North Korea silence dims Trump-Kim summit hopes
SCMP · 2 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
US and South Korean officials increasingly believe a meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is unlikely this year after North Korea failed to respond to US outreach. The possible venue most closely watched had been the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen on November 18-19, but time is running short before that gathering and another regional summit in the Philippines in November. Trump had said in August that he planned to meet Kim later this year and that Kim had responded to his outreach, yet he struck a more cautious tone on Monday at the White House. Officials also say Pyongyang has shown no visible sign that it is preparing for a summit.
Key Points
- Five people with knowledge of the situation said US and South Korean officials see the chances of a Trump-Kim meeting fading this year.
- The US has received no response from North Korea about holding a leaders' meeting, according to people briefed by senior US and South Korean officials
- South Korea's intelligence agency told lawmakers late last month there was a 50 per cent chance of a meeting on the sidelines of Apec in Shenzhen.
- On Monday, Trump said, “I get along with him very well, and I'm not sure that anybody's asking for a meeting,” downplaying November summit prospects.
- North Korean state media has said Pyongyang would impose tough conditions for a bilateral summit, potentially including sanctions relief, despite Kim's sister describing the relationship as “excellent”
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the fading prospect of renewed US-North Korea summit diplomacy points to continued uncertainty in Northeast Asia ahead of major regional meetings in China. With Shenzhen hosting Apec next month, the absence of movement from Pyongyang reduces expectations of a headline diplomatic breakthrough on China's doorstep.