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Kim Jong-un Visits South Korea? The South Says It Could Happen Kim Jong-un Visits South Korea? The South Says It Could Happen
(about 20 hours later)
SEOUL, South Korea — Kim Jong-un could meet again with President Trump and even visit South Korea in November if expected talks between Pyongyang and Washington make progress on eliminating North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, South Korean intelligence officials told lawmakers on Tuesday.SEOUL, South Korea — Kim Jong-un could meet again with President Trump and even visit South Korea in November if expected talks between Pyongyang and Washington make progress on eliminating North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, South Korean intelligence officials told lawmakers on Tuesday.
South Korean officials have been considering inviting Mr. Kim to a conference of Southeast Asian countries that is planned in Busan, a port city on the southeastern tip of South Korea, in November.South Korean officials have been considering inviting Mr. Kim to a conference of Southeast Asian countries that is planned in Busan, a port city on the southeastern tip of South Korea, in November.
Neither North Korea nor the United States has officially announced the resumption of dialogue. But after a monthslong hiatus, denuclearization talks between the two countries will most likely take place within “two or three weeks,” Kim Min-ki, a governing-party lawmaker, quoted intelligence officials as saying during a closed-door parliamentary hearing on Tuesday in Seoul, the South’s capital.Neither North Korea nor the United States has officially announced the resumption of dialogue. But after a monthslong hiatus, denuclearization talks between the two countries will most likely take place within “two or three weeks,” Kim Min-ki, a governing-party lawmaker, quoted intelligence officials as saying during a closed-door parliamentary hearing on Tuesday in Seoul, the South’s capital.
If such talks lead to a breakthrough and Mr. Kim visits South Korea, it would be the first such trip by a North Korean leader to the South beyond the Demilitarized Zone and could give the party of South Korea’s president, Moon Jae-in, a lift ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for April.If such talks lead to a breakthrough and Mr. Kim visits South Korea, it would be the first such trip by a North Korean leader to the South beyond the Demilitarized Zone and could give the party of South Korea’s president, Moon Jae-in, a lift ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for April.
When Mr. Kim and Mr. Moon met in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, last September, Mr. Kim promised to visit Seoul soon. But that promise was never fulfilled as subsequent talks between North Korea and the United States stalled over deep differences over how to denuclearize the North, damaging inter-Korean relations.When Mr. Kim and Mr. Moon met in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, last September, Mr. Kim promised to visit Seoul soon. But that promise was never fulfilled as subsequent talks between North Korea and the United States stalled over deep differences over how to denuclearize the North, damaging inter-Korean relations.
North Korean officials have also recently indicated that talks with Washington could resume in coming weeks. If such working-level talks were successful, Mr. Trump and the North Korean leader could hold another summit this year, said Mr. Kim, the South Korean lawmaker.North Korean officials have also recently indicated that talks with Washington could resume in coming weeks. If such working-level talks were successful, Mr. Trump and the North Korean leader could hold another summit this year, said Mr. Kim, the South Korean lawmaker.
Lee Eun-jae, an opposition lawmaker who also attended the parliamentary session with intelligence officials, quoted them as saying that Kim Jong-un also “may come to Busan depending on the result of denuclearization talks” with Washington.Lee Eun-jae, an opposition lawmaker who also attended the parliamentary session with intelligence officials, quoted them as saying that Kim Jong-un also “may come to Busan depending on the result of denuclearization talks” with Washington.
Mr. Moon, the South Korean leader, has been desperate for a breakthrough in North Korean-United States talks in order to revive his signature policy of improving inter-Korean ties.Mr. Moon, the South Korean leader, has been desperate for a breakthrough in North Korean-United States talks in order to revive his signature policy of improving inter-Korean ties.
He has been hit hard by a slew of domestic and external problems in recent months, including a slowing economy and a diplomatic row with Japan.He has been hit hard by a slew of domestic and external problems in recent months, including a slowing economy and a diplomatic row with Japan.
His approval ratings have fallen in recent weeks after damaging revelations in the news media around his appointment of Cho Kuk, one of his former presidential aides, as justice minister. On Monday, prosecutors raided Mr. Cho’s home to collect evidence on a flood of allegations of ethical lapses in his family that have dominated newspaper headlines for weeks. His approval ratings have fallen in recent weeks after damaging reports in the news media around his appointment of Cho Kuk, one of his former presidential aides, as justice minister. On Monday, prosecutors raided Mr. Cho’s home to collect evidence on a flood of allegations of ethical lapses in his family that have dominated newspaper headlines for weeks.
Mr. Moon’s political stock soared when he met Mr. Kim three times last year, helping arrange his summit meetings with Mr. Trump in an effort to work out a deal on dismantling the North’s nuclear weapons and establishing a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.Mr. Moon’s political stock soared when he met Mr. Kim three times last year, helping arrange his summit meetings with Mr. Trump in an effort to work out a deal on dismantling the North’s nuclear weapons and establishing a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.
But the enthusiasm for Mr. Moon’s approach cratered after Mr. Kim and Mr. Trump abruptly ended their second summit, in Hanoi, Vietnam, in February, without a deal on how fast and thoroughly North Korea should dismantle its nuclear program.But the enthusiasm for Mr. Moon’s approach cratered after Mr. Kim and Mr. Trump abruptly ended their second summit, in Hanoi, Vietnam, in February, without a deal on how fast and thoroughly North Korea should dismantle its nuclear program.
North Korea has since rejected dialogue with South Korea, dismissing Mr. Moon’s role as mediator and calling him “officious” and “double-dealing.”North Korea has since rejected dialogue with South Korea, dismissing Mr. Moon’s role as mediator and calling him “officious” and “double-dealing.”
Despite such slights, Mr. Moon has resumed his efforts to revive diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula, meeting on Monday with Mr. Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.Despite such slights, Mr. Moon has resumed his efforts to revive diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula, meeting on Monday with Mr. Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Mr. Moon said he hoped that working-level negotiations between the United States and North Korea could be held soon to lay the groundwork for another summit between Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim. But Mr. Trump indicated Monday that he wanted to know what he could achieve in another meeting with Mr. Kim before committing himself to another summit.Mr. Moon said he hoped that working-level negotiations between the United States and North Korea could be held soon to lay the groundwork for another summit between Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim. But Mr. Trump indicated Monday that he wanted to know what he could achieve in another meeting with Mr. Kim before committing himself to another summit.
“Right now, people would like to see that happen,” Mr. Trump said on the sidelines of the United Nations meeting. “I want to know what’s going to be coming out of it. We can know a lot before the summit takes place.”“Right now, people would like to see that happen,” Mr. Trump said on the sidelines of the United Nations meeting. “I want to know what’s going to be coming out of it. We can know a lot before the summit takes place.”
The mood for resuming dialogue with North Korea has improved since Mr. Trump removed his hawkish national security adviser, John R. Bolton, and indicated that he might try a “new method” in negotiating with North Korea. Last week, the North’s nuclear envoy, Kim Myong-gil, praised Mr. Trump’s “wise political decision” and said he would like to be “optimistic” about coming talks with Washington.The mood for resuming dialogue with North Korea has improved since Mr. Trump removed his hawkish national security adviser, John R. Bolton, and indicated that he might try a “new method” in negotiating with North Korea. Last week, the North’s nuclear envoy, Kim Myong-gil, praised Mr. Trump’s “wise political decision” and said he would like to be “optimistic” about coming talks with Washington.