Kim Jong-un Is Ready For Discussion And Confrontation, White House: Interesting Signal

The White House awaits direct communication with Pyongyang. (Wikimedia Commons/Matt H. Wade)

JAKARTA - The United States (US) announced on Sunday local time, North Korea's comments last week as an interesting signal, although they are still waiting for their realization.

In his first direct comments about US President Joe Biden's administration, Kim Jong-un last week said he was ready for dialogue and ready for confrontation on Friday last week.

The White House said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's statement regarding the readiness was an interesting signal as Washington awaits direct communications with Pyongyang regarding the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Speaking in an interview with ABC News, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Washington still needed an immediate and clear response from Pyongyang expressing its willingness to engage in talks.

"His comments this week we consider an interesting signal, and we will wait to see if they are followed up with more direct communication to us about the potential path forward", Sullivan said, quoted by Reuters, Juni 21.

"The clearest signal they can send is to say, yes, let's do it. Let's sit down and start negotiations", continued Sullivan.

Kim Jong-un's remarks come two days before the newly appointed US envoy to North Korea, Sung Kim, is due to arrive in South Korea on his first visit since taking up the position last month.

The US State Department said last week that Sung Kim would hold talks with the South Korean and Japanese parties, as well as discussions with other Seoul officials while in Ginseng until June 23.

To note, North Korea slammed the United States and its ally, South Korea, last month, saying Washington's comments on Pyongyang's policies were evidence of a hostile approach that required an appropriate response from the country.