North Korea Rejects South Korea’s Peace Talks

 

North Korea has dismissed South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s efforts to ease tensions and rebuild ties. The rejection came from Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who is widely seen as his spokesperson. She stated that North Korea has no interest in any proposals or policies coming from Seoul, calling the peace efforts a "great miscalculation."

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This response was the first from Pyongyang since President Lee took office on June 4, after a snap election followed the removal of his hardline predecessor. Lee had taken several steps to calm the situation on the Korean Peninsula. These included stopping anti-North loudspeaker broadcasts and banning leaflet-filled balloon launches across the border. However, Kim Yo Jong dismissed these as mere reversals of previous hostile acts that should not have happened in the first place.

She made it clear that Pyongyang has no plans to resume dialogue with Seoul, regardless of its policy changes. Her comments were published by North Korea’s official KCNA news agency. Despite the icy rejection, President Lee has emphasized the need to rebuild trust and says he remains committed to peace efforts. South Korea’s Unification Ministry also acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating that the wall of distrust is still very high between the two countries due to past hostile actions.

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Following the strong response from North Korea, South Korea reaffirmed its commitment to dialogue and peaceful engagement. President Lee Jae Myung stressed the importance of rebuilding trust and continuing efforts for reconciliation. The Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean relations, said the North’s harsh words reflect the deep distrust that has built up over recent years.

The new Unification Minister Chung Dong-young indicated plans to advise the president on possibly adjusting joint military drills with the United States. These drills are a longstanding source of tension with North Korea, which views them as preparation for invasion. Despite this, President Lee has made it clear that the alliance with the United States remains central to South Korea’s foreign policy.

Speaking on the anniversary of the Korean War armistice, Lee described the U.S.-South Korea alliance as one sealed in blood and said Seoul would do all it can to strengthen it. This comes as his government also faces pressure in trade talks with Washington to avoid heavy tariffs proposed by President Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, North Korea held a subdued military parade in Pyongyang to mark what it calls Victory Day. Unlike previous years, the event was on a smaller scale with no major weapons displayed. Columns of soldiers marched with portraits of historic leaders, and military jets performed aerial displays. However, state media did not mention whether Kim Jong Un attended.

Despite recent gestures, both sides remain far from renewed dialogue. The Korean War technically never ended with a peace treaty, leaving the peninsula in a state of unresolved conflict for over seventy years.