President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to meet with Kim Jong Un, the General Secretary of North Korea’s Workers’ Party. However, North Korea appears to be adopting a reserved stance. The two leaders seem to have different calculations regarding another potential emergency meeting.
Experts suggest that while President Trump values the meeting itself, Kim is unlikely to engage in dialogue unless he is assured of tangible benefits from negotiations with the U.S. However, they have not completely ruled out the possibility of a change in Kim’s stance.
On Monday, while departing Malaysia—the first stop on his Asian tour—President Trump spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Japan. He stated that it would be really great if he could talk to General Secretary Kim, and indicated that he might extend his stay in South Korea if necessary.
He specifically noted that he will be in Korea, so he could go right over there, hinting at the possibility of visiting North Korea at a location other than Panmunjom.
This statement goes beyond his earlier remarks on October 24, when he said he was 100% open to meeting with General Secretary Kim while boarding his plane to Malaysia. This underscores President Trump’s strong desire to engage in dialogue with North Korea.
However, North Korea has not responded to this overture. In fact, ahead of President Trump’s visit to South Korea on Wednesday and Thursday, they announced Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui’s planned visit to Russia and Belarus, seemingly signaling disinterest in Trump’s trip.
Trump, with an eye on the Nobel Peace Prize, sees value in the mere possibility of a U.S.-North Korea summit.
Experts note a clear divergence in how the two leaders perceive the potential summit.
For Trump, successfully arranging a meeting with Kim is crucial.
Professor Min Jeong-hoon of the National Diplomatic Academy observed that having missed out on the Nobel Peace Prize this year, President Trump needs to capture international attention by attempting to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue through a meeting with Kim.
Since his inauguration on January 20, Trump has consistently referred to North Korea as a nuclear power whenever possible, implicitly accepting its nuclear status.
While the U.S. and South Korea use the term denuclearization at the governmental level, Trump himself avoids it, often choosing language that North Korea prefers to hear.
However, North Korea has not presented a specific stance or blueprint for negotiations without denuclearization that it desires. Their attitude appears to be let’s meet first. Last month, Kim made it clear in a speech that the U.S. must abandon its delusional dream of denuclearization if it seeks to engage with North Korea.
Kim, Backed by Russia and China, Has Bought Time… the Possibility of a Surprise Meeting Remains Uncertain
Kim’s stance suggests that he will not engage in dialogue with the U.S. unless favorable conditions for negotiations are clearly presented.
Since 2023, North Korea has strengthened military cooperation with Russia, expanding this into comprehensive collaboration last year and this year, while also mending relations with China, thereby solidifying a triangular alliance. This situation differs from that of 2018-2019, when North Korea lacked support from China and Russia during denuclearization talks.
In 2018-2019, North Korea was in urgent need of breaking the U.S.-led sanctions regime to revive its economy. However, with China and Russia now bolstering their support while disregarding the United Nations (UN) sanctions, North Korea feels less pressure to rush into talks with the U.S.
Moreover, Kim’s experience of international embarrassment following the unexpected collapse of the 2019 Hanoi summit—driven by Trump’s personal decision—has made him more cautious about engaging in dialogue with the U.S.
Professor Lim Eum-chul of Kyungnam University’s Institute for East Asian Studies suggested that North Korea seems to believe that Trump isn’t yet ready for serious dialogue. They likely prefer not to engage if it means being politically exploited as they were during the Hanoi summit.
However, some analysts suggest that North Korea’s diplomatic strategy distinguishes between U.S.-North Korea relations and the personal rapport between the two leaders, leaving room for Kim to make his decision. This is particularly relevant as Trump has already extended two love calls during his Asian tour, suggesting the need to maintain his dignity while keeping future discussions possible.
Professor Park Won-gon of Ewha Womans University noted that given the unpredictable nature of both Trump and Kim, an unexpected decision could emerge at any time. While the chances of them meeting now are slim, it’s not entirely off the table.
He added that the South Korean government now appears much better prepared for a sudden meeting, having learned from the 2019 Panmunjom summit experience.