Trump Reaches for a Familiar Playbook
President Trump says he wants to meet North Korea’s Kim Jong Un again—before the year ends. He mentioned it while hosting South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung at the White House. Trump claims he still has a strong connection with Kim and thinks another face-to-face could restart talks.
His comments stirred debate. Supporters say it’s Trump doing what he does best: skipping the red tape and going straight to the source. Critics see it as a stunt that props up a brutal regime without delivering real results.
Trump’s history with Kim is full of moments but short on outcomes. The Singapore summit in 2018 and the DMZ photo-op in 2019 made headlines. But North Korea never stopped building weapons. Still, Trump believes personal diplomacy can work where traditional talks failed.
Seoul Reacts with Caution
President Lee welcomed the idea with a mix of hope and humor. He joked about Trump Tower in Pyongyang and golfing with Kim but made it clear: Seoul wants peace but is wary.
South Korea knows these talks can go nowhere. Past efforts looked promising, then fell apart. Kim kept the weapons, kept testing missiles, and offered no signs of compromise.
For Pyongyang, nukes aren’t a bargaining chip—they’re non-negotiable. Unless Trump offers major incentives, like lifting sanctions or giving ironclad security guarantees, there’s little reason for Kim to back off. That’s the reality.
Seoul supports dialogue but not at any cost. Lee’s government is walking a fine line: support diplomacy, but don’t get played.
More Optics or Real Moves?
Trump loves the spotlight. Past meetings with Kim gave him global attention. Another one could do the same. But the risk is clear: a flashy summit that changes nothing.
The key issue—denuclearization—hasn’t moved. North Korea hasn’t offered real cuts to its arsenal. Trump hasn’t explained how he’d change that. Without a clear plan, the meeting would be more show than progress.
Some say Trump wants to look like a leader who can still make big moves. Sitting down with Kim again would grab headlines. But unless something new happens, it would just repeat the old pattern.
Meanwhile, the world is shifting. China and Russia are locking horns with the U.S., and North Korea is getting closer to both. Kim isn’t as isolated as before. He’s got options. He doesn’t need Trump like he once did.
That changes the stakes. A Trump-Kim meeting might not mean much without serious groundwork. And so far, there’s no sign of that.
Still, Trump sees value. If he can open talks, he signals power. He tells China and Russia that the U.S. still holds cards in Asia. That matters in global politics, even if it doesn’t lead to a deal.
What Happens Next?
Trump’s idea might go somewhere. Or it might vanish, like so many promises. If a summit happens, the question remains: will it be different this time?
Kim might say yes. It puts him back in the spotlight. He gets to sit across from a former U.S. president again. That gives him prestige without giving up much.
Trump also benefits. He revives a major story from his presidency. It feeds his image as a dealmaker. But if it’s just for show, it won’t mean anything.
The issue is still the nukes. If Kim won’t budge and Trump won’t push harder, then nothing changes.
The world is watching, again. Not for the handshakes, but for what comes after. If there’s no plan, no progress, no pressure, it’s just noise.
A new summit only matters if it moves things forward. Otherwise, it’s more headlines with no substance—and we’ve seen that story before.
