Next Trump-Kim Summit Would Start on North Korea's Terms
This analysis argues that a potential future Trump-Kim summit would begin with North Korea in a far stronger negotiating position than in 2018-2019. Key factors include Xi Jinping's first Pyongyang visit in seven years (June 2026), a ratified Russia-North Korea strategic partnership providing economic and military support, and Kim Jong Un's declaration that his nuclear arsenal is permanent. The article contends that Washington's old leverage—sanctions relief and normalization—is diminished, as Pyongyang now seeks practical recognition as a nuclear state without formal designation. A freeze on weapons development in exchange for sanctions relief, rather than denuclearization, is emerging as the likely bargaining framework, with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung floating a similar proposal reportedly discussed with Trump.
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