Ruggiero: Trump may discuss recognizing North Korea’s nuclear program with Kim Jong Un
US President Donald Trump, if he holds a new meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, may discuss tacit recognition of Pyongyang’s nuclear program, a peace treaty, and an end to joint US-South Korean military exercises. This assessment was expressed in an opinion column by Anthony Ruggiero, former director for North Korea at the US National Security Council, Korea Herald reports.
Possible proposals
According to Ruggiero, talks with Kim Jong Un would likely involve at least tacit recognition by Washington of North Korea’s nuclear weapons. He suggested that Trump could offer a treaty formally ending the Korean War, improved political and economic relations, and a permanent end to US-South Korean military exercises.
The former official also believes that the US president could facilitate future talks between the two Koreas. Ruggiero suggested the possibility of Trump traveling to North Korea or to a neutral location to sign an agreement with Kim Jong Un.
Conditions and the US position
Ruggiero noted that if meetings resume, Trump should insist on verifiable limits on North Korea’s long-range ballistic missile and nuclear weapons production programs. According to him, any agreement should also provide for North Korea to withdraw all its troops and end military assistance to Russia, the aggressor state, in its war against Ukraine.
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He advised increasing pressure on Pyongyang through sanctions against North Korean citizens working in China, as well as Chinese companies and individuals that help North Korea evade sanctions.
Trump previously stated his intention to meet with Kim Jong Un by the end of the year. The Wall Street Journal wrote that such a meeting could take place during the US president’s next trip to Asia, likely for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in the Chinese city of Shenzhen in November.
The US State Department on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea and said that Washington’s policy toward Pyongyang had not changed. During his first presidential term, Trump personally met with Kim Jong Un three times: in Singapore in June 2018, in Hanoi in February 2019, and in Panmunjom in June 2019.
