Full Breakdown
North Korean Delegation Attends Trump’s UN Speech but Skips South Korean President’s Address
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
During the high-level segment of the 81st United Nations General Assembly on September 22, two North Korean diplomats listened to U.S. President Donald Trump’s speech in the plenary hall, while the delegation left its seats vacant for South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s address later that afternoon. The North Korean permanent representative, Kim Song, was absent from both speeches. The delegation, originally assigned to the 10th row from the front in the left-most section, moved to the second-to-last row on the far right, a change reportedly requested of the UN.
Background & Context
President Lee Jae-myung met President Trump at the White House on August 25, 2025, where they discussed a possible U.S.–North Korea summit and broader cooperation on security and trade. Lee described Trump’s willingness to engage with North Korea as “a hard-won opportunity for change” and outlined a vision of resuming dialogue, reducing North Korean nuclear capabilities, and eventually achieving a nuclear-free peninsula. The summit also highlighted joint projects in shipbuilding, nuclear submarine fuel, and reprocessing, though no concrete agreements on denuclearization were announced.
Official Statements & Responses
National Security Advisor Wi Sung-rak said President Trump reaffirmed his willingness to engage in dialogue with North Korea and that the United States and South Korea would act as “peacemakers and pacemakers” to facilitate such talks. Lee Jae-myung emphasized that the “long-suspended dialogue” between Washington and Pyongyang should resume, linking the summit’s cooperation agenda to broader peace efforts. In contrast, Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, asserted that Pyongyang’s nuclear status remains “absolute,” indicating no shift in North Korea’s stance.
Why It Matters
The delegation’s selective attendance underscores persistent tensions on the Korean Peninsula. By hearing Trump’s remarks but avoiding Lee’s call for peaceful coexistence, North Korea signaled a preference to engage with the United States while distancing itself from South Korean overtures. Observers note that the seating change placed the delegation far from the South Korean delegation, suggesting an effort to avoid direct contact. The episode reflects the fragile nature of inter-Korean diplomacy and the challenges facing any prospective U.S.–North Korea dialogue.