North Korea says Trump must accept new nuclear reality

North Korea warned on Tuesday that the U.S. must accept new realities and that future talks will not lead to denuclearisation, signalling a hardened stance despite past summits with U.S. President Trump.

Kim Yo Jong, sister of leader Kim Jong Un and a key spokesperson, acknowledged that the personal relationship between Kim and President Donald Trump 'is not bad,' but she dismissed the idea that this rapport could lead to the end of North Korea’s nuclear programme as 'mockery.'

"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, referring to North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

North Korea’s nuclear capabilities and the geopolitical landscape have evolved dramatically since the three summits during Trump’s first term.She said that any attempt to deny North Korea’s status as a nuclear weapons state will be firmly rejected.

State media reported resumed direct flights between Pyongyang and Moscow, reflecting closer North Korea-Russia ties amid North Korea’s military support for Russia’s Ukraine war, which has drawn U.S. criticism.

A White House official said Trump remains committed to denuclearisation and open to talks with Kim.

"The president retains those objectives and remains open to engaging with Leader Kim to achieve a fully de-nuclearised North Korea," the White House official told Reuters.

The 2018 Singapore summit agreed on a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, but later talks in Hanoi failed over sanctions.

Trump has highlighted his good relationship with Kim and willingness to engage.

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