In a statement carried by state media, Kim Yo Jong said she doesn’t deny the personal relationship between her brother and Trump “is not bad.” But she said if their personal relations are to serve the purpose of North Korea’s denuclearization, North Korea would view it as “nothing but a mockery.”

The country appeared to signal an openness to talks, but said it must be recognized as a nuclear power and would not discuss abandoning its arsenal.

North Korea has said relations between its leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump are “not bad”, signalling potential willingness to enter into talks with the new US administration for the first time.