Trump Discussed the Korean Peninsula Issue with Xi Jinping, but No Proposal for a 'Surprise Meeting' with Kim Jong Un

[The Financial News] The Korean Peninsula issue was placed on the agenda during the U.S.-China summit held on the 14th between U.S. President Donald Trump, who visited China for the first time in nine years, and Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, it was reported that no substantial discussion took place as other major issues, including economic disputes between the two countries and the Iran War, took precedence.
According to diplomatic circles on the 15th, the Korean Peninsula issue was not discussed in depth on the first day of the U.S.-China summit, making the possibility of a surprise meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during Trump's visit to China increasingly remote.
A gap in tone was also detected between the White House and China's leadership. Through its website, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China said, "The two leaders exchanged views on major international and regional issues, including the situation in the Middle East, the Ukraine crisis, and the Korean Peninsula issue." However, it did not disclose what exactly the two leaders said about the Korean Peninsula issue.
By contrast, the White House did not mention whether the Korean Peninsula issue was raised after the first day of talks. It referred only to Iran among international issues and did not mention Ukraine or the Korean Peninsula.
Yang Moo-jin, a distinguished professor at the University of North Korean Studies, said, "Trump may have tried to use the Korean Peninsula issue as part of a package linked to trade and Taiwan issues rather than treating it as a separate security matter."
He added that, "From China's perspective, there is no incentive to seek a change in the status quo on North Korea, so it likely did not include the Korean Peninsula issue in the negotiations."
He predicted that the remaining agenda items, including the Korean Peninsula issue, would likely be handled through upcoming summits such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Shenzhen later this year and the Group of Twenty (G20) summit in Miami, the United States.
Still, because Trump is scheduled to continue meeting with Xi on the 15th, there is a chance that further discussion of North Korea could take place in the remaining time.
Even if a North Korea-U.S. summit proves difficult, Trump may use social media or other channels as he departs Beijing to signal regret over the lack of dialogue with North Korea.
That would suggest he may still try to keep the North Korea issue on the negotiating table and manage it going forward.
A senior official from the South Korean government told reporters the previous day, "We cannot rule out a meeting between the North Korean and U.S. leaders," but added, "However, it seems that preparations are almost nonexistent."



rainman@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-soo Reporter