Oval Office Discussions Take Surprising Turns
Donald Trump has again raised the specter of sitting down with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, indicating he would like the discussions to take place “this year.” The remark was made in an Oval Office meeting with South Korea’s new president, Lee Jae Myung.
The dialogue, which was at times characterized as stilted, was interrupted by Trump making the suggestion that the United States might want to own the land its military bases occupy in South Korea rather than lease it. The comments implied his usual position that foreign allies pay more for US troop deployments abroad.
Trump, who saw Kim three times in his initial term, praised his personal relationship with Kim. “I know him better than anybody, almost, other than his sister,” Trump said, naming Kim Yo-jong. He also said he “looked forward” to seeing Kim, describing him as “very good with me.”
Praise and Provocations in Washington
President Lee, who came into power in June and has been more inclined towards dealings with Pyongyang, came out in the open to support Trump’s aspirations. He described the US president as “the only person” who could solve the decades-long stalemate on the Korean peninsula. With a wink, Lee even stated he was looking forward to Trump’s “Trump Tower in North Korea and golfing.”
But beneath the grins, tensions were brewing. Hours earlier, Trump had gone on Truth Social to denounce Seoul’s political landscape following the impeachment of disgraced President Yoon Suk Yeol. “What is happening in South Korea? Appears to be a purge or revolution,” Trump asserted, cautioning that such instability would be detrimental to US relations.
Even though he later toned down his comments in front of Lee, the remarks taint the backchannel negotiations. Trump later termed the situation a “misunderstanding” due to “rumors going around.”
North Korea’s Nuclear Shadow
Trump also asserted that North Korea had fired fewer missiles since he came back into office in January, although this is contested by many analysts. According to experts, Pyongyang has instead been diverting military efforts to backing Russia’s war in Ukraine, with thousands of North Korean soldiers fighting on the Russian side, according to reports.
Though Trump was hopeful, Kim Jong-un has not indicated a willingness to negotiate. North Korea remains to step up the development of its nuclear arms, committing to enhance its stockpiles and condemning recent US-South Korea military drills as preparations for an invasion. Barely more than a week before the Oval Office sit-down, Kim himself directed tests of new air defense systems.
South Korea’s Lee, however, repeated Trump’s appeal for “peaceful denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula,” with the hope that revived US attention could calm tensions.
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Strains Over Costs and Commitments
Aside from the nuclear question, Trump signaled he wanted South Korea to boost its financial contribution to accommodate the 28,500 US troops based there. He suggested the contentious notion of Washington assuming title to land on which bases are constructed, a notion guaranteed to enrage Lee’s political base back home.
Trump also reminded the guest that, in spite of a significant trade agreement in July which involved $350 billion in South Korean investments in the US controversies about tariffs, nuclear power, and the costs of the military are still outstanding. He referred to South Korea as a “money machine” that disproportionately reaps rewards under US protection.
Since his return to the White House in January, Trump repeatedly called on Kim to re-open diplomacy. Pyongyang so far has brushed him off, however, and instead concentrated on building relationships with Moscow and speeding up its arms program.
For Lee, the visit had been a chance to solidify his position at the outset of his presidency, but Trump’s volatility left the result a mixed one. The two leaders did find common ground on denuclearisation, but harsh differences remain over money, military presence, and Trump’s candid analyses of South Korean politics.
