As President Donald Trump expressed interest in meeting with Kim Jong Un ahead of his visit to South Korea, North Korea responded indirectly by announcing Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui’s trip to Russia, sparking various analyses in diplomatic circles.
On October 26, North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that Choe would visit Russia and Belarus at the invitation of their respective foreign ministries.
While North Korea did not disclose Choe’s specific itinerary, this announcement came just a day after President Trump expressed his willingness to meet with Chairman Kim.
Earlier, on October 24, as Trump boarded Air Force One for his Asian tour including Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, he stated that he’s 100% open to meeting with Kim.
He also remarked that he considers North Korea to be a kind of nuclear power.
Although this characterization differs significantly from the legitimate nuclear state recognized under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), analysts suggest it may be a tactic to entice North Korea into dialogue. Last month, Chairman Kim emphasized abandoning denuclearization and recognizing reality as prerequisites for resuming talks with the U.S. during his speech at the Supreme People’s Assembly.
Experts debate whether North Korea’s focus is on strengthening ties with Russia or engaging in a power struggle with the U.S.
In light of these developments, experts are divided on whether North Korea’s announcement of Choe’s visit to Russia signals an indirect rejection or a strategy to increase leverage for future U.S.-North Korea negotiations.
Some analysts suggest that North Korea may be strategically strengthening ties with China and Russia while considering future dialogue with the U.S., or adopting a wait-and-see approach due to uncertainty about Trump’s potential concessions.
Professor Lim Eul-chul from Kyungnam University’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies noted that by announcing Choe’s visit to Russia amid discussions of a potential U.S.-North Korea summit, North Korea is signaling that their current priority is strengthening relations with Russia and that now is not the time for dialogue with the U.S.
Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, added that it’s unrealistic to imagine a summit without the involvement of key ministers from both sides.
In contrast, Professor Park Won-gon from Ewha Womans University interpreted the move differently: With Trump’s recent proposal, the ball is now in North Korea’s court, and Kim likely feels pressured. Rather than outright rejection, they may be opting for an indirect response to gauge the U.S. reaction, reflecting a fierce struggle for control of the situation.
Park added that while the chances of a U.S.-North Korea meeting are currently slim, if Trump shows flexibility on North Korea’s key concerns, such as halting U.S.-South Korea joint exercises or suspending the deployment of strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula, North Korea might respond positively.
Yang also noted that if both leaders are willing, adjusting schedules shouldn’t be an issue. If Trump sends a more proactive message to North Korea before Choe’s Russia visit, it can’t rule out the possibility of postponing or shortening the trip.
