Trump Eyes North Korea’s Demands: A High‑Voltage Diplomatic Dance
In a breezy pre‑flight of the G20 summit, the U.S. President turned his attention to the most unlikely of partners on the world stage: North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. President Donald Trump told South Korean leader Moon Jae‑in he’s eager to see Kim fulfill the denuclearization promises made during their historic Singapore summit.
What the President Wants
- “Trump has a warm view of Chairman Kim and genuinely likes him,”
- and he’d love to see the third stage of their pact completed.
- He’s out here hoping Kim can live up to the rest of the deal and that the North can manifest what it wants.
South Korean Motion to the White House
While hopping across continents to New Zealand, Moon received a capsule from Trump— a clear message to be passed along. “We’re looking forward to a follow‑up meeting in early 2019,” Trump announced in Buenos Aires. “We’re getting along very well. We have a good relationship.”
“Would There Be A North Korean Summit in the U.S.?”
Asked about hosting Kim back home, Trump rolled his tongue at the question. “At some point, yeah,” he answered, leaving the world guessing whether the Trump Tower would host a Kim Jong Un banquette.
The Nap‑Nap-Add a Vague Summary
During their Singapore summit earlier in the year, the two leaders inked what analysts describe as the world’s most vaguely worded denuclearization agreement.
Slow Progress & The Tension between Assurances
- The agreement has stalled, largely due to a tug‑of‑war over what “denuclearization” really means.
- U.S. officials insist on a complete, verified, and irreversible dismantling of North Korea’s arsenal before lifting sanctions.
- North Korea balks at “unilateral” disarmament and has instead pushed for a reciprocal, step‑by‑step approach.
What’s In The White House’s Playbook?
While Washington rages on hardware trade-offs, Seoul’s leadership—led by Moon—leans toward more robust engagement. That difference may become a cracker‑jack barrier, like two kids arguing over how to share the last Twizzlers.
Concrete Steps: Mine‑Free Zones & Bunker Busters
Meanwhile, the two Koreas have begun removing landmines and demolishing military bunkers along their shared border—an effort to turn decades of tension into a more peaceful corridor.
A Working Title!
Could we see a new era of cross‑border cooperation? Only time and a lot of diplomatic sweat will tell.
