North Korea refuses talks with US following Trump's midterm election defeat

Following US President Donald Trump's crushing defeat in the midterm elections, the possibilities of a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have become negligible. While such a meeting could have taken place during Trump's Asia visit in November, analysts now believe it is unlikely to occur.

Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, gave a clear signal on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, that there is no desire to resume dialogue with Washington. She stated that Pyongyang has "no need to sit face-to-face with such untrustworthy and hostile individuals." She further added that while dialogue is part of the choice for peace, it does not mean it is always consistent with their national interests.

Kim Yo Jong's reaction comes at a time when the FBI has accused North Korea of stealing $6 billion from the cryptocurrency exchange Binance. Kim Yo Jong had previously dismissed these allegations, calling them "serious political provocation." According to Professor Lim Eul-chul of Kyungnam University, this statement shows a shift from a defensive approach to an aggressive one. He told AFP that North Korea has used the issue of cyberattacks to condemn the entire US policy of pressure against North Korea.

In the midterm elections held on November 3, the Republican Party suffered a heavy defeat, and control of Congress has passed to the Democrats. This has effectively turned Donald Trump into a 'lame duck' president for the remaining two years of his term. Analysts believe that following this defeat, Kim Jong Un's incentive to meet Trump has diminished.

Michael Bosske, Founding Director of the Parley Policy Institute, stated that the Kim regime desires significant and sustainable changes in US policies. He told AFP that there is no guarantee that whatever Trump offers now will continue after January 2029 (the end of Trump's second term).

On the other hand, growing ties with Russia and China have strengthened Kim Jong Un's position. According to July estimates from Seoul's central bank, North Korea's economy grew by more than 3 percent in 2025 for the third consecutive year due to economic cooperation with Russia. For these reasons, Pyongyang is now less keen to engage with Washington.

Donald Trump had previously said that he might meet Kim Jong Un this month and that it would be "exciting," but in October, he backtracked from his statement. He said he was not sure if anyone was requesting a meeting, although he stated that his relationship with Kim Jong Un remained very good.

According to Young Moo-jin, former president of South Korea's University of North Korean Studies, Trump will continue top-down dialogue with North Korea, but the divided US government and Trump's weakened position will be significant factors for North Korea.

Even if Trump and Kim agree to meet, differences over North Korea's nuclear weapons program will remain a major obstacle. Pyongyang has repeatedly made it clear that it is no longer prepared to discuss nuclear disarmament.

In 2019, after the summit between Kim Jong Un and Trump failed, Kim Jong Un returned home empty-handed after a 60-hour train journey from Hanoi. Now the situation has reversed, where Trump is making efforts but Pyongyang is showing reluctance.