Trump’s team is reportedly exploring the possibility of direct negotiations with North Korea, marking a potential shift in U.S.-North Korea relations.
According to sources cited by Reuters on Tuesday, the team of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is considering engaging in direct discussions with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to reduce the chances of a possible armed conflict.
This month, the leader of North Korea accused the United States of escalating tensions and provocations, asserting that such actions by Washington are increasing the likelihood of a nuclear conflict.
Sources familiar with the situation informed the outlet that a primary objective is to reestablish basic engagement and break the ice with Kim. However, they noted that no final decisions have been made by the president-elect yet.
Last week, Trump appointed Alex Wong, a former State Department official who played a key role in overseeing the North Korea strategy during his first administration, as deputy national security adviser.
At the beginning of his first presidential term, Trump ridiculed Kim by referring to him as “Little Rocket Man” and warned of unleashing “fire and fury” if North Korea persisted with its nuclear tests. The leaders exchanged insults along with what Trump described as “beautiful” letters, where Kim labeled Trump a “dotard.”
Between 2018 and 2019, they met three times – in Singapore, Hanoi, and the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that separates North and South Korea. The historic DMZ meeting was notable as it marked the first time a sitting US president had entered North Korean territory.
Trump characterized their discussions as a process of “falling in love,” even though the negotiations did not result in a denuclearization agreement or any relief from sanctions.
Despite this, the diplomatic interactions between Trump and Kim led to a temporary easing of tensions on the Korean Peninsula. However, this has since given way to renewed hostility between North and South Korea.
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The report highlighted that Kim disregarded four years of efforts by the outgoing US President Joe Biden to initiate discussions without any preconditions.
During the Biden administration, Washington and Seoul have restarted joint military exercises. Pyongyang views these drills as a significant security threat, contending that they might be used to conceal preparations for an invasion.
During a defense expo in Pyongyang last week, Kim accused Washington of misusing its power by asserting a global sphere of influence and employing military threats against nations that oppose it, including North Korea.
“We have exhausted all possible avenues in our negotiations with the US,” Kim declared, further noting that Washington’s “aggressive and hostile approach toward North Korea is unchanging.”
During his campaign, Trump mentioned that Kim “misses” him and suggested that the country would refrain from “acting up” once he is back in office.
During the summer, North Korean state media remarked that the nation’s leaders “do not care” who assumes office in the United States. These reports indicated that Kim’s policy on nuclear weapons will remain unchanged.
