Trump could discuss 'tacit' N.K. nuke acceptance, peace treaty, allied drills with Kim in possible summit: ex-official

Former U.S. official Anthony Ruggiero has suggested that President Donald Trump may discuss North Korea's nuclear program, a peace treaty, and an end to joint military exercises with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un if a summit between the two leaders takes place. Ruggiero, who served as the National Security Council's director for North Korea during the first Trump administration, made these comments in an opinion piece published by The Hill.

He stated that Trump could tacitly accept North Korea's nuclear weapons program, offer a peace treaty ending the Korean War, and end U.S.-South Korea military drills. Ruggiero also mentioned that Trump might facilitate future negotiations between the two Koreas. Concerns have emerged that Trump may take a more pragmatic approach to North Korea, focusing on goals short of denuclearization, such as arms control or tension reduction.

However, the State Department reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to North Korea's complete denuclearization. Ruggiero emphasized the need for verifiable limits on North Korea's long-range ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs, as well as North Korea withdrawing all military assistance to Russia in Ukraine, if a deal with Kim is reached.

He also suggested that Trump might travel to North Korea or a neutral site to sign a deal with Kim, describing it as a "made-for-TV moment" in his presidency.