Kim Yo Jong denies Trump contact — Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has publicly rejected former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent claim that he is in contact with North Korea’s leadership. In a statement released Wednesday night through the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim Yo Jong stated that she is aware of “absolutely no” contact between the two sides, directly contradicting Trump’s assertion of ongoing communications with Pyongyang.

Kim Yo Jong’s statement also dismissed the possibility of renewed engagement with Washington. She made it clear that North Korea does not see any basis for dialogue at this time, and her remarks suggest that Pyongyang remains firm in its stance toward the United States. In her comments, she also downplayed the significance of the United States scaling back its joint military exercises with South Korea, indicating that such actions would not be enough to prompt North Korea to return to talks or make concessions.

The joint military drills between the United States and South Korea have long been a point of contention on the Korean Peninsula. While the United States has at times reduced the scale of these exercises, often with the intention of encouraging diplomatic engagement, North Korea has repeatedly stated that such measures are insufficient. Pyongyang has insisted that broader changes in U.S. policy are necessary before any meaningful dialogue can resume.

Kim Yo Jong’s remarks, delivered through the official state media, are seen as carrying significant weight due to her prominent role and her close relationship with Kim Jong Un. Her public denial of Trump’s claim and her dismissal of the impact of reduced military drills signal that North Korea is maintaining a hard line in its approach to the United States.

The statement from Kim Yo Jong further complicates the prospects for renewed diplomacy between North Korea and the United States. By explicitly rejecting the idea of current contact and downplaying the importance of recent U.S. actions, North Korea appears to be sending a clear message that it remains skeptical of U.S. intentions and is not prepared to re-engage under the present circumstances.