North Korean leader's sister denies talks with 'hostile' US

US President Donald Trump has said that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un responded positively to his proposal to hold talks between the two countries. Trump made the claim publicly, creating the impression that Pyongyang was open to dialogue with Washington.

However, the North Korean leader's sister has pushed back against these claims, stating that no talks with the United States are taking place. She described Washington as a "hostile" country, casting doubt on both the accuracy of Trump's statement and how close the two sides may actually be to any potential dialogue.

Conflicting messages

The episode highlights a clear gap between the official US narrative and Pyongyang's response. While the American president has publicly suggested a diplomatic breakthrough, or at least a hopeful signal from North Korea, a senior figure in Pyongyang's leadership has moved quickly to dispel that impression, stressing that relations between the two countries remain tense and hostile.

It remains unclear whether, or in what form, efforts to restart dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang might continue. The contradictory statements from both sides suggest that any genuine talks, if they happen at all, still have a long way to go.