John Bolton, former White House National Security Advisor, analyzed the North Korea-U.S. summit during a recent interview on Arirang TV. He asserted that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un lacks the intent to undermine talks with former U.S. President Trump for ties with another country.
Hanoi Summit Reflections
Bolton, who played a key role in the 2019 Hanoi summit, recalled how North Korea endured economic pressures while pursuing non-nuclearization promises as a later bargaining tactic. Kim Jong-un approached the meeting with overconfidence, believing he could outmaneuver the U.S., but emerged surprised without the anticipated agreement.
Future Summit Prospects
Addressing potential future North Korea-U.S. summits, Bolton stated that Kim Jong-un shows little desire to meet Trump again. He explained North Korea’s disinterest in dialogue stems from viewing missile and nuclear advancements as advantageous in negotiations.
Bolton emphasized that even a second Trump term would unlikely lead to the North Korean regime’s collapse, calling it a startling yet realistic assessment.
Critique of Trump-Era Policies
Bolton criticized the aggressive tariff strategies under Trump as detrimental not only to the U.S. but also to major trading partners, educational hubs, and national economic systems worldwide.
On North Korea and the Greenland issue, he noted that mishandling the Greenland acquisition allowed China and Russia to expand influence in key Arctic strategic areas. Regarding Russia and Ukraine, Bolton warned that pushing diplomatic resolutions without securing Ukraine’s fundamental security remains non-objective.
For Russia-Ukraine relations and Ukraine’s security, he viewed external interventions as fundamentally unsecured diplomatic pushes.
South Korea’s Strategic Diplomacy
Bolton described South Korea as an advanced nation with strong military capabilities and a leading economy. He urged bolstering cooperation with Southeast Asia, India, and Taiwan to safeguard national interests, curb China’s future maneuvers, and benefit other nations.
Evaluating recent South Korea-U.S. summits economically, Bolton highlighted Trump’s emphasis on personal ties as fostering solid trust between the two allies. He stressed this approach counters potential provocations from North Korea, Russia, and China while stabilizing the region.
