Joseph Yun, former U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy, assessed on January 16 that while President Donald Trump is eager for dialogue with North Korea, Kim Jong Un is not yet prepared to engage.
Yun also analyzed that Kim’s motivation to negotiate has been weakened by strengthened ties with Russia and China, increased foreign currency earnings, and disappointment over the failed Hanoi summit.
Speaking at a seminar hosted by the Korea Inter-Parliamentary Exchange Center (KIPEC) in Washington, D.C., Yun stated that the Trump administration played a crucial role in relations with North Korea. However, while Trump clearly expressed his desire for dialogue with North Korea last October, it’s evident that Kim is not ready to meet with President Trump again at this point.
Yun attributed this situation to North Korea’s closer ties with Russia, troop deployments related to the Ukraine conflict, improved relations with China, and increased foreign currency revenue through cyber hacking and involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war.
He also noted that Kim strongly believes he gained nothing from the 2019 Hanoi summit, adding that if he were to meet Trump again, he would be questioning what he could possibly gain.
Yun identified two main conditions North Korea seeks for entering negotiations: lifting of sanctions and recognition as a nuclear-armed state. He explained that North Korea wants to be treated as an equal party, at least as a nuclear power. However, this is a condition that the U.S., South Korea, Japan, and the international community find extremely difficult to accept.
Regarding South Korea’s role in potential U.S.-North Korea dialogue, he asserted that negotiations between the U.S. and North Korea are impossible without South Korea’s involvement.
He emphasized that the U.S.-North Korea dialogue during Trump’s first term also began with the PyeongChang Olympics and the Moon Jae-in government’s mediation, stating that the U.S. cannot engage in meaningful negotiations with North Korea without South Korea’s assistance.
When asked about the possibility of the Trump administration approaching North Korea through unconventional channels, Yun responded that he haven’t heard of any such moves. While it can’t completely rule out the possibility, there are currently no specific indications.
Yun served as the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy from 2016 to 2018, overseeing U.S.-North Korea negotiations. He later served as the Acting U.S. Ambassador to South Korea from January to October last year, establishing himself as a leading expert on North Korea and Korean Peninsula issues in the U.S.