Trump seeks November summit with Kim, but experts doubt N. Korea will respond

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed interest in reengaging with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, potentially arranging a meeting during his planned trip to China in November. However, experts suggest that any such overture from Trump may be met with reluctance from North Korea, as Pyongyang currently lacks a compelling reason to resume negotiations.

With backing from Russia and China, North Korea's need for sanctions relief is significantly diminished compared to past summits between Trump and Kim in 2018 and 2019, according to experts. Moreover, Kim may insist on the recognition of North Korea as a nuclear-armed state, a demand that would be unacceptable to the United States, and might question whether meeting Trump would benefit his interests, especially if the Republican Party loses the upcoming U.S. midterm elections.

Yang Moo-jin, a former president of the University of North Korean Studies, stated on Wednesday that North Korea is unlikely to accept Trump's approach, considering its strengthened ties with Russia and the support it receives for its involvement in Moscow's war against Ukraine. Senior research fellow Shin Beom-chul at the Sejong Institute concurred, adding that Pyongyang is under significant pressure.