Despite repeated attempts to reach out to the reclusive leader of North Korea, President Joe Biden has so far been unable to establish a dialogue.
Express reports the president made “several behind-the scenes attempts” last month to talk to Kim Jong-un, but the communist dictator has apparently snubbed him.
"These even included an approach to the North Korean mission at the United Nations in New York. In a further snub to Mr Biden, North Korean state media has yet to acknowledge that he won the 2020 elections in December."
In a brief interview with CNN, a White House official said, “To reduce the risks of escalation, we reached out to the North Korean government through several channels starting in mid-February, including in New York.”
“To date, we have not received any response from Pyongyang.
“This follows over a year without active dialogue with North Korea, despite multiple attempts by the US to engage.”
On the contrary, former President Trump met with Kim Jong-un on three separate occasions, even though their relationship started out rocky with a series of disconcerting back-and-forth tweets and other messages.
Trump’s talks with the North Korean leader were mostly about nuclear disarmament.
More from Express:
"The former US President told the journalist Bob Woodward that the two sides had come very close to war during his presidency.
"He said in an interview for Mr Woodward’s book ‘Rage’: 'Right. Much closer (to war) than anyone would know.
"'Much closer. You know. He (Kim) knows it better than anybody.'"