North Korea: Will Trump-Kim talks happen anytime soon?
As Donald Trump claims a meeting is planned with Kim Jong Un, North Korea's response sends a signal that it wants maximum concessions in return for talks with the US.
North Korea launched a series of ballistic missiles on Thursday in response to US President Donald Trump's claim that he will meet with leader Kim Jong Un later in the year. The South Korean military reported that Pyongyang fired 10 short-range missiles into the sea off the country's east coast. Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of Kim Jong Un, stated that North Korea is "completely unaware" of any plans for negotiations.
Trump announced on Wednesday that he is in contact with Kim and that the two leaders would meet in the future, following the US scaling back annual military drills with South Korea. Kim Yo Jong dismissed the US decision to reduce the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, insisting that North Korea requires more substantial concessions before engaging in talks.
Analysts suggest that North Korea may demand greater guarantees from the US before considering negotiations, particularly after Trump's failure to meet with Kim in Hanoi in 2019. The North Korean regime has strengthened its ties with Russia and China, receiving military technology, energy, and consumer goods in return for its nuclear program.
This has given Kim Jong Un leverage to demand greater support from Beijing. The upcoming US midterm elections on November 3 may create political urgency for Trump to secure an agreement with Kim before the election. However, there are concerns among South Korean citizens that Trump may prioritize an agreement over South Korea's security needs.
APEC forum in Shenzhen, China, on November 18-19 could potentially serve as a venue for a meeting between Trump and Kim.
Written by urgent.news from DW English (Top Stories)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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