Trump’s Staff Considers Direct Negotiations with North Korea – Reuters
The upcoming US administration is said to be aiming to restore fundamental communication between Washington and Pyongyang. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The initial goal is reportedly to reestablish basic engagement between Washington and Pyongyang.
US President-elect Donald Trump’s team is considering the possibility of direct talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a means to reduce the risks of a potential armed conflict, according to a report from Reuters. Sources suggest that this approach comes in light of tensions exacerbated by recent statements from Kim, who accused the US of heightening the risk of nuclear war through provocations.
Individuals familiar with the situation indicated that the initial aim would be to facilitate basic engagement and break the ice with Kim, though no definitive decisions have been reached by the president-elect.
Last week, Trump appointed former State Department official Alex Wong, known for his role in overseeing North Korea strategy during his initial administration, as deputy national security adviser.
During his first term, Trump famously referred to Kim as “Little Rocket Man” and threatened to unleash “fire and fury” if North Korea proceeded with its nuclear tests. The two leaders engaged in a public war of words, exchanging insults and what Trump described as “beautiful” letters, with Kim labeling Trump a “dotard.”
Between 2018 and 2019, Trump and Kim met three times—in Singapore, Hanoi, and at the Korean Demilitarized Zone, marking a historic occasion as the first time a sitting US president entered North Korea. Trump characterized their discussions as a romance, claiming they fell “in love,” although the negotiations did not yield a denuclearization agreement or any sanctions relief.
Nevertheless, the engagement between Trump and Kim led to a temporary thaw in relations on the Korean Peninsula, which has since reverted to a state of hostility between the North and the South.
The report highlighted that Kim disregarded four years of overtures from outgoing US President Joe Biden to initiate talks without preconditions. Under the Biden administration, the US and South Korea have resumed joint military exercises, which Pyongyang perceives as a significant security threat, alleging that these drills could mask preparations for an invasion.
At a recent defense expo in Pyongyang, Kim accused Washington of overstepping its bounds by asserting a global sphere of influence and employing military threats against dissenting nations, including North Korea. “We have already explored every possible avenue in negotiating with the US,” Kim remarked, asserting that Washington’s “aggressive and hostile policy toward North Korea will never change.”
During his campaign, Trump remarked that Kim “misses” him and suggested that North Korea would not be “acting up” upon his return to office. In response, North Korean state media commented over the summer that the country’s leadership “do not care” who occupies the US presidency, indicating that Kim’s nuclear weapons policy is likely to persist regardless of US leadership.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
US President-elect Donald Trump’s team is considering the possibility of direct talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a means to reduce the risks of a potential armed conflict, according to a report from Reuters. Sources suggest that this approach comes in light of tensions exacerbated by recent statements from Kim, who accused the US of heightening the risk of nuclear war through provocations.
Individuals familiar with the situation indicated that the initial aim would be to facilitate basic engagement and break the ice with Kim, though no definitive decisions have been reached by the president-elect.
Last week, Trump appointed former State Department official Alex Wong, known for his role in overseeing North Korea strategy during his initial administration, as deputy national security adviser.
During his first term, Trump famously referred to Kim as “Little Rocket Man” and threatened to unleash “fire and fury” if North Korea proceeded with its nuclear tests. The two leaders engaged in a public war of words, exchanging insults and what Trump described as “beautiful” letters, with Kim labeling Trump a “dotard.”
Between 2018 and 2019, Trump and Kim met three times—in Singapore, Hanoi, and at the Korean Demilitarized Zone, marking a historic occasion as the first time a sitting US president entered North Korea. Trump characterized their discussions as a romance, claiming they fell “in love,” although the negotiations did not yield a denuclearization agreement or any sanctions relief.
Nevertheless, the engagement between Trump and Kim led to a temporary thaw in relations on the Korean Peninsula, which has since reverted to a state of hostility between the North and the South.
The report highlighted that Kim disregarded four years of overtures from outgoing US President Joe Biden to initiate talks without preconditions. Under the Biden administration, the US and South Korea have resumed joint military exercises, which Pyongyang perceives as a significant security threat, alleging that these drills could mask preparations for an invasion.
At a recent defense expo in Pyongyang, Kim accused Washington of overstepping its bounds by asserting a global sphere of influence and employing military threats against dissenting nations, including North Korea. “We have already explored every possible avenue in negotiating with the US,” Kim remarked, asserting that Washington’s “aggressive and hostile policy toward North Korea will never change.”
During his campaign, Trump remarked that Kim “misses” him and suggested that North Korea would not be “acting up” upon his return to office. In response, North Korean state media commented over the summer that the country’s leadership “do not care” who occupies the US presidency, indicating that Kim’s nuclear weapons policy is likely to persist regardless of US leadership.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
