United States President Donald Trump has stirred controversy with his latest remarks about North Korea, expressing that "we will have relations" with the Pyongyang regime. During a press briefing at the White House alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Trump stated, "We will establish relations with North Korea and Kim Jong-un. I got along very well with him."
Trump emphasized, "I believe it's highly beneficial for everyone that I have a good rapport with him. I like him, I mean, we get along well, he gets along well with me. And that's a positive, not a negative," as reported by Efe news agency.
This announcement comes amid increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Last year, Pyongyang reaffirmed a "comprehensive strategic cooperation" treaty with Moscow, inclusive of a mutual defense clause. This agreement has raised alarms within the international community, particularly due to North Korea's military backing of Russia in the Ukraine conflict, including deploying soldiers to the frontline.
One potential aim of Trump's engagement with Kim Jong-un could be to mitigate the risk of armed conflict and address the growing collaboration between Pyongyang and Moscow.
Past Interactions Between Trump and Kim Jong-un
During his first term (2017-2021), Donald Trump experienced a fluctuating relationship with Kim Jong-un, ranging from war threats to unprecedented diplomatic meetings. In 2017, tensions reached a peak when Trump warned at the United Nations that he could "totally destroy" North Korea if its nuclear program continued. Kim Jong-un retaliated with derogatory remarks, as his regime conducted intercontinental missile tests capable of reaching U.S. soil.
However, in 2018, the focus shifted towards diplomacy with an initial summit in Singapore, resulting in a vague denuclearization agreement. A second summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2019, collapsed due to disagreements over sanctions relief and the dismantling of North Korea's nuclear arsenal. Nevertheless, months later, Trump made history by becoming the first sitting U.S. president to set foot in North Korea during a visit to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), although no tangible progress was made.
By late 2019, negotiations had stalled, and North Korea resumed its missile tests. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 further diminished negotiation prospects. Despite the unprecedented communication between the two leaders, Trump's strategy failed to achieve Pyongyang's denuclearization or significant regional security changes, leaving the relationship in an uncertain state at the end of his presidency.
Understanding Trump's North Korea Strategy
What was the nature of Trump's relationship with Kim Jong-un?
During his presidency, Trump had a fluctuating relationship with Kim Jong-un, ranging from hostile threats to diplomatic engagements, including historical meetings in Singapore, Hanoi, and the DMZ.
Why is the North Korea and Russia alliance concerning?
The alliance is concerning due to the military support North Korea has provided to Russia, especially in the conflict in Ukraine, which includes sending soldiers to the frontline.
Did Trump's efforts lead to North Korea's denuclearization?
Despite unprecedented dialogue, Trump's attempts did not result in the denuclearization of North Korea nor significant improvements in regional security.