Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who led diplomatic efforts during Donald Trump’s first administration, stated on Monday that if a U.S.-North Korea summit were to occur, Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader, would most likely prioritize sanctions relief. However, Pompeo believes the chances of achieving this are virtually zero.
Pompeo shared these insights during a meeting hosted by the law firm Continental Law at the Valo Park conference center in Fairfax County, Virginia. When asked about Kim Jong Un’s primary demands in a potential summit, he offered this assessment.
Pompeo said he does not see a high likelihood that a summit will even take place. Still, if it does, Kim Jong Un’s top priority would almost certainly be easing economic sanctions.
He explained that Kim Jong Un seeks to reintegrate North Korea into the international community as a normal country, particularly by securing relief from the last UN sanctions resolution, which China supported and which has been in place since early 2017 during the Trump administration.
Pompeo noted that Kim Jong Un is desperate for sanctions relief but lacks the means to obtain it. He said none of Kim’s proposals would persuade countries such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, the United States, or the United Kingdom.
On the prospect of normalizing U.S.–North Korea relations, Pompeo said that although Kim Jong Un wants this badly, there is no compelling reason for the United States or others to do so. He pointed out that North Korea maintains a large arsenal of conventional weapons, including precision-guided munitions positioned just across the border and aimed at civilian areas in Seoul rather than military targets. As long as this remains unchanged, Pompeo said, normalization is essentially impossible.
When asked what would need to change for substantial progress at a potential future summit, Pompeo replied that he does not see any new approaches that could work, stressing that the key lies with Beijing. He argued that eliminating North Korea’s nuclear weapons will not happen without Xi Jinping’s approval and direction, and that while engaging Kim Jong Un may be interesting, it does not produce policy solutions.
Pompeo emphasized that Washington should focus on Beijing and prevent China from using North Korea as a strategic asset.
He also claimed that Xi Jinping was behind the deployment of North Korean troops to the Russia–Ukraine conflict. Pompeo said that more than 10,000 North Korean troops are currently fighting in Ukraine and argued that it is unrealistic to believe they were deployed without Xi’s direct approval. According to Pompeo, Putin likely asked China for additional personnel, and Xi responded by sending North Korean soldiers instead of Chinese troops.
Pompeo said China is encouraging the killing of Ukrainian civilians and that this is a significant development showing Xi Jinping’s deliberate involvement.
Regarding Trump’s potential goals in renewed diplomacy with North Korea, Pompeo said it is difficult to predict outcomes but that he would be shocked to see any statement acknowledging North Korea as a nuclear state.
He noted that the idea of threat reduction effectively implies accepting North Korea as a de facto nuclear power, which he found highly unlikely.
In describing Kim Jong Un, Pompeo used stark language, calling him fundamentally evil rather than merely rude. He said Kim Jong Un believes the entire Korean Peninsula belongs to him. Reflecting on past meetings with Kim during the Trump administration, Pompeo said that although the discussions were cordial, none achieved their intended outcomes. He said North Korean leaders believe history has wronged them and remain fixated on reclaiming what they see as theirs, with China supporting this view.
Pompeo argued that Xi Jinping undermined the Trump–Kim diplomatic process, asserting that North Korea’s nuclear program essentially reflects China’s strategic interests and that the two countries operate almost as one.
He concluded that there are no realistic incentives to persuade Kim Jong Un to denuclearize and no effective punitive measures remaining, meaning options are extremely limited. As a result, Pompeo said any meaningful solution must come from Beijing. Even if talks resume, he expects the chances of success to be minimal, noting that previous administrations reached similar conclusions.
Pompeo said nearly every diplomatic approach toward North Korea has already been tried and that, while new leverage appears to be lacking, internal changes within North Korea remain possible. He noted that major geopolitical shifts—such as the fall of the Berlin Wall or the execution of Ceaușescu—often occur without warning. He added that even leaders perceived as secure, such as Venezuela’s Maduro, can suddenly face collapse, suggesting that similar unexpected changes could occur in North Korea.
