Donald Trump will likely turn his attention once again on to North Korea. New research from a joint Chey Institute for Advanced Studies and Hudson Institute study indicates there may be opportunity for U.S.-North Korea diplomacy to flourish again. Just on Thursday, we commemorated the seventh anniversary of that first Trump-Kim summit in Singapore. This celebration came at a perfect time with the launch of an important report.
The study examines the current diplomatic landscape, noting that while negotiations with Iran remain stalled, and hope for a resolution in the Russia-Ukraine conflict appears dim, North Korea could emerge as a focal point for Trump’s foreign policy initiatives. Donald Trump Our former president’s first summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un proved to be one of his most theatrical undertakings of his inaugural term in office. This meeting established an important historical precedent for direct and open engagement between the two countries.
When Trump and Kim met in Singapore in June 2018, it was an undeniably historic thing. This summit was historic, as it was the first time a sitting U.S. President ever met a leader of North Korea. This extraordinary gathering was considered a courageous step toward reducing hostilities on the Korean Peninsula. In June 2019, they took advantage of a climate conference-related photo-op to the DMZ. This historic moment represented a thawing in relations, but concrete outcomes were still far apart.
The joint study released on Thursday provides insights into the dynamics of U.S.-North Korea relations and suggests that Trump’s previous approach may be revisited due to current shortcomings in his diplomatic engagements elsewhere. With Iran negotiations at a standstill, and little forward movement amidst the shocking unrest in Ukraine, many analysts predict Pyongyang will be able to get Trump’s attention again.
Beyond specific U.S. foreign policy, the report documents the broader impact. It suggests that renewed diplomacy with North Korea might give Trump a vital source of political capital as he steers an increasingly treacherous global course. As he thinks about how to proceed on the world stage, Trump’s past meetings with Kim provide one possible model for future engagements.
The Seoul-based Chey Institute for Advanced Studies joined — or perhaps more accurately, joined forces in a brilliant strategic move with — the Hudson Institute, known for its conservative bent. Collectively, they wrote a nuanced examination of U.S.-North Korea relations. Their research highlights the complex power dynamics in East Asia and the profound effects that a resurgence of diplomatic relationships can have.