20 May 2020 11:00

Pyongyang says dialogue with U.S. senseless, at least until after U.S. presidential election - Russian ambassador

MOSCOW. May 20 (Interfax) - Russia assumes that the dialogue between North Korea and the United States has been postponed, at least until after the U.S. presidential election due in November 2020, Russian Ambassador in Pyongyang Alexander Matsegora said in an interview with Interfax.

He referred to the statement made by North Korean Foreign Ministry advisor Kim Kye Gwan in January. The advisor conditioned "the resumption of the Korean-U.S. dialogue on the full acceptance of our terms by Washington." He also said Pyongyang realized that Washington was neither ready nor able to do so.

"This understanding of the situation is the foundation of the new political course, the so-called 'frontal breakthrough', endorsed by the plenary meeting. It implies that the country will concentrate on domestic affairs and will reinstate the so-called 'parallel' variant, which was in effect before 2018 (developing the civil economy while strengthening defense capacities). As for the dialogue with Washington, which they deem to be pointless for now, it seems to have been postponed at least until after the U.S. presidential election. They shall see what happens next," Matsegora said.