Trump Encouraged by Korea Summit, Upbeat About Meeting Kim

Promises he won't repeat mistakes of previous administrations

President Trump said Friday that he is encouraged by the summit between North and South Korea. This added to his administration expressing high hopes about Trump’s own upcoming meeting with North Korea’s Kim Jong-un

The meeting Friday between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in ended with agreement to move toward denuclearization and a peace deal to end the Korean War. The Korean War started in 1950, and has never officially ended.

While Trump has been cautious about the meeting with Kim, he has also praised the North Korean leader’s recent diplomatic efforts. On Friday, Trump assured that he wouldn’t repeat the mistakes of past administrations in dealing with North Korea.

Despite media reporting aimed at discouraging diplomacy with North Korea, President Trump has continued to advance the process toward talks. It is expected that the talks will take place in late May or early June. According to Trump, five locations are under consideration, and three or four possible dates.

That the two Koreas had their summit so successfully will only bolster the expectations for Trump to make a big deal in his own summit. This is likely to mean further pushback from media opponents of the talks, who seek to portray them as doomed to failure.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.