[News analysis] Is Trump about to undo US policy on North Korea’s denuclearization?
US President Donald Trump has indicated he plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un within the next year, while acknowledging Pyongyang currently possesses 57 "very powerful nuclear weapons." This acknowledgment of North Korea's nuclear arsenal is raising speculation about whether a summit could occur in November without denuclearization being the main focus.
Trump did not explicitly state his goal of pursuing denuclearization, only that he wants to reengage with Kim. The US and North Korea have typically avoided acknowledging North Korea's nuclear status, but Trump's comments could be seen as implicitly recognizing it. North Korea has rejected any negotiations centered on denuclearization and has responded to the announcement by dismissing the scaled-back military drills and claiming a "superior" relationship with Trump.
Despite this, some experts believe Trump may be using the potential acknowledgment of North Korea's nuclear status as a bargaining chip to bring the country back to negotiations.
Written by urgent.news from Hankyoreh's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
