engagement that Pyongyang appears willing to revisit under new terms.
However, skepticism remains high. South Korean and US officials caution that while diplomatic openings exist, fundamental disagreements over denuclearization and security guarantees persist. North Korea's rejection of talks with South Korea and its deepening military ties with Russia complicate regional stability.
Forecast
The evolving diplomatic signals suggest a cautious reopening of dialogue channels, but any substantive progress will require reconciling North Korea's demand for recognition as a nuclear power with US and South Korean security objectives. The coming months, especially around the APEC summit, will be critical in determining whether these tentative steps lead to meaningful negotiations or remain symbolic gestures.
What the papers say
The South China Morning Post highlights Vice-Foreign Minister Kim Son-gyong's New York visit as a positive diplomatic signal, with analyst Doo Jin-ho noting Pyongyang's enhanced strategic status and the possibility of a Trump-Kim summit. The Japan Times reports on trilateral talks between the US, South Korea, and Japan, emphasizing their continued commitment to denuclearization despite opening dialogue channels.
The New Arab and South China Morning Post detail Kim Jong Un's firm stance against denuclearization and dialogue with South Korea, quoting him saying, "We will never give up our nuclear weapons" and expressing "fond memories" of Trump. Analysts cited by these outlets interpret Kim's remarks as a call for recognition of North Korea as a nuclear state before talks.
The Guardian and Al Jazeera provide context on South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's pragmatic approach, with Lee advocating for a freeze on nuclear weapons production as a realistic interim measure. Lee's comments, such as "So long as we do not give up on the long-term goal of denuclearisation, I believe there are clear benefits to having North Korea stop its nuclear and missile development," contrast with Kim's hardline stance.
AP News and The Independent underscore Kim's rejection of dialogue with South Korea, framing it as a key obstacle. Meanwhile, South Korean officials cautiously welcome North Korea's presence on the multilateral stage, with some optimism about potential US-North Korea contact.
Together, these sources paint a nuanced picture of a diplomatic landscape marked by cautious openings, entrenched positions, and strategic posturing ahead of key regional summits.
How we got here
Since the collapse of US-North Korea nuclear talks in 2019, Pyongyang has expanded its nuclear arsenal and aligned more closely with Russia and China. Washington and Seoul have maintained a stance demanding complete denuclearization upfront, while North Korea insists on recognition as a nuclear state before dialogue. South Korea's new leadership advocates a phased, pragmatic approach to ease tensions.
Go deeper
- What is South Korea's new approach to North Korea's nuclear program?
- How has Kim Jong Un's stance on denuclearization changed recently?
- What are the chances of a Trump-Kim summit at the upcoming APEC forum?
Common question
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What’s the latest on North Korea’s nuclear talks and US relations?
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More on these topics
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea.
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Lee Jae-myung is a South Korean politician and attorney who has been serving as Governor of Gyeonggi Province since 2018. Prior to this, he served as Mayor of Seongnam, the tenth largest city in South Korea, from 2010 to 2018.
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Kim Jong-un is a North Korean politician who has been the supreme leader of North Korea since 2011 and chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea since 2012.
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia constituting the northern part of the Korean Peninsula.
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Xi Jinping is a Chinese politician serving as the general secretary of the Communist Party of China, president of the People's Republic of China, and chairman of the Central Military Commission.
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Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, previously holding the position from 1999 until 2008.