Kim Jong Un's sister 'unaware' of talks between US, North Korea
The Hill · C · trust 68/100
Comments: by Sarah Davis - 08/19/26 7:35 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Sarah Davis - 08/19/26 7:35 PM ET Comments: Link copied NOW PLAYING Kim Yo Jong, a top adviser and sister of North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, denied knowledge of discussions between the country’s leader and President Trump in a message shared by state media on Wednesday.
Trump told reporters earlier in the day that the country’s leader had responded to his request for a conversation and that the pair would meet later this year amid tensions between the two nations over the U.S. and South Korean militaries’ joint annual training exercises.
“There has been no communication between the leaders of North Korea and the U.S. that we are aware of,” Kim Yo Jong said in a statement translated by South Korean outlet The Chosun Daily .
“I am not aware of it at all, and perhaps it may be the only thing I do not know as regards the foreign policy of our supreme leadership,” she continued, adding that the relationship between the U.S. and North Korean leaders “is still excellent.”
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.
Kim Yo Jong also reupped North Korea’s criticism of Ulchi Freedom Shield as “an expression of open hostility” toward the country, despite Trump’s decision on Sunday to scale back these training exercises following a threat from North Korea.
The U.S. military has been participating in joint military exercises with South Korea for more than 70 years to ensure military readiness in the region. North Korea, which has long viewed these operations as a threat, performed several ballistic missile tests following the announcement of this year’s drill.
Trump’s instruction to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to “substantially reduce” these exercises drew widespread criticism from Democrats and foreign policy experts.
Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly (D), who participated in these annual exercises during his time in the Navy, suggested Trump should “read some history and get his priorities straight” in a social media post .
The former naval officer said these joint drills “help us and our allies like South Korea stay well trained and coordinated.”
“Scaling down those exercises only helps North Korea,” he added.
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