Trump Could Invite Kim Jong Un to U.S. G20 as North Korea Talks Loom for November or December

A Trump-Kim Jong Un meeting could come as early as November or December, and one possible setting is the G20 summit in Florida, according to two experts speaking at a CSIS discussion.

Vincent Brooks, a former commander of U.S. Forces Korea, and Victor Cha, the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Korea Chair, said North Korea did not appear ready to enter talks immediately. But they argued that Pyongyang had kept the door open to Washington. Brooks pointed to North Korea’s harsher language toward South Korea and its relative restraint in criticizing the United States.

Brooks said the earliest opportunity could fall between the U.N. General Assembly and the G20 summit, after taking into account Chinese President Xi Jinping’s possible visit to the United States and the U.S. midterm elections. He cautioned that an early meeting might be more symbolic than substantive, resembling the 2019 Panmunjom encounter rather than the failed Hanoi summit. More serious follow-up discussions could be postponed until 2027.

Cha said North Korea might wait to see the midterm election results before engaging. He also said it was possible to imagine Trump inviting Kim directly to the United States for the Dec. 14-15 G20 meeting at Trump National Doral near Miami. Such an invitation could turn the encounter into a major global event.

The experts said Kim would still have reasons to meet Trump despite past summits ending without results and North Korea receiving support from China and Russia. Contact with Washington could give Pyongyang greater leverage with Beijing and Moscow, while maintaining communication with Trump could help reduce concerns about actions similar to those the United States recently took toward Iran and Venezuela. Growing South Korea-U.S. military capabilities, including plans involving nuclear-powered submarines and shipbuilding cooperation, could also prompt North Korea to seek direct discussions with Trump.

If talks take place, Cha expected them to emphasize tension reduction and peace rather than detailed denuclearization negotiations. The meeting could reaffirm the principles of the 2018 Singapore joint statement. China may also influence the process, the experts said, because Beijing may want to prevent Russia’s influence over North Korea from growing too far. Brooks added that North Korea’s actions could carry messages for both Washington and Beijing as Pyongyang seeks to increase its strategic value.

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The earliest point would be between November and the G20.