"North Appears Interested in Dialogue," But Cannot Accept It as Nuclear State

[Anchor]

Regarding Kim Yo-jong's earlier statement, the South Korean government assessed that North Korea appears interested in U.S.-North Korea dialogue. It also made clear that it cannot recognize North Korea as a nuclear-armed state.

Here is a report from reporter Kim Kwan-jin.

[Reporter]

When asked at the National Defense Committee how he evaluates the possibility of the resumption of U.S.-North Korea dialogue and behind-the-scenes contacts, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back responded cautiously, citing intelligence matters, but offered this assessment:

[Ahn Gyu-back / Minister of National Defense : Looking at various statements by Kim Yo-jong, we get the sense that they appear interested. Further detailed analysis on that seems necessary.]

Asked whether U.S. President Trump's remark stating that North Korea has 57 nuclear weapons means recognizing North Korea as a nuclear state and abandoning denuclearization, Minister Ahn said it was inappropriate for South Korea's defense minister to comment, while reaffirming the Seoul government's stance that it cannot officially recognize North Korea as a nuclear-armed nation.

[Sung Il-jong / People Power Party Lawmaker : Do you acknowledge that North Korea possesses nuclear weapons?]

[Ahn Gyu-back / Minister of National Defense : We cannot officially recognize it.]

[Sung Il-jong / People Power Party Lawmaker : Do you view the United States as abandoning denuclearization?]

[Ahn Gyu-back / Minister of National Defense : I do not believe the United States has abandoned denuclearization.]

Addressing concerns that President Trump's sudden instruction to scale back South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises might disrupt the verification of full operational capability for the wartime operational control (OPCON) transfer, Minister Ahn replied that two evaluations, including counter-fire operations, have already been completed during the first part of the ongoing Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise.

Regarding the so-called "border-building construction" that North Korea is carrying out around the Military Demarcation Line, the Ministry of National Defense stated that it is expected to be completed around 2028.

[Kwon Dae-won / Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff : We assess that about 90% of the barren zones along the 250km Military Demarcation Line have been completed, and we evaluate the minefields and barbed wire to be at 30 to 60%.]

The military also reported that new 600mm super-large multiple rocket launchers and tactical missiles—which North Korea claims are capable of carrying tactical nuclear warheads—have been deployed to frontline areas near the armistice line.

(Photo: Yonhap News / Video reporting: Oh Young-chun, Kim Yong-woo / Video editing: Yu Mi-ra)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.