Bolton: "Trump pushes for possibility of next North Korea-US summit in Pyongyang"

Donald Trump, the former US President, believes there is a possibility of conducting the next North Korea-U.S. summit in Pyongyang, according to John Bolton, a former aide in the Trump administration. Bolton spoke at a virtual panel hosted by the Harvard University Institute for Strategic and International Studies (ICAS). He recalled that Trump became the first U.S. president to meet with the North Korean leader in 2018 in Singapore and the first to step onto North Korean soil during the 2019 inter-Korea summit in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

Bolton emphasized that the remaining step is for Trump to visit Pyongyang. He stated that Trump seeks a dramatic photo opportunity and wishes to divert attention from domestic issues, especially if the upcoming midterm elections in November are unfavorable. Bolton also noted that Trump's proposal to the Kim Jong-un during the 2018 Singapore summit was for Air Force One to fly together to Pyongyang, suggesting the summit's main purpose is to boost Trump's public image.

Bolton cautioned that the core objective of the North Korean side is to gain a positive public image from the summit, whereas the U.S. will assess the summit's effectiveness. He criticized Trump's approach of prioritizing personal relationships with leaders over policy coordination among military officials, citing the recent reduction of U.S. forces in South Korea and the sudden withdrawal of military drills during the 2018 Singapore summit.

Bolton also warned that North Korea might test U.S. resolve in defending South Korea through limited military provocations, such as claiming territories around the Northern Limit Line (NLL). Lastly, Bolton stated that the chances of the summit resulting in any substantial outcomes are very slim, as Kim Jong-un might actively participate due to the improved diplomatic environment and the memory of the failed Hanoi summit.