백악관 “트럼프, 김정은과 전제조건 없이 대화 열려”…비핵화는 언급은 피해

The White House confirmed on January 1st that United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are willing to hold talks without any preconditions. However, the idea of complete denuclearization was not directly mentioned. White House officials, when asked if preparations are underway for the upcoming U.S.-North Korea summit, stated that "President Trump has spoken with Kim Jong-un three times in history, and he remains open to dialogue without preconditions with Kim Jong-un."

The White House did not specifically address whether North Korea's goal of complete denuclearization was included in the unchanged policy toward North Korea. President Trump has been evasive in recent answers to questions about North Korea's denuclearization. On December 19th, when asked if the goal of dialogue with Kim Jong-un included denuclearization, Trump said, "I don't want to say that."

The White House has consistently maintained that U.S. policy toward North Korea has not changed and that Trump is willing to talk with Kim Jong-un without preconditions. The White House's attention will be on how the issue of North Korean denuclearization will be expressed in light of the upcoming visit by North Korean Vice Premier to the U.S. in late November.

Meanwhile, the State Department, which is responsible for practical aspects of the North Korea policy, explicitly reaffirmed the "no-negotiable" goal of complete denuclearization. A State Department spokesperson, in response to a request for comment on the Department's position, said, "The President's position is fully clear," and added, "The United States remains committed to North Korea's complete denuclearization."

They further stated, "The United States still has the impression that there is a willingness to engage in dialogue with North Korea without preconditions."