In brief
Kim Yo‑jong reiterated the option of dialogue with the United States, insisting it must first safeguard North Korea’s national interests. She criticized U.S. allegations of a $6 billion cryptocurrency theft and warned Washington should not use talks to undermine the regime. A separate Facebook post claimed Kim would only return to talks if the U.S. rewards Russia for a partial nuclear‑capability surrender.
North Korean official Kim Yo‑jong, sister of leader Kim Jong‑un, told reporters on Thursday that dialogue with the United States remains a viable path to peace, but it must serve Pyongyang’s national interests first.
She said, "The only path to peace and reunification is a dialogue," adding that Washington should not leverage the engagement to undermine the regime. The statement followed the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation’s announcement that North Korea was implicated in a $6 billion cryptocurrency theft from Binance.
Kim criticized the FBI’s attribution, calling it a "grave political provocation" and citing U.S. hostility as a “hostile signal” that has compelled the regime to reconsider the true nature of the United States, she warned. She referenced the recent trilateral meeting among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan as evidence of American hostility.
The North Korean official stressed that any diplomatic initiative must protect the country’s sovereignty and national security, and must not jeopardize the political system that has delivered power to Kim Jong‑un and his family.
In an unrelated report, a Free Malaysia Today Facebook post stated that Kim claimed North Korea would only return to talks if the U.S. rewards it for a partial surrender of its nuclear capability. That specific claim appears only in the FMT post and is not reported by Yonhap.
Other outlets – such as Pyongyang Breaking News on Ground News – corroborated the general statement but did not mention the conditional offer or the cryptocurrency accusation. The Korea Times editorial reflected on the broader cyber‑crime context surrounding Kim Yo‑jong’s remarks.
