US Expert: Trump-Kim Summit Would Be Risky

Joel Wit, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center in the United States, pointed out that pursuing a summit between the leaders of North Korea and the US would be dangerous and that North Korea must confront a reality different from the past. Wit stated during a video appearance at the '2026 International Korean Peninsula Forum' that bringing former US President Donald Trump and North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un together would be a very dangerous proposition.

He explained that the effectiveness of international sanctions has diminished due to North Korea's increased nuclear weapons capabilities and the growing closeness between North Korea and Russia. He expressed concern that North Korea, facing reduced sanction efficacy due to its advanced nuclear capabilities and close ties with Russia, would likely seek to push its agenda through a North Korea-US summit.

Joel Wit said that while North Korea was serious about dialogue in the past, such seriousness is not evident today. He emphasized that the era of seeking change over the past 30 years is over and that North Korea must be understood from a realistic perspective. Wit compared the current situation to the first Trump administration in 2018-2019, pointing out that the reality faced is vastly different. He noted that during the first administration, resources were available to provide a roadmap for North Korea policy, but such resources are currently lacking.

Wit suggested that North Korea might agree to proposals at the level of a joint declaration to prevent nuclear war. Overall, he stated that a cautious approach is necessary, facing North Korea's changed reality head-on. Wit has consistently researched the North Korean nuclear issue and is also a co-founder of 38North, a specialized analytical media outlet on North Korea. He clearly expressed a skeptical view on future North Korea-US dialogue prospects, presenting an overall pessimistic outlook that a cautious approach is needed, acknowledging North Korea's altered reality.