IAEA chief backs potential Trump-Kim meeting, calls it 'very important': report

The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog has voiced his backing for a possible rendezvous between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, emphasizing the significance of such a meeting, according to a report. Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, made these remarks during an interview with The Washington Post, as Trump recently revealed his intention to meet Kim later this year.

Grossi reiterated that the meeting is of "very important" importance, despite Kim's reputation as a human rights abuser and autocrat. He underscored the importance of diplomacy, drawing parallels to Trump's efforts to broker a deal between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Grossi asserted that "shaking hands is what diplomacy is for," and that a subsequent conversation, conducted in a cordial and respectful manner, could potentially lead to tangible outcomes.

Trump's pursuit of a summit with Kim has elicited a mix of reactions, with some optimistic about its potential to reinvigorate stalled peace initiatives and alleviate tensions on the Korean Peninsula, while others harbor concerns that it may inadvertently legitimize Kim as a global leader, given the ongoing challenge of North Korea's denuclearization.

Reports suggest that Trump is aiming for a meeting with Kim during his upcoming trip to Asia, possibly during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China, in November. Trump had three face-to-face encounters with Kim during his first term, including the inaugural meeting in Singapore in June 2018, the subsequent meeting in Hanoi in February 2019, and the final meeting at the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom in June 2019.