"Trump Has Not Made a Final Decision"
Reports from local media have emerged that Donald Trump, the President-elect of the United States, is considering a plan to directly engage in dialogue with Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea. Amid ongoing North Korean nuclear threats and strengthened military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, attention is focused on the possibility of a North Korea?U.S. summit being held during Trump’s second term, following his first administration.
On the 26th (local time), major foreign news outlets cited sources reporting that Trump’s transition team hopes to reduce the risk of military conflict with North Korea through such diplomatic efforts.
However, these discussions have not been finalized, and it is reported that Trump himself has not made a final decision.
Previously, during his first term, Trump met with Chairman Kim three times?in Singapore, Hanoi, and Panmunjom. The first and second North Korea?U.S. summits were held in Singapore and Hanoi, respectively, during which concerns were raised about South Korea being “passed over.” At Panmunjom, a trilateral meeting including former South Korean President Moon Jae-in took place. However, at the second summit in Hanoi in February 2019, Chairman Kim proposed lifting major sanctions in exchange for dismantling the Yongbyon nuclear facility, but then-President Trump rejected the offer, resulting in the talks ending without any achievements. This has led to speculation that North Korea may adopt a passive stance toward negotiations with the U.S.
According to sources, Trump’s initial goal is to restore and reestablish basic relations with North Korea, but additional policy objectives and exact schedules have not been determined. Furthermore, foreign media reported that urgent issues such as the Middle East wars and the Russia?Ukraine war may push the North Korea?U.S. summit to a lower priority. Nevertheless, concerns are growing as the North Korean nuclear threat persists and North Korea strengthens military cooperation with Russia, including sending troops to engage Ukrainian forces.
Meanwhile, Trump’s nomination of Alex Wong as the White House National Security Council (NSC) Senior Director has drawn attention. Wong was responsible for handling the North Korea?U.S. summit affairs during Trump’s first term and served as the State Department’s Deputy Special Representative for North Korea. By appointing someone with extensive experience in North Korea diplomacy as NSC Senior Director, it is being analyzed that Trump is signaling a willingness to improve relations and engage in dialogue with North Korea.
North Korea, for its part, has drawn a line regarding the possibility of a North Korea?U.S. summit. On the 21st, after Trump’s election victory, Chairman Kim stated, “Negotiations with the U.S. have been taken as far as they can go,” expressing a negative stance toward restoring relations or negotiating with the U.S. However, some speculate that both sides have already begun behind-the-scenes tug-of-war over the possibility of dialogue.
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