A former U.S. official has predicted that if U.S. President Donald Trump meets with North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, the table will include implicit acceptance of North Korea’s nuclear program, an agreement to end the war, and the suspension of joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises.
Anthony Ruggiero, who served as the director for North Korea at the White House National Security Council (NSC) during the first Trump administration, wrote in an op-ed for The Hill, a U.S. congressional news outlet, on the 27th (local time) that “there is a strong likelihood that Kim Jong-un’s negotiations with Trump will include at least implicit recognition of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.” Former Director Ruggiero went on to say, “Trump could propose a peace treaty to officially end the Korean War, improve political and economic relations, and permanently suspend the U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises,” adding, “Trump could also promote inter-Korean dialogue.” He suggested that President Trump should advocate for verifiable limitations on North Korea’s long-range ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons program. He also added that it should be included in the agreement that North Korea withdraw its troops and stop providing military support in Russia, where it is at war with Ukraine.
Former Director Rugiero said that President Trump might visit North Korea or a neutral zone to sign an agreement with Chairman Kim, and that this could be a dramatic scene worthy of intense media attention for President Trump. It was also analyzed that by sanctioning North Korean nationals operating in China and Chinese banks and individuals that help North Korea evade sanctions, President Trump could secure leverage in negotiations with Chairman Kim. He said that such measures are at a level similar to U.S. pressure aimed at small Chinese refineries that process Iranian crude oil, and therefore are unlikely to provoke Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Former Director Rugiero said that negotiations with North Korea would not be easy, explaining, “Many people see North Korea as a backward, reclusive kingdom, but North Korea has negotiated with the United States for more than 30 years and has generally achieved the results it seeks.” At the same time, he defended President Trump’s approach to North Korea, saying that although President Trump would face criticism for pushing for talks with Chairman Kim, he should be evaluated for pursuing a realistic goal, unlike previous administrations that repeated the same negotiation strategy while hoping for different outcomes.
Former Director Rugiero served as the NSC director for North Korea in 2018–2019, the same period when President Trump held a summit with North Korea during the first administration. Kim Yeon-jun (kimfed@ikbc.co.kr )
At this point, it seems that Trump's foreign policy is at a self-harming level.
Once both ends are cut, whose cooperation will it take to be able to hold the United States in place It's a look that doesn't even think.
