Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un expected to discuss denuclearization, economy during historic summit
(Fox News | May 8, 2018) Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un expected to discuss denuclearization, economy during historic summit
President Donald Trump says a date and location have been set for the U.S.-North Korea summit, though he has yet to give specifics.
“We now have a date and we have a location. We’ll be announcing it soon,” Trump told reporters from the White House South Lawn in early May.
In the past, Trump said the meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un would take place sometime in May or early June. It will be the first-ever meeting between a U.S. president and a North Korean leader.
“It’s important because of the potential opening it has; there is potential diplomatic progress,” former Vice Adm. Robert B. Murrett, a professor of practice, public administration and international affairs at Syracuse University, told Fox News.
Murrett, who also serves as deputy director of the Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism at the college, specializes in national security, international relations, military and defense strategy.
“This is something we haven’t been able to do for many years,” he added.
Fox News asked Murrett to explain what the summit could mean for this nation’s future, and he answered three questions about the historic event that Americans should know.
Why is this meeting so significant?
Aside from the potential diplomatic benefits between the U.S. and North Korea, the summit could benefit other countries.
“It not just about the United States,” he said, explaining that the meeting could also be a win for “our partners in the east, such as South Korea and Japan, but also areas in the South Pacific region such as Australia.”
He added, “These talks have the ability to reduce security tensions in East Asia and present an opportunity for the U.S. to reinforce the strong links with South Korea, Japan and even China.”
What topics should we expect Kim and Trump to discuss?
Denuclearization will be at the forefront, Murrett said.
North Korea’s “nuclear weapons and ability to deliver them at long distances should be central,” said Murrett, who added that recent talks between North and South Korea “would suggest that it would remain a core issue.”
President Trump says meeting with the leader on North Korea has a chance to be a big event.
But Murrett also expects discussion of the Hermit Kingdom’s role in the global economy.
Despite various sanctions placed on the country, North Korea’s economy grew by 3.9 percent in 2016. But Murrett said diplomatic talks represent the “prospect of North Korea rejoining the family of the Asians” if only from an economic standpoint, potentially opening the door for the country to trade with more than just China.
“It would be in the interest of the people of North Korea,” Murrett added.
Does Trump deserve credit for the summit?
In short: Yes. In part.
While Trump does deserve credit for agreeing to meet with Kim, his decision to do so was likely sparked by “the window of opportunity that has existed because of ongoing pressure” on North Korea to better its relations with surrounding countries and beyond, Murrett said …