Media: Trump may seek denuclearisation dialogue with North Korean leader

On January 13, South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) stated that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump might seek to engage in dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his second term.

During a briefing to the National Assembly’s Intelligence Committee, NIS officials explained that Trump views the success of his first-term summit with Kim as one of his key achievements, and there is a possibility he may push for further talks with the North Korean leader, Caliber.Az reports via Yonhap.

The NIS noted that the appointment of "loyalist" Richard Grenell as special envoy and "negotiator" Alex Wong as Deputy National Security Advisor suggests that Trump may be open to negotiations. They assessed that smaller-scale agreements, such as freezing North Korea's nuclear program or military reductions, could be pursued, as achieving complete denuclearization within a short timeframe would be difficult.

Furthermore, the NIS mentioned that Trump may adopt a more passive approach to North Korean human rights issues, similar to his first term.

The NIS report also emphasized that South Korea needs to prevent any unilateral nuclear deals between North Korea and the U.S. that exclude South Korea.

Regarding North Korea’s policy towards the U.S., the NIS highlighted that at the 11th plenary session of the 8th Party Congress held late last year, North Korea formally adopted a hardline stance towards the incoming Trump administration. It was noted that several key officials, including Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, Defense Minister No Kwang-chol, and General Staff Director Ri Yong-gil, were promoted within the Party's Political Bureau to strengthen ties with Russia. 

Additionally, the NIS observed that Kim Yo-jong, while not undergoing a formal title change, continues to play a significant role in delivering statements regarding U.S. and South Korean matters, effectively serving as Kim Jong-un's closest confidante.

By Khagan Isayev