North Korea open to another summit with South

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister said the country is open to another summit with South Korea.

Kim Yo Jong said Saturday that North Korea would participate in a summit as long as respect between the countries could be maintained, state news agency KCNA reported, according to Reuters.

“I believe only when fairness and mutual respect can be maintained smooth communication between the North and the South can take place,” Kim Yo Jong said.

“Issues such as meaningful and timely declaration of an end to the war, reopening the joint liaison office and a summit meeting between the North and South can be resolved in the near future through constructive discussion,” she added.

The comments come after South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday to the United Nations that he wanted a formal end to the Korean War. Although fighting ended in 1953 and an armistice was called, there was never a formal treaty ending the war.

North Korea Vice Foreign Minister Ri Thae Song said after the comments that North Korea would not consider an end to the Korean War until the U.S. stops its “hostile policy” toward the country.

Kim Yo Jong noted the conversation and South Korea’s desire for peace between the countries.

“I felt that the atmosphere of hope to restore strained inter-Korean relations and achieve peaceful stability seems irrepressibly intense in South Korea,” she said. “We are no different in wishing for the same.”

Jong’s tone seems to have changed from earlier in the month when she threatened the “complete destruction” of North and South Korea’s relationship. 

“If the president joins in the slander and detraction [against us], this will be followed by counter actions, and the North-South relations will be pushed toward a complete destruction,” she said after South Korea condemned a missile test North Korea conducted. “We do not want that.”