No deal, no problem at Trump-Kim summit: analysts
Published: 03:02 PM,Feb 28,2019 | EDITED : 09:05 PM,May 04,2024
Third date? - Trump has previously said he and Kim 'fell in love' over an exchange of letters, and while no third summit with Kim had been agreed, the White House said working-level talks would continue. But in his New Year speech, a key political set-piece in the North, Kim said Pyongyang would seek a 'new way' to defend its interests if Washington did not offer concessions in return for the steps it has already taken -- a missile and nuclear test moratorium, and what it says is the destruction of facilities it no longer needs. That raises the prospect of Kim turning to neighbour and ally China for succour. In and before Hanoi, Trump repeatedly said the North could become an 'economic powerhouse' if it gave up its weapons. The two discussed liaison offices -- a vital initial step in normalising relations -- and Ankit Panda of the Federation of American Scientists said there were 'multiple credible reports an end-of-war declaration was on the table.' But those were 'never the 'corresponding measures' North Korea sought', he added. Pyongyang will once again have been able to portray itself as Washington's equal, and Kim as Trump's -- the state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper carried a front-page picture Thursday that showed the US president appearing to bow slightly as the pair shook hands. Former CIA analyst Soo Kim noted that Trump had insisted several times he was in no rush to complete a deal and that with the North not yet prepared to take the steps the US wanted, Trump 'so far looks at ease with this decision'. But, she told AFP: 'This outcome is likely not what the Kim regime had banked on. So it remains to be seen whether after the rug has been pulled from underneath, North Korea will bite again at another opportunity.'
Waning Moon - The no-result from Hanoi leaves South Korean President Moon Jae-in -- who seized on last year's Winter Olympics in his country to broker talks between Pyongyang and Washington -- in a bind. Moon had intended to unveil an inter-Korean economic co-operation plan on Friday, said former CIA staffer Kim, the 100th anniversary of a movement against Japanese colonial rule -- one issue on which North and South Koreans are in total agreement. Now suggestions of a Kim Jong Un trip to Seoul are likely to go on the back burner, and analyst Kim said it 'remained to be seen' whether Moon would be able to pursue his inter-Korean rapprochement so aggressively. Daniel Davis, Senior Fellow at Defense Priorities, said that as Kim had asked for 'something really big', the price he would be asked to pay next time would be higher, and Trump was holding 'all the cards'. 'I don't think it will be long until the next discussion... because Kim Jong Un can't afford to take a long time.' But while Trump has his eye on next year's US presidential election -- and is said to want a Nobel Peace Prize -- Kim is the third generation of his family to rule the North and undoubtedly expects to remain in power for decades. 'These talks will take a long time and will far outlive this presidency,' said David Kim. AFP