Trump may seek North Korea engagement after US midterm setback
Analysts suggest President Donald Trump could focus on foreign policy successes in his final two years, though Kim Jong Un may not respond.
President Donald Trump may increase efforts to re-engage with North Korea following setbacks in the US midterm elections, according to a report by Moneycontrol. Analysts and officials in Asia expect Trump to focus on foreign policy to build his legacy during the final two years of his term.
Ban Kil-joo, an international relations professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy in Seoul, said Trump is likely to devote significant effort to foreign policy successes if he faces domestic constraints. He added that engagement with North Korea could be part of an agenda to ensure a successor wins in 2028.
However, analysts suggest there is little incentive for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to respond. Kim has previously stated he is open to talks if Washington stops insisting the country give up its nuclear weapons. Kim Yo Jong, the leader's sister, said Pyongyang sees no need for talks now and denounced Washington's hostile policy.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in emailed comments to Reuters that Trump's foreign policy decisions have never been motivated by politics and that he will act in the best interest of national security. Trump met Kim three times during his first term, but a 2019 summit ended without an agreement on sanctions relief and the nuclear programme.
Regional allies South Korea and Japan have expressed concerns regarding potential concessions. Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha Womans University, said a summit that shelves denuclearisation would undermine deterrence and create policy friction between Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo.
