"Trump to Discuss Tolerance of North Korea's Nuclear Program, End of War with Kim Jong Un"
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- 2026-08-29 04:18:15
- Updated
- 2026-08-29 04:18:15

If U.S. President Donald Trump meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, they are expected to discuss tacit acceptance of North Korea's nuclear program, a formal end to the war, and a suspension of ROK-US Combined Military Exercise.
Anthony Ruggiero, who served as director for North Korea at The White House National Security Council (NSC) during the first presidency of Donald Trump, wrote in an op-ed for U.S. congressional news outlet The Hill on the 27th (local time) that a summit between the United States and North Korea would likely include "at least the implicit recognition of North Korea's nuclear weapons program" on the agenda. He also said, "Trump could propose a peace treaty to formally end the Korean War, improved political and economic ties, and a permanent end to the ROK-US Combined Military Exercise." He added that Trump could also encourage inter-Korean dialogue.
Instead, Ruggiero said Trump should press for verifiable limits on North Korea's long-range ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons program. He added that any deal should also include the withdrawal of North Korean troops from Russia and an end to military support.
He said Trump could even travel to North Korea or a neutral location to sign an agreement with Kim. Such a scene, he noted, could create a dramatic moment that would draw intense attention.
Ruggiero also suggested ways for Trump to gain leverage in negotiations with North Korea. One option, he said, would be to sanction North Korean nationals in China as well as Chinese banks and individuals that help North Korea evade sanctions.
Still, Ruggiero said negotiations with North Korea would not be easy, noting that "North Korea has negotiated with the United States for more than 30 years and has largely gotten the outcomes it wanted."
[email protected] Song Kyung-jae Reporter