What Trump’s crush on Kim means for the Indo-Pacific
As the U.S president cozies up to the North Korean dictator, America's allies in the region are building a new defense architecture.
For decades, U.S. leaders have pledged to focus more on the Asia-Pacific region, but that priority has waned under President Donald Trump's second administration. The Trump administration's attention on East Asia has been diverted by other conflicts, such as the war in Iran. Although Trump visited China, his trip was overshadowed by the ongoing military confrontation in the Middle East.
Recently, his unexpected connection with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has re-emerged as a focal point. Trump described Pyongyang as "unthreatening and respectful," and he directed the Pentagon to reduce joint military drills with South Korea. These actions were motivated by perceived costs and his revived relationship with Kim.
The White House has consistently indicated a willingness to engage with Pyongyang, even without any prior conditions. However, the newspaper has recently reported that North Korea's growing economic and military partnerships with Russia during that nation's conflict with Ukraine has introduced a more crucial query: Will Kim still consider it worthwhile to resume discussions with the United States?
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
