North Korea wants to resume nuclear talks with The US, if Donald Trump is re-elected president, and is working on drafting a new negotiation strategy, a senior North Korean diplomat who recently defected to South Korea told Reuters, as quoted by Focus.
Last month, Ri Il Gyu's escape from Cuba made headlines around the world. He is the most senior North Korean diplomat to defect to the South since 2016.
In his first interview with international media, Ri said that North Korea has identified Russia, the United States and Japan as its top foreign policy priorities for this year and beyond.
Strengthening its relationship with Russia, Pyongyang is poised to resume nuclear talks if Trump, who during his previous term engaged in both a fiery industry policy and unprecedented diplomacy with North Korea, wins re-election in November. said Ri.
Pyongyang's diplomats are strategizing for this scenario with the goal of lifting sanctions on its weapons programs, removing its designation as a state sponsor of terrorism and obtaining economic aid, Ri added.
His comments signal a potential reversal in the North's current stance following his recent statements in which he rejected the possibility of dialogue with the US and warned of armed confrontation.