The White House stated on Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump remains open to dialogue with North Korea without any preconditions. This comes after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un expressed willingness to talk if the U.S. drops its "hostile" policy during a recent key party congress. Both sides highlighted three historic summits during Trump's first term that stabilized the Korean Peninsula.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stated during a recent key congress of the ruling Workers' Party that Pyongyang has "no reason not to get along with the U.S." if Washington withdraws its hostile policy, adding that the prospects of U.S.-North Korea ties "entirely depend on the U.S. attitude," according to North Korean state media.
In response to a Yonhap News Agency request, a White House official said, "President Trump in his first term held three historic summits with North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un that stabilized the Korean Peninsula." The official added, "U.S. policy on North Korea has not changed. President Trump remains open to talking with Kim Jong-un without any preconditions."
Kim has left the door open for resuming diplomacy with the U.S., amid speculation that Trump could seek talks with him during a visit to China from late next month to early April. The three previous in-person meetings occurred in Singapore in June 2018, Hanoi in February 2019, and the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom in June 2019.
Kim also dismissed South Korea's efforts to engage with the North, dampening hopes for inter-Korean dialogue and cooperation. South Korea's top nuclear envoy, Jeong Yeon-doo, visited Washington this week to discuss policy coordination and met U.S. officials including Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Thomas DiNanno, and Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Michael DeSombre.
"I have confirmed that there is no change in the U.S.' stance that it is open to dialogue with North Korea without preconditions," Jeong told reporters. He added that Seoul, as a "pacemaker," will continue to support Washington-Pyongyang dialogue resumption and seek to reduce inter-Korean tensions and build trust with a long-term perspective.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung pledged during his August summit with Trump that Seoul would act as a "pacemaker" to help Trump as a "peacemaker." A senior Seoul official noted no new developments in U.S.-North working-level engagement. These statements were reported on February 27, 2026.
