After Hanoi No-Deal, Trump-Kim Jong-un Exchange Letters... Differences Remain on Denuclearization

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] It has been revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un continued to exchange letters even after the 'no deal' outcome of the second North Korea-U.S. summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, in February last year.

In Bob Woodward's new book "Rage," set to be published next week by Watergate investigative journalists, it is reported that the letters exchanged between the two leaders around the time of the Hanoi summit breakdown and the Panmunjom meeting contained expectations for progress in denuclearization negotiations. However, the letters also reportedly included differences in positions between the two sides regarding North Korea's denuclearization.

According to the book, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Pyongyang in July 2018, following the first North Korea-U.S. summit in Singapore in June, to deliver a letter from President Trump for follow-up talks.

President Trump stated that Pompeo was trying to agree on the first major step toward the final, fully verified denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula under his instructions, but the U.S. rejected North Korea's proposal to start with a 'declaration of the end of the war,' and Pompeo reportedly did not meet Chairman Kim.

Chairman Kim expressed dissatisfaction in a subsequent letter, saying, "I am pleased to have established a good relationship with an outstanding politician like Your Excellency, but I regret that the long-awaited 'declaration of the end of the war' was missing." President Trump emphasized "complete denuclearization" again in his reply to this letter.

In September of the same year, Chairman Kim proposed, "We want to proceed step by step, taking meaningful measures one at a time," and suggested measures such as the complete closure of satellite launch sites, facilities related to intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), nuclear weapons facilities, and the irreversible shutdown of nuclear material production facilities.

Subsequently, the second North Korea-U.S. summit was held in Hanoi, Vietnam, in February 2019, but it ended in failure due to conflicting demands: North Korea proposed the closure of the Yongbyon nuclear facility, while the U.S. demanded additional measures. After the Panmunjom meeting between the two leaders at the end of June that year, working-level talks showed little progress, and denuclearization negotiations reached a deadlock.

About three weeks after the second summit, on March 22, President Trump sent a letter saying, "Thank you again for the long trip to Hanoi. As I said, you are my friend and always will be." Chairman Kim responded with a letter on June 10, expressing the possibility of another meeting by stating, "I believe the time is not far off when we will sit together to make great things happen."

President Trump sent another letter two days later on June 12, emphasizing, "You and I have a unique style and a special friendship. Only you and I can work together to resolve issues between our two countries and end 70 years of hostility," adding, "This will be a historic event."

Meanwhile, while attending the G20 summit in Japan, President Trump proposed a meeting at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) via Twitter on the morning of June 29. On the same day, he sent a letter informing that he would visit South Korea the next day and officially proposed a meeting at the border at 3:30 p.m. on June 30, saying, "Since I am very close to you, I would like to invite you to a meeting at the border tomorrow afternoon." Chairman Kim accepted this invitation, and the two leaders held their third meeting at Panmunjom at 3:45 p.m. on June 30 last year.

On the day of the meeting, President Trump immediately wrote a letter to Chairman Kim. He wrote, "It was truly amazing to be with you today," relayed that the media also praised Chairman Kim, and added, "The potential of your country is truly limitless. I am confident that if we continue to cooperate, incredible prosperity awaits you and your people." He attached a copy of The New York Times front page featuring their photo with the note, "Chairman, great photo and a wonderful time," along with the letter.

On July 2, President Trump sent another letter along with 22 photos. He wrote, "It was an honor to cross into your country and resume important discussions," and added, "I have tremendous confidence in our ability to reach a great agreement that will lead to tremendous prosperity for you and your people and eliminate your nuclear burden." This is interpreted as an intention to advance discussions, recalling the agreement to resume working-level denuclearization talks at the Panmunjom meeting.