• Kim Jong-un expresses a desire to meet Trump if denuclearization demands are abandoned.
• South Korean President Lee Jae Myung proposes a realistic path to peace with North Korea.
• UN Secretary-General supports South Korea's initiative for dialogue and cooperation.
• Both nations remain at an impasse over nuclear arsenals and military tensions.
• Kim dismisses engagement with South Korea, emphasizing a focus on relations with the U.S.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has indicated an openness to future talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, provided the U.S. removes its insistence on North Korea's denuclearization. Kim noted that he has “fond memories” of Trump and stated, “If the United States discards its delusional obsession with denuclearisation... there is no reason we cannot meet,” according to SCMP and India Times.

Despite Kim's statement, the leader firmly reiterated that North Korea will never abandon its nuclear arsenal, highlighting the "irreversible" nature of its nuclear status. He expressed skepticism towards any engagement with South Korea, saying he had "no reason to sit down" with the South, according to analyses reported by Channel News Asia and AA.

In a parallel move, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, emphasized his vision for a phased dialogue approach that prioritizes trust-building over immediate denuclearization demands. Lee proposed the "END Initiative" for "Exchange, Normalization, and Denuclearization," which aims to reduce tensions while acknowledging that complete denuclearization might not be achievable in the short term, highlight further developments reported in Reuters and SCMP.

President Lee's proposal aims to break the "vicious cycle of unnecessary military tensions" and to restore inter-Korean trust through sustained dialogue and cooperation. The UN Secretary-General welcomed Lee's approach, describing it as a “wise approach” to move towards cooperation and away from conflict, reports AA and Reuters.

However, analysts remain skeptical about the potential for genuine dialogue given Kim's firm stance on maintaining North Korea's nuclear capabilities and his rejection of any discussions with Seoul as he perceives it as a hostile state, according to SCMP and reports from India Times.