Kim Jong Un Demands US Nuclear Recognition Before Any Bilateral Talks; Diplomacy Stalled

Arms Control Association reported that North Korea continues to demand US recognition of its nuclear-armed status as a precondition for any bilateral engagement, a position Kim Jong Un formalized at the Ninth Party Congress. Kim stated North Korea's nuclear status is "permanently fixed" and dismantlement "can never happen unless the whole world changes." Asia Times warned of a dangerous policy gap as Pyongyang advances ICBM capabilities that can reach North America. The impasse persists as Washington maintains denuclearization-first policy while Kim has conducted three ballistic missile tests in 2026.