Diplomatic Gap Between Intention and Invitation

Trump-Kim Relations: A Diplomatic Gap Between “Intention” and “Invitation”

Lebanon Today

The Wall Street Journal, citing sources in the US administration, reported that the White House has not yet extended a formal invitation to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to meet with US President Donald Trump during his upcoming Asian tour.

This news follows statements made by Trump on Friday, expressing his willingness to meet with Kim during his tour, which sparked speculation about the possibility of a new diplomatic move between Washington and Pyongyang.

According to the newspaper, “The only statement issued on this subject is what Trump said in the media, and this was not followed by any official contacts or arrangements,” which, according to its sources, indicates a lack of prior coordination between the president’s statements and official diplomatic moves.

Current and former US officials indicated that the current situation in Washington reflects an implicit recognition that North Korea has become a de facto nuclear power, and that it is unlikely to give up its arsenal in the near future, which reflects Pyongyang’s increasing successes in the nuclear field.

It is worth noting that US President Donald Trump has met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un three historical times:

Singapore – June 2018

Hanoi – February 2019

Panmunjom (Demilitarized Zone) – June 2019

These meetings represented an unprecedented shift in relations between the two countries, but they did not result in a final agreement on the North Korean nuclear program.

For his part, Kim expressed his readiness for dialogue with Trump, but stipulated that Washington abandon the demand for complete nuclear disarmament, expressing in previous statements positive memories towards the current US President, describing him as “a leader who knows how to respect opponents.”