What's My Take On The Upcoming Trump - Kim Jong-Un summit

The Economist: The pros and cons of a summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un

Whether or not the American president is the one to draw him out, it would be good to learn more about the North Korean leader’s thinking.

TO SUPPORTERS of Donald Trump, Thursday night’s news that the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wants to meet America’s president, and soon, only goes to prove the potency of a foreign policy that blends toughness with just a dash of crazy. To Trump’s sceptics, it is as obvious that such an unprecedented summit would be a terrifying gamble. After the announcement that Mr Trump is willing to meet Mr Kim as soon as May, much of the professional Korea-watching community rose up on social media and cable news to deplore the blustering, impulsive and fact-scorning 45th president as the last man they would send to negotiate with the ruthless, carefully prepared North Korean regime.

Each camp has a point. Successive American administrations have spent years on cautious, painstaking diplomacy with the Kim family dynasty, backed by a judicious mix of sanctions and bribes. After each deal was reached the North Koreans pocketed the aid and concessions on offer, broke their word and returned to their decades-long quest to develop nuclear weapons. At best, all that expertise and patience might have slowed North Korea’s path to a bomb by a few years.

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WNU Editor: I did expect a meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong Un's sister a few days ago .... South Korean Envoys Who Met Kim Jong-Un Are Delivering A Letter From The North Korean Leader To President Trump (March 7, 2018). But I did not expect that it would be between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. As to what is my take on this May meeting .... my feelings are mixed. Usually the ground work is prepared long in advance before such an announcement .... in this case (unless back channels have been at work for the past few months) .... this summit looks rushed and done on a whim. I also expected a few concensussions from North Korea .... but no one is talking of any. But on the positive side there is now a moratorium on North Korea's missile tests, and there is an eagerness to talk instead of issuing threats. This is an opportune time, and I can only hope that all sides will be able to find common ground. South Korea President Moon will be meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un in April .... North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un Will Be Visiting South Korea For The First Time When Both Countries Hold Their Summit In April (March 7, 2018). I expect we will know more on where this is all going after that summit.