N. Korea denies Trump's boasts on bond with Kim
Korea HeraldJul 24
Diplomat Defector Claims N.Korea to Resume Nuclear Talks if Trump Wins
Above: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and then-US President Donald Trump inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the South and North Korea on June 30, 2019 in Panmunjom, South Korea. Image copyright: Dong-A Ilbo/Handout/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Ri Il Gyu, the senior North Korean diplomat whose defection to the South was reported last month, told Reuters that Pyongyang wants to reopen nuclear talks with the US if Donald Trump wins the presidential election in November in a bid to lift sanctions and unblock economic aid.
This comes as Trump suggested at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee earlier this month that Kim Jong Un likely wanted him back in the White House, as he boasted about their alleged close relationship.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Trump still believes he can strike a deal with Kim Jong Un, so his potential return to the White House would be dangerous for Asia. Let alone that Pyongyang will never give up its nuclear program, it's likely that an agreement — if ever made — would see the US reducing its troops stationed in South Korea while allowing the North to make inconsequential concessions.
Republican narrative
It's a matter of fact that except in the event of a regime change, Pyongyang will never agree to fully denuclearize, so it's time to face reality and give up policies that left North Korea as an undisputed nuclear state. If Trump returns to the White House, he may continue to yield success on that challenge by setting realistic goals, including a deal.