Trump interested in new summit with Kim Jong Un, but obstacles remain — Korea Herald
US President Donald Trump’s order to significantly scale back joint US-South Korean military exercises has revived speculation about a possible new summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump emphasized his “very good relationship” with Kim and expressed interest in another meeting, while calling the exercises with South Korea expensive and hostile.
Three obstacles to a summit
As Korea Herald writes, Sogang University adjunct professor Wang Son-taek considers optimistic forecasts about a summit premature. In his view, Trump’s willingness alone is insufficient for a meeting: Kim Jong Un needs incentives to participate, the sides need a working agenda and a mechanism to overcome differences.
The first problem, the author says, is a lack of an agenda. Trump’s public statements and the reduction of exercises may be a conciliatory gesture toward Pyongyang, but they do not explain what Washington and Pyongyang could discuss, what actions they would expect from North Korea, or what the United States could offer in return.
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The second obstacle, according to Wang, lies in incentives for North Korea. In 2018, summit diplomacy gave Kim Jong Un international recognition and the prospect of new relations with Washington. Now, after three meetings with Trump, a new summit will have less novelty and political value without substantial benefits for Pyongyang.
Seoul’s possibilities
The author considers Seoul’s limited capacity to act as a mediator to be the third problem. In 2018, then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in could communicate directly with both Washington and Pyongyang, clarify the sides’ intentions and reduce misunderstandings. Now, inter-Korean communication channels have been cut off, making a similar role more difficult for the Lee Jae-myung administration.
North Korea’s initial reaction was also restrained: Kim Yo-jong, the sister of the North Korean leader, said she had no information about any communication between Trump and Kim Jong Un. Wang Son-taek noted that Seoul should help shape the agenda, seek incentives acceptable to the sides, and restore direct or indirect communication channels with Pyongyang.
