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North Korea

Rodong Sinmun

February 19, 2018¹

"The U.S. has a purpose to end a thaw in inter-Korean ties immediately after the Olympic flame goes out. The U.S. is making noise to resume its military exercises with Seoul right after the Games' closing.”

"Risks of tensions are growing on the Korean Peninsula.”

"Washington's strategic assets and massive troops are coming to the peninsula and its adjacent areas.”

February 17, 2018²

"To say the obvious, we, who have done everything that needs to be done and own everything, are not thirsty for dialogue with the U.S. It is the U.S who will feel anxious as time goes by.”

"One of the major media interests during the Winter Olympics was whether there would be contact or talks between North Korea and the U.S. ... It is only because (President Donald) Trump and his gang made a big fuss and counted their chickens before they even hatched."

"The U.S. should keep in mind that we are fully ready for every move they make, be it sanctions, military options or sly schemes.”.

"(Mike Pence) didn't dare look at our high-level delegation. How could he possibly face our cheerful delegation?"

Spokesperson- Institute for American Studies, Foreign Ministry

February 16, 2018³

"U.S. should demonstrate prudence and self-restraint, bearing in mind that it shall pay a high price for all consequences to follow in case it continues to stick to anti-DPRK plot, groundlessly pointing a finger at the alleged DPRK's 'human rights' issue."

Kim Jong –un

February 12, 2018⁴ 

“After receiving the delegation's report, Kim Jong Un expressed satisfaction over it and said that very impressive were the features of the south side which specially prioritized the visit of the members of the DPRK side who took part in the Winter Olympics including the high-level delegation making their possible and sincere efforts for the formers' convenience and activities and expressed thanks for them.”
“Noting that it is important to continue making good results by further livening up the warm climate of reconciliation and dialogue created by the strong desire and common will of the north and the south with the Winter Olympics as a momentum, he set forth in detail the orientation of the improvement of the north-south relations and gave important instructions to the relevant field to take practical measures for it.”

Rodong Sinmun

February 12, 2018⁵

"The latest trip by the high-level delegation served as an important occasion in improving relations between North and South Korea, and setting up an environment for peace on the Korean Peninsula." 

Kim Yo-jong- Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department, Workers' Party of Korea/ Kim Jong-un’s sister/ Special Envoy

February 10, 2018⁶

Kim Jong-un’s sister and special envoy Kim Yo-jong during her meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in said,

"I wish I can see you in Pyongyang at an early date. If you meet Chairman Kim Jong-un and exchange views on many issues, the North-South relationship may quickly improve as if yesterday would seem a far distant past.”

"I hope the president will put a footprint in history that will be long remembered by the future generation by playing a leading role in opening a new era of unification."

Kim Yong-nam -President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly

February 11, 2018⁷

"It is very happy and impressive to share such precious times. I would go back with a new note of hope of getting together again, because we created an opportunity to meet frequently."

February 10, 2018⁸

"As the Olympics were opened successfully with applause from North and South Korea, we believe that the games will pave the way for the two sides' reconciliation, and stronger inter-Korean ties, and furthermore for Koreans' unity and unification."

Statement- Asia-Pacific Peace Committee

February 10, 2018⁹

"The United States defined our self-defensive nuclear deterrence as a threat to world peace and legalized the modernization of its nuclear arsenals and its preemptive nuclear attack on our republic.”

"(North Korea) will quantitatively and qualitatively strengthen its self-defensive nuclear deterrence in the face of the persistent and vicious nuclear threats and provocations from the U.S.”

USA

Rex Tillerson- Secretary of State

February 18, 2018¹⁰

“We got a common understanding with China is that North Korea represents a serious threat to China as well. And we've been very clear with them that they are going to have an important role to play once we get to the negotiating table.”

“We're not using a carrot to convince them to talk. We're using large sticks. And that is what they need to understand. This pressure campaign is putting-- is having its bite on North Korea, its revenue streams. It's having a bite on its military programs.”

“My job as chief diplomat is to ensure that the North Koreans know we keep our channels open, I'm listening. I'm not sending a lotta messages back 'cause there's nothing to say to them at this point. So I'm listening for you to tell me you're ready to talk.”

Michael Cavey- Spokesman, State Department

February 15, 2018¹¹

"We understand that the Republic of Korea has worked through the appropriate processes to secure an exemption from the U.N. Security Council Sanctions Committee to allow for the North Korean delegation of officials and athletes to participate in these Games.”

"This process is similar to that followed by previous Olympic host countries in the past."

Heather Nauert- Spokesperson, State Department

February 15, 2018¹²

“If the time comes that we believe that North Korea is serious about talking about denuclearization, we will have a conversation with our partners, with our allies, with our allies in the region, about the appropriate next steps. So we’re not there yet.”

Mike Pence- Vice President

February 15, 2018¹³

President Trump "always believes in talking (with North Korea), but talking is not negotiating."

"The United States has viable military options to deal with the threat of nuclear and ballistic missiles from North Korea.”

"We want to exhaust every opportunity to make sure North Korea understands our intentions and the seriousness of the USA and our allies."

"I didn't avoid the dictator's sister. But I did ignore her...I didn't believe it was proper for the USA to give her any attention in that forum."

Heather Nauert- Spokesperson, State Department

February 13, 2018¹⁴

“We remain in close contact with the Republic of Korea. They’re a close ally of ours. We are in lockstep with the Republic of Korea, as we are with Japan on these matters. At some point, we may sit down and talk. It has to be about we are willing to get to the point of nuclear – denuclearization. It’s not at that point just yet.”

“I think part of the conversation is, look, to realize the – to be able to set the agenda for what you’re going to talk about, and that would be denuclearization, you may have to have a preliminary chat about what that discussion would look like.”

“I think we’ve always been clear about our policy of denuclearization, and that has not changed and we hope to be able to get there. And it’s not just our policy, it’s many other countries’ policies as well.”

Spokesperson- National Security Council, White House

February 13,2018¹⁵

"We are not going to make the same mistakes as previous administrations.”

The U.S. is "willing to engage North Korea to emphasize our position that the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is non-negotiable.”

"The maximum pressure campaign will intensify until the North Korean regime denuclearizes."

"We are in close contact with the Republic of Korea about our unified response to North Korea, including the need to maintain maximum pressure to achieve a denuclearized Korean Peninsula.”

"The United States and Republic of Korea will work together through the maximum pressure campaign to ensure that north-south progress is accompanied by advances toward denuclearization."

Rex Tillerson- Secretary of State

February 12, 2018¹⁶

“The Vice President’s comments about potentially having talks and whether it’s the start of a diplomatic process, I think it’s too early to judge. As we’ve said for some time, it’s really up to the North Koreans to decide when they’re ready to engage with us in a sincere way, a meaningful way. They know what has to be on the table for conversations. We’ve said for some time that I think it’s important that we have – we’re going to need to have some discussions that precede any form of negotiation to determine whether the parties are, in fact, ready to engage in something this meaningful, in order for us to then put together the construct of a negotiation. So we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Mike Pence- Vice President

February 12, 2018¹⁷

“The point is, no pressure comes off until they are actually doing something that the alliance believes represents a meaningful step toward denuclearization.”

“So the maximum pressure campaign is going to continue and intensify. But if you want to talk, we’ll talk.”

February 12, 2018¹⁸

"Honored to watch talented American & Korean athletes face off side-by-side with my friend, President Moon.”

"He (President Moon) & I both reaffirmed our commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. S. Korea stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the U.S & our allies."

"I'm grateful for the strong relationship between the U.S & South Korea.”

"We're going to stand solidly with South Korea and with all of our allies to continue to bring the maximum pressure to bear on North Korea."

Jim Mattis- Secretary of Defense

February 11, 2018¹⁹

“It is too early to say if ... using the Olympics in a way to reduce tensions, if that is going to have any traction once the Olympics are over, we can’t say right now.”

“In the midst of all this, he ran a military parade that highlighted his ballistic missiles. That is a very strange time, if in fact he is trying to show a warming.”

“I know that people are watching for a wedge between South Korea, Republic of Korea, in other words, and the United States.  There's no wedge there.  They -- staff -- the military staffs are integrated.”

“Political level in Seoul, there is no -- no wedge that can be driven between us by North Korea.”

Mike Pence- Vice President

February 9, 2018²⁰

“As President Trump has said, the cruel dictatorship of North Korea is little more than a prison state. And as these people and their lives have testified, it is a regime that imprisons, tortures, and impoverishes its citizens.”

February 9, 2018²¹

“There is no daylight between South Korea and the United States.  We don’t want to repeat the mistakes of the past —   President Moon and I reflected on that last night — and that denuclearization has to be the starting point of any change, not the end point of any change.”

February 9, 2018²²

"We're going to make it crystal clear that our military, the Japanese self-defense forces, our allies here in South Korea, all of our allies across the region, are fully prepared to defend our nations and to take what is -- action is necessary to defend our homeland.”

"We're going to continue to put all the pressure to bear economically and diplomatically, while preserving all of our military options to see that that happens."

South Korea

Moon jae-in- President

February 17, 2018²³

When asked about inter-Korean Summit, President Moon said,

“There are many expectations, but I believe they might be a little too anxious.”

"We are waiting for the ongoing dialogue between South Korea and the North to lead to talks between the United States and North Korea and to the denuclearization (of North Korea).”

"The views on the need for dialogue between the U.S. and North Korea are also expanding.”

Cho Myoung-gyon- Unification Minister

February 16, 2018²⁴

"Both the South and the North should be ashamed of the current situation where no reunions of separated families are allowed.”

"A family reunion event should be arranged as soon as possible without any conditions."

"The mood of peace and reconciliation started to be in the offing with the occasion of the PyeongChang Olympics as hopes of spring started to show despite cold wind."

"Seoul will further intensify its defense posture and tighten cooperation with its neighboring countries, including the United States, so as to prevent any concerns among South Koreans."

February 14, 2018²⁵

South Korea on Wednesday approved a plan to use a government fund to support North Korea's participation in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. The Minister said,

"It is aimed at providing financial support for the North Korean delegation's visit to South Korea and for carrying out cultural cooperation projects (between the North and South).”

"The North Korean delegation's participation in various forms is serving as a pretty good opportunity to (achieve) Seoul's goal to hold an Olympics of peace and becoming an important chance for harmony that improves the inter-Korean relationship and opens up the door for peace on the Korean Peninsula.”

"With the dispatch of a high-level delegation, an art troupe and a cheering squad, the Olympics have become a chance for the North to communicate with the international community. This could further pave the way for (inter-Korean) discussion to build and sustain peace on the peninsula."

Official- Presidential Office

February 13, 2018²⁶

"The South and the North are expected to move ahead with what has already been agreed first.”

"There is a high possibility of the two sides holding working-level military talks first and then raising the level (of talks) gradually."

Woo Won-shik -Floor Leader,  Democratic Party

February 13, 2017²⁷

"The frozen hearts of our people toward the North are showing signs of a thaw.”

"The most urgent issue in moving toward full-scale cooperation and exchanges is to hold separated family reunions and military talks."

Kang Kyung-wha- Foreign Minister

February 12, 2018²⁸

"There is a new diplomatic situation waiting for the foreign ministry after the PyeongChang Olympics.”

“We need to muster all the power of our ministry to turn things around and move them forward."

Choo Mi-ae- Leader, Democratic Party (Ruling Party)

February 12, 2018²⁹

"Should an inter-Korean summit take place, it would be a meaningful starting point toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. If an inter-Korean summit is realized, it will be recorded as the biggest achievement of the PyeongChang Olympics.”

"We have to work with greater responsibility as we make preparations and respond carefully to the invitation."

"Although there may be disagreements and concerns at home and abroad, what's clear is that peace stems from dialogue and it's impossible to oppose dialogue if we want peace.”

Chang Je-won- Spokesman, Rep. Chang Je-won (Main Opposition Party)

February 12, 2018³⁰

"We once again warn that a visit by the president to North Korea, unless it is premised on denuclearization, would be nothing more than a congratulatory delegation celebrating (the North's) nuclear development and would amount to an enemy-benefiting act.”

Yoo Seong-min- Leader, Bareun Party (Minor Opposition Party)

February 12, 2018³¹

"What the president has to do is to put the maximum sanctions and pressure on the North and carry out Korea-U.S. military exercises right after the Olympics while persuading the U.S. not to use a military option (against the North).”

"If we're going to have an inter-Korean summit without resolving the North Korean nuclear issue, not doing it would be more helpful to our security."

Moon Jae-in- President

February 11, 2018³²

"The two Koreas should cooperate to make this reconciliatory meeting's charcoal become a torch."

February 10, 2018³³

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un’s sister and special envoy Kim Yo-jong during her meeting with President Moon Jae-in delivered a letter from Kim Jong-un. She delivered Kim Jong-un’s message by inviting President Moon to visit Pyongyang at the "earliest date" possible. In response President Moon said,

"Let us make it happen by creating the necessary conditions in the future."

"An early resumption of dialogue between the United States and the North is needed also for the development of the South-North Korean relationship."

Lee Nak-yon- Prime Minister

February 11, 2018³⁴

"State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un invited President Moon Jae-in to visit the North through a personal letter delivered by special envoy Kim Yo-jong.”

"I hope the right conditions will be created so that the leaders of the South and the North will hold a meeting.”

"The South and the North should make active efforts to create the right conditions. I hope the international community will also provide support."

Statement- Ministry of Unification

February 11, 2018³⁵

"The delegation's visit shows that the North is committed to improving relations with the South and may take drastic measure if necessary.”

"It also created a stepping stone for two Koreas to discuss a wide range of inter-Korean issues, and raised mutual understanding and pending issues hanging over the Korean Peninsula.”

"Meaningful progress in inter-Korean relations is possible should a certain progress in the North's denuclearization process be made.”

Spokesman- Office of the President

February 10, 2018³⁶

"While delivering a letter from Kim Jong-un, chairman of the State Affairs Commission, which stated willingness to improve South-North Korea relations, special envoy Kim Yo-jong orally delivered Chairman Kim Jong-un's invitation (for Moon) to visit the North at a time convenient to him, saying he is willing to meet President Moon Jae-in at the earliest date possible."

China

Geng Shuang- Spokesman, Foreign Ministry

February 13, 2018³⁷

“The core of the Korean Peninsula issue is the DPRK-US contradiction. We hope that the interactions between the DPRK and the ROK can bring about the ones between the DPRK and the US. Only imposing sanctions and pressure cannot resolve the Korean Peninsula issue. Dialogue and negotiation are also indispensable. Timely efforts should be made to turn the pressure of sanctions into the driving force behind the resumption of negotiation. We hope that the DPRK and the US could seize the current window of opportunity, demonstrate goodwill to each other, work for the shared goal and take meaningful steps in a timely and decisive fashion.”

February 12, 2018³⁸

"Han Zheng, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China, met with the head of the North Korean delegation and had exchanges during his visit to attend the PyeongChang Olympic Games as a special envoy of President Xi Jinping.”

“China welcomes and supports the recent talks and cooperation between the DPRK and the ROK on the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games. The DPRK and the ROK descend from the same nationality. The improvement of their relations and advancement of reconciliation and cooperation serve the fundamental interests of the two sides and are conducive to regional peace and development.”

Russia

Sergey Lavrov - Foreign Minister

February 11, 2018³⁹

"The deal on the Iranian nuclear program was very clear: Iran abandons all military aspects of its nuclear activities in exchange of lifting the sanctions that were imposed by the United Nations, the United States and Western countries unilaterally. Now, generally speaking, the United States demands the same from North Korea, i.e. that it stop its nuclear program in exchange of security guarantees and sanction lifting. But once the United States is now seeking to frustrate, break down the same deal with Iran, North Korea’s leaders are sure to see the parallels.”

"Using the same old North Korean nuclear problem as a pretext, the United States is deploying it missile defense facilities in South Korea and now in Japan."

"North Korea, at least ahead and during the Olympic Games, is not planning any reckless moves. We have also heard that no US and South Korean drills are planned at least till March."

"Once this objective process of reciprocal restraint and refraining from drills and tests gains its own dynamics, there will be chance to move towards talks. We will do our best to encourage this process.”

Vasily Nebenzya- Permanent Representative to the UN

February 9, 2018⁴⁰

"The ‘dual freeze’ is actually working, although this is not recognized by those countries that rejected it right from the start when we proposed it.”

"There are no tests now, and joint US-South Korean exercises are not conducted either. We call on all parties to use the window of opportunity that appeared, at least until April, when the Americans threaten to resume the exercises, which can lead to another round of exacerbations, and enter into a real dialogue on the issue. We urge both the Americans and North Koreans to do so.”

Japan

Taro Kono- Foreign Minister

February 18, 2018⁴¹

"Having contact is important in that it delivers a message that (North Korea) can take a seat at the table for dialogue by abandoning its nuclear and missile development programs.”

"Japan is sharing the view with the United States and South Korea that we would gain nothing if we have dialogue (with North Korea) now.”

Shinzo Abe- Prime Minister

February 15, 2018⁴²

“Dialogue for the sake of dialogue would be meaningless.”

“We talked thoroughly about what we should do from here on to make the denuclearization of North Korea a reality.”

Itsunori Onodera- Defense Minister

February 10, 2018⁴³

"In the past, both Japan and South Korea have gone along with conciliatory policies proposed by North Korea, but the only result has been to allow North Korea to continue with its nuclear weapon and ballistic missile development programs.”

Official- Japanese Foreign Ministry

February 10, 2018

"It is inconceivable that Moon would visit North Korea when Pyongyang has shown no signs of specific action toward denuclearization.”

"There will be a need for Japan and the United States to work closely to continue to remind South Korea that it should not move any closer toward North Korea."

Shinzo Abe- Prime Minister

February 9, 2018⁴⁴

“After reconfirming the close, cooperative relationship between Japan and South Korea as well as among Japan, South Korea and the United States regarding issues related to North Korea, I want to have a frank exchange of opinions to construct a new future-oriented relationship between Japan and South Korea."

February 9, 2018⁴⁵

“North Korea must recognize that the strong ties between Japan, the United States and South Korea will never waver.”

 “We need all U.N. member states to strictly enforce Security Council resolutions and raise pressure to the maximum degree until North Korea (agrees to) change its policies and comes to us seeking dialogue.”

Taro Kono- Foreign Minister

February 9, 2018⁴⁶

“There is an atmosphere that North Korea is attempting to use the Olympics for political purposes. Japan hopes to firmly promote Japan-ROK cooperation as well as Japan-US-ROK cooperation. It is my understanding that US-ROK military exercises will resume after the Olympics and Paralympics finish. We will continue to apply unabated pressure on North Korea.”

“I think this is just a portion of voices in the ROK. The ROK Government confirmed in the meeting with Vice President Pence that it intends to firmly proceed with Japan-US-ROK cooperation. Japan intends to continue applying pressure on North Korea.”

On President Moon Jae-in’s meeting with Kim Yo-jong, the Minister said,

“I expect that President Moon Jae-in will send a firm message to North Korea.I hope that it will be a firm message that promotes denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”

On the recent North-South Reconciliation in South Korea, Minister said,

“I think this is just a portion of voices in the ROK. The ROK Government confirmed in the meeting with Vice President Pence that it intends to firmly proceed with Japan-US-ROK cooperation. Japan intends to continue applying pressure on North Korea.”