September 17, 2018

This week, South Korean President Moon Jae-in flies to Pyongyang to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The United States and North Korea are working to set up a second meeting between US President Donald Trump and Mr Kim. These developments certainly raise hopes for a reinvigoration of negotiations on denuclearising the North, which were propelled forward by the summits involving the three leaders held in quick succession earlier this year.

But optimism should be guarded. A solution to the nuclear crisis, which has threatened security and stability in the region for a quarter of a century, will not come soon and easily. The history - including what has happened in the short months before and after the historic Trump-Kim meeting in Singapore in June - tells you why the prospects should not be all bright.

There have been twists and disruptions, like Mr Trump's abrupt abortion of the summit itself, which he revoked eventually; the recent cancellation of a visit to Pyongyang by his Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and, more importantly, Mr Kim's failure to follow up on his promise to denuclearise.

Read more:

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/kim-jong-un-should-seize-the-chance-to-end-nuclear-crisis