Kathmandu— US President Donald Trump is making overtures to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, including reducing military exercises and sharing personal photographs, in an attempt to distract from his ongoing failure in the Iran conflict. However, Kim is likely to demand significant concessions before agreeing to a summit, such as the suspension of US-South Korea military drills and a shift away from denuclearization demands.

Trump’s Diplomatic Maneuvers

President Trump has made several recent overtures to North Korea, including reducing the scale of US-South Korea joint military exercises and posting pictures of Kim Jong-un on his Truth Social account. These efforts have so far failed to lure Kim to the negotiation table. North Korea’s spy agency, the National Intelligence Service, reported that a summit between Trump and Kim could take place at any time, citing signs of dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang. However, Kim has stated that he will not sit down with Trump again unless the US takes denuclearization off the table and suspends all military drills ahead of a summit.

The Hanoi Summit Fiasco

The 2019 Hanoi summit between Trump and Kim was a nightmarish experience for Kim, who was confident he could reach a deal with Trump, allowing US inspections of North Korea’s known nuclear sites in return for a relaxation of economic sanctions. Instead, the summit ended without an agreement, as Trump abruptly demanded access to additional sites for inspection. Kim’s regime appeared to show signs of distress after the Hanoi fiasco, including the explosive demolition of a liaison building and the enactment of a law authorizing the death penalty for watching or distributing South Korean movies and music.

Kim’s Strategic Shift

Kim’s entrenchment finally began to pay off in October 2024 when he dispatched an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 special operations troops to fight against Ukraine for Russia. North Korea’s economic and political rebound coincides with the decline of the US-dominated unipolar order, allowing Pyongyang to play the competing powers off against each other as they vie for influence over a strategically located and politically important region.

South Korea’s Concerns

Many South Koreans are concerned that a new Trump-Kim summit could heighten tensions on the peninsula rather than ease them. A recent Gallup Korea poll showed that about two-thirds of respondents said that South Korea should have its own nuclear weapons, while only 30 percent were opposed to such a move. South Korea is playing catch-up in response to Trump’s overtures and the replies from Kim, with all communication between Seoul and Pyongyang severed and a small White House coterie pursuing behind-the-scenes diplomacy.

Despite Trump’s efforts, a summit between the US and North Korea is unlikely to result in a meaningful agreement without significant concessions from the US. Tensions and mistrust will continue to linger.

(With inputs from Jacobin)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.