South Korean opposition leader says US-North Korea talks more likely after Trump election
South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung stated on Friday that the possibility of dialogue between North Korea and the United States seems higher under the incoming Trump administration. He urged the South Korean government to formulate a strategy to ensure that the country is not sidelined in the evolving diplomatic situation.
Lee, head of the Democratic Party (DP), made these comments during a supreme council meeting at the National Assembly. He referenced media reports suggesting that Trump’s transition team is considering direct talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Lee emphasized that the government must develop a comprehensive strategy to avoid South Korea being bypassed in these negotiations.
Lee expressed optimism that the second Trump administration might “complete the unfinished Hanoi talks” and create a new opportunity to resolve the ongoing crisis on the Korean Peninsula. Trump and Kim held historic summits in Singapore (2018) and Vietnam (2019), but the Hanoi summit collapsed without a deal due to disagreements over the scope of North Korea’s denuclearization and the sanctions relief Washington was willing to offer.
Lee also raised concerns about the current hard-line approach of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration toward North Korea, suggesting that a more nuanced stance may be required in light of shifting global dynamics.
