Former US North Korea Envoy Says Trump May Offer Pyongyang Summit, Urges Seoul’s Involvement
Stephen Biegun warned that any Trump-Kim talks in Pyongyang would need South Korea to play a central role, noting North Korea’s expanded arsenal.
Speaking at an Incheon forum, ex-US envoy Stephen Biegun suggested President Trump might put forward a Pyongyang summit with Kim Jong-un following the upcoming APEC gathering in China. He argued that South Korea should be a key participant, given the Korean Peninsula’s security stakes and the North’s strengthened nuclear and conventional capabilities backed by Russia and China. Biegun noted the absence of any letters or covert communications confirming Trump’s claimed contact with Kim.
He warned that North Korea’s ties to Moscow, including ammunition and missile exchanges, reduce its incentive to negotiate with Washington. The former diplomat called for quiet, sustained diplomacy rather than a single high-profile meeting, emphasizing incentives, sanctions relief, and firm US security guarantees as essential components.
Why it matters
The prospect of a US-North Korea summit could reshape regional security and involve South Korea in critical negotiations.
How this story developed
- Sep 11 South Korean and Iranian foreign ministers discuss Strait of Hormuz security by phone
- Sep 17 Cho Hyun departed Seoul for Washington, moving the dialogue from phone calls to an in‑person meeting.
In this story
Related stories
22 in this thread