The White House said it remains "open to dialogue without any preconditions" following North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's remarks expressing conditional willingness to improve relations with the United States.
A White House official responded to Seoul Economic Daily's inquiry on the 26th (local time) regarding Chairman Kim's statement, saying "U.S. policy toward North Korea remains unchanged" while expressing openness to talks. The reference to unchanged North Korea policy is interpreted as reaffirming the Trump administration's fundamental principle of pursuing complete denuclearization of North Korea. However, the White House's expression of willingness to engage in dialogue immediately after Chairman Kim's remarks is seen as an attempt to encourage a response from Pyongyang.
The White House official added that "President Trump held three historic summits with Chairman Kim during his first term that stabilized the Korean Peninsula."
In the summary report of the 9th Party Congress released the previous day, Chairman Kim stated that North Korea could have good relations with the United States if Washington recognizes Pyongyang's status as a nuclear state and withdraws its hostile policy toward the North.