France's Le Monde: Will Trump and Kim Jong-un meet again? It is not impossible
Recently, US President Trump mentioned during a meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol at the White House that he hopes to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un this year. A Trump-Kim summit is not impossible. Moreover, a potential second meeting between Trump and Kim might take place without the participation of South Korea.
Is Trump's "free speech" his usual behavior?
On Monday, August 25, US President Trump mentioned during a meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol at the White House that he hopes to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un this year. This has raised doubts among the outside world. For many people, this idea seems unlikely, as dialogue between Trump and Kim has been frozen since the 2019 Hanoi Summit ended without results. The sudden mention of a "fourth summit" naturally makes people doubt whether it is just another one of Trump's "free speeches."
Currently, Pyongyang has not responded to Trump's idea.
Additionally, on July 29, a month ago, Kim Yo-jong, sister of Kim Jong-un, said that negotiations would be possible if Washington abandoned its demand for North Korea to denuclearize. Kim Yo-jong also added that the relationship between Trump and Kim Jong-un was "good."
Le Monde believes that a second meeting between Trump and Kim Jong-un is not impossible: first, Trump and Kim know each other; second, Pyongyang has made positive statements to Washington; third, with Washington resuming communication with Moscow and Pyongyang's relations with Beijing warming up, a new situation may facilitate a Trump-Kim meeting.
Chung Sang-chang, vice president of the Sejong Institute in South Korea, said, "Kim Jong-un will not attend the APEC Summit held in South Korea; but Trump and Kim Jong-un may meet at the Panmunjom Demilitarized Zone on the Korean Peninsula."
What will they talk about?
If Trump and Kim Jong-un meet, the most difficult issue could be what they will discuss: after all, Pyongyang has ruled out the possibility of discussing North Korea's denuclearization.
What will they talk about? On March 31, Trump called North Korea a "nuclear power," but the White House quickly "put out the fire," reiterating that the US goal remains the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Since denuclearization cannot be discussed, other topics must be found. Trump obviously sensed the "opportunity," on August 25, he praised North Korea as having "huge potential and an extraordinary future" to Yoon Suk-yeol. The South Korean president responded by saying that a Trump Tower would be built in Pyongyang, and that he hoped one day he could play golf with Trump at the Trump Tower in Pyongyang.
No need for the South Korean president
However, a second meeting between Kim Jong-un and Trump might not require the presence of the South Korean president, as Kim Jong-un can meet with Trump without Yoon Suk-yeol. In 2017, North Korea was very isolated, even China and Russia were imposing sanctions on it. Therefore, Kim Jong-un used then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in to get close to Trump. Now, both leaders have mutual understanding, and both leaders have good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, so a Trump-Kim meeting might not require South Korea anymore.
Nevertheless, since their meeting in 2019, both sides continue to insult and criticize each other. On August 26, North Korea condemned the US-South Korean joint military exercises, calling them a "prelude to invasion." The US Department of Treasury imposed new sanctions on North Korea on August 27.
In summary, the fourth summit between Trump and Kim Jong-un may or may not happen; it might just be a passing fad. However, regardless of the outcome, Trump and Kim Jong-un have once again successfully captured global attention. Whether it can truly promote peace on the Korean Peninsula or just leave a few smiling photos remains to be seen when the summit begins.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841849491181834/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.