US President Trump expressed a desire to reach out to North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un during an interview on Thursday. It turns out that Kim has inspected a nuclear production facility to exert pressure on the US to get agreed upon beneficial terms through curated diplomacy. On January 23, trump revealed his plans to meet North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un following his return to the White House. The question was asked during an interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity. Trump had replied, “I’ll reach out to him again”. He added, “Well he liked me” recalling their previous meet.
Experts believe that this rekindled diplomacy might result in an agreement in which North Korea relinquishes its missile capabilities in return for easing sanctions.
What is Kim Jong Un up to?
On the other side of the ocean, in North Korea, the dictator inspected a nuclear power production facility and the Nuclear Weapons Institute, according to reports from the official Korean Central News Agency. Predictions suggest that he visited the uranium enrichment facility which he also toured last September. It appears that Kim Jong Un is preparing for a meeting with the United States to discuss the nuclear deal and aims to navigate diplomatic tactics toward an agreement.
During Kim’s latest visit, he praised the scientist of the nuclear base saying, “producing weapons-grade nuclear materials and strengthening the nuclear shield of the country.” Additionally, the state news of North Korea revealed country’s new budget which included a significant change in the national defense capabilities.
Kim’s move indicates his vision of nuclear expansion discussion with Trump, and now the US president is willing to revive the diplomacy between two countries. This meet-up can turn into political concession and aid according to analysts.
The experts interpret that Kim likely believes he has better bargaining skills than in the previous round of diplomacy with Trump, due to deepening military ties with Russia and an enlarged nuclear arsenal.
Trump’s Take
The strained diplomatic relations between North Korea and the United States in 2018-2019, caused by economic sanctions, may improve with the beginning of Trump’s second term as President. The likelihood of renewed diplomatic efforts between the US and North Korea has significantly increased.
Trump called Kim Jong Un, ‘not a religious zealot’ and a ‘smart guy’, he even agreed to reach out with the North Korean dictator. Trump went ahead to the extent of saying, “It’s nice to get along when somebody has a lot of nuclear weapons,” hours after his inauguration.
The Long History Between the Presidents
Before the 2018 and 2019 meetings of both leaders, there was a chain of threats of nuclear war between the two countries’ leaders. After the meetings turned the tables and Trump was seen declaring on a social media platform that, he “fell in love” with President Kim and “North Korea is no more a threat”, no discussions or important decisions were taken regarding the sanctions imposed on North Korea or the nuclear missile program.
President Kim will wait until the Workers’ Party meeting in June or September to respond to Trump’s wishes, according to a senior analyst Hong Min.
Haripriya Mishra is a journalist deeply interested in world news and geopolitics. She likes to explore the complexities of global affairs and strives to bring clarity to these issues through thoughtful journalism. Through her writing, she intends to raise the right questions, fostering informed discussions about national and international matters. Haripriya aims to use journalism as a platform to connect with people, share diverse perspectives, and contribute to a deeper understanding of global issues. She is committed to producing content that is accurate, ethical, and impactful. She enjoys creative writing and reflecting on the nuances of media and storytelling.
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