Trump's posting of Kim Jong-un photo signals he's 'ready to turn attention back to North Korea,' Fleitz says

Fred Fleitz, vice president of the America First Policy Institute [AFPI website]
Fred Fleitz, vice president of the America First Policy Institute [AFPI website]

Fred Fleitz, vice president of the America First Policy Institute who served as chief of staff to the White House national security adviser during Donald Trump's first administration, said the Trump administration holds a very favorable position toward expanding nuclear cooperation with South Korea.

Speaking to reporters Monday (local time) at a book launch event in Washington, D.C., Fleitz said "meaningful progress is being made" on US-South Korea nuclear cooperation.

"There was some delay — related to differences between the two countries on trade issues — in implementing the security cooperation commitments included in the joint fact sheet from last year's summit talks," he said. "But I believe there was genuine progress through the US-South Korea consultations held earlier this month."

Fleitz said he had met with people involved in the recent bilateral consultations. He added that "a timeline has been established to reach an agreement, and it is the hope of those involved to finalize a deal by the end of the year."

He then argued that South Korea possesses world-class advanced nuclear technology, saying it "makes no sense" that the country cannot manufacture nuclear fuel rods due to US restrictions.

Fleitz also commented on Trump's recent social media post featuring a photo of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, saying he believes it "suggests that he is now ready to turn his attention back to North Korea."

He added that while North Korea currently does not want dialogue with the United States, he sees a possibility of progress in contacts and negotiations between the two sides.

Fleitz also claimed that Trump and Kim held their first summit in 2018 in Singapore rather than Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone in order to exclude then-President Moon Jae-in.

He elaborated that Moon had a strong desire to reach a compromise with Kim, and that holding the meeting in Singapore allowed Trump to meet Kim one-on-one and persuade him directly.


mokiya@heraldcorp.com