Trump Eyes North Korea Talks Amid Kim Jong Un's Nuclear Acceptance

As the U.S. nears an agreement with Iran, analyses suggest President Donald Trump's interest may turn to North Korea in the latter half of the year.

Amidst an atmosphere where China and Russia acknowledge North Korea's nuclear status, it is suggested that Kim Jong Un could agree to a meeting without discussing the abandonment of nuclear weapons.

Du Jinho, head of the Eurasian Research Center at the Korea Institute for National Strategy, assessed that while the support of China and Russia serves as a strong backing for Chairman Kim, it simultaneously narrows his independent strategic space. He added that even if negotiations with the U.S. commence, it could become a complex situation where North Korea has little to lose due to the role China and Russia play in maintaining sanctions.

The diplomatic gestures the Trump administration will make towards North Korea after the Iran agreement are expected to be a significant variable in the Northeast Asian security landscape in the latter half of the year. Amidst the presence of China and Russia and North Korea's heightened confidence in its nuclear capabilities, there are doubts as to whether a substantive denuclearization agreement can be achieved.