Trump expresses openness to 3rd North Korea-US summit

Posted on : 2019-04-15 17:33 KST Modified on : 2019-04-15 17:33 KST
Tweet comes in response to Kim Jong-un’s speech during Supreme People’s Assembly
US President Donald Trump emphasizes that his “personal relationship” with North Korean leader “remains very good” in a tweet on Apr. 13. (Trump’s Twitter account)
US President Donald Trump emphasizes that his “personal relationship” with North Korean leader “remains very good” in a tweet on Apr. 13. (Trump’s Twitter account)

US President Donald sent a positive message on Apr. 13 regarding North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s address the day before, declaring that a “third [North Korea-US] Summit would be good.”

His message showed off the “top-down” framework operating between the two leaders as both stress the need for personal trust and dialogue. But with large differences persisting in their views on denuclearization, some substantial coordination appears necessary for a summit to actually come to pass.

In a Twitter message on Apr. 13, Trump wrote, “I agree with Kim Jong Un of North Korea that our personal relationship remains very good, perhaps the term excellent would be even more accurate, and that a third Summit would be good in that we fully understand where we each stand.”

“North Korea has tremendous potential for extraordinary growth, economic success, and riches under the leadership of Chairman Kim,” he continued.

“I look forward to the day, which could be soon, when Nuclear Weapons and Sanctions can be removed, and then watching North Korea become one of the most successful nations of the World!”

Trump’s message came around 15 hours after the content of Kim’s address was reported. With Trump’s immediate response to the first personal message delivered by Kim since the collapse of the two leaders’ summit in late February, the “top-down approach” employed by the two leaders appeared to be solidly in place. Trump also tweeted a message on Apr. 11 reaffirming the commitment to dialogue he expressed to South Korean President Moon Jae-in a recent summit at the White House, saying that a third North Korea-US summit “could happen.” The two leaders have effectively opened the door to dialogue by stressing their friendly relationship – a situation that could serve as groundwork for the resumption of North Korea-US talks following a future inter-Korean summit.

But with a large and clear divide visible between the two sides on the questions of denuclearization and sanctions relief since the Hanoi summit, it remains unclear how much momentum can be generated behind dialogue. In his Apr. 13 tweet, Trump referred to the “day [. . .] when Nuclear Weapons and Sanctions can be removed,” which analysts read as a reiteration of his so-called “big deal” vision maintaining that sanctions can be lifted once North Korea denuclearizes completely. This conflicts with North Korea’s position in favor of proceeding with denuclearization and corresponding measures in a step-by-step, simultaneous manner.

In his address, Kim stated a “deadline” of the end of 2019 for a third summit, along with the condition that the US “adopts the right posture and has a methodology that can be shared with us.” He also warned that an “opportunity as good as the last one [the Hanoi summit] will certainly be difficult to come by,” underlining Pyongyang’s position that dismantlement of the nuclear facilities at Yongbyon is the most it can offer at the moment.

US media reacted with skepticism, noting that Kim has placed the precondition of a “methodology that can be shared with us” on his dialogue with the US. Commenting that Kim’s speech did not allude to any new concessions or ideas that might usher along North Korea-US relations, the Washington Post described him as “throwing the ball into Washington’s court.”

By Hwang Joon-bum, Washington correspondent

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