March 09, 2018
Trump Is the Peacemaker Korea Has Always Needed
Coming against all odds, enduring withering criticism, and facing deep cynicism, Donald Trump announced his decision to become the first sitting American president to meet North Korea’s supreme leader. The Kim family regime invited previous U.S. presidents to meet, but Trump’s swift acceptance of Kim Jong Un’s invitation is a bold gamble that seizes an opportunity produced by a hard-edged pressure strategy. Assuming it takes place by May, the summit is also made possible by Kim’s recent burst of diplomatic dexterity. The two leaders are mirroring each other, gambit for gambit.
The Trump administration’s much-maligned North Korea policy always included two countervailing parts, like the positive yin and negative yang forces in the circle of the South Korean flag: engagement and maximum pressure. Before the Olympics, pressure took center stage; now it appears likely that post-Olympics will focus at least for a while more on engagement and diplomacy.
Read the full article in Foreign Policy.
More from CNAS
-
Advancing a Liberal Digital Order in the Indo-Pacific
Reports
Executive Summary The United States and other regional democracies risk losing ground in the competition to shape Asia’s digital future. China is making rapid inroads in devel...
By Lisa Curtis, Joshua Fitt & Jacob Stokes
-
In its hour of need, Quad members stand with India
Commentary
The extent to which Quad countries can collaborate across all four domains will determine whether China’s designs on the Indo-Pacific will succeed....
By Lisa Curtis
-
When and Why China Might—or Might Not—Attack Taiwan
Commentary
Washington should continue to emphasize to Beijing the costs of aggression and the value of the status quo for China, the region, and the world...
By Jacob Stokes
-
Why China’s eventual aims with Taiwan could have a major global financial and economic impact
Video
On CNBC’s Worldwide Exchange, Martijn Rasser discusses the rise in tensions between China and Taiwan, potential responses by the U.S. and G-7 countries, and whether Beijing co...
By Martijn Rasser
