Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Jul 26: Former US President Donald Trump is still open to direct engagement with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in pursuit of a "fully denuclearised" Korean Peninsula, a White House official confirmed, a day after the Trump administration rolled out new measures targeting Pyongyang's illicit financial networks.
The administration on Thursday unveiled a sweeping package aimed at disrupting North Korea’s revenue sources believed to be fuelling its nuclear and missile programs. This included sanctions, a reward offer for information on seven North Korean operatives, and fresh warnings against criminal schemes linked to the regime.
Despite the pressure campaign, a senior official told Yonhap News Agency that Trump remains committed to the objectives set during his presidency: “President Trump, in his first term, held three historic summits with North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un... He retains those objectives and remains open to engaging with Leader Kim to achieve a fully de-nuclearised North Korea.”
The remarks suggest that while sanctions and enforcement remain tools of policy, the door to high-level diplomacy is not closed. The administration clarified that the recent punitive steps do not preclude future negotiations.
Trump’s personal diplomacy with Kim began in 2018 with a groundbreaking summit in Singapore, followed by meetings in Hanoi in 2019 and the Korean Demilitarized Zone. Though those talks ultimately stalled, Trump has continued to express confidence in resolving tensions with Pyongyang.
Last month, he stated he would “get the conflict solved” if there was one, fueling speculation of renewed outreach efforts.
The latest sanctions highlight Washington’s concern over North Korea’s funding tactics, including cryptocurrency theft, deployment of IT workers abroad, counterfeit trafficking, and oil smuggling—activities seen as vital lifelines for its weapons development programs.
While North Korea has not responded to the latest developments, diplomatic observers note that Trump’s emphasis on leader-to-leader engagement could signal a potential shift from hardline enforcement to renewed dialogue, should the opportunity arise.