Outlook sees Trump-Kim summit chance as Seoul, Washington align
· UPIDec. 16 (Asia Today) -- South Korea and the United States could use closer coordination in 2026 to lay the groundwork for renewed U.S.-North Korea summit diplomacy, including a possible meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to a new outlook published by the Korea National Diplomatic Academy.
Min Jeong-hoon, a professor at the academy's Institute for Foreign Affairs and National Security, said in the 2026 International Situation Outlook released Tuesday that Seoul and Washington are expected to focus next year on creating more concrete conditions to bring Kim back to dialogue.
Min said the two allies could step up communication and cooperation around April, when Trump is scheduled to visit China, to help facilitate a potential U.S.-North Korea summit.
He described this year's U.S.-North Korea relations as marked by Trump's active overtures and Kim's cautious responses. Min also said that although a summit discussion promoted around the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Gyeongju in late October did not materialize, Trump still appears to want a meeting with Kim.
Min said South Korea and the United States may pursue a "realistic" denuclearization process to draw North Korea to negotiations. He also pointed to Trump's public comments about the possibility of easing sanctions, and said Washington and Pyongyang could work toward a plan acceptable to both sides, citing a three-step denuclearization roadmap attributed to the Lee Jae-myung administration.
"If conditions are created for North Korea to come to the table through a 'small deal' proposal that assumes denuclearization as an outcome, the possibility of a U.S.-North Korea summit is expected to increase," Min said.
The outlook also forecasts a sharper U.S. focus on Asia as Washington counters China. Choi Woo-sun, another IFANS professor, said the United States is expected to gradually reduce engagement in Europe and the Middle East while strengthening diplomatic involvement in Asia and expanding its regional military presence, amid heightened concern about Taiwan.
Choi said the Trump administration may seek to upgrade regional security cooperation, including among South Korea, Japan and the Philippines, while maintaining its longstanding "strategic ambiguity" approach toward Taiwan. He also said China is expected to intensify its competition for influence in Southeast Asia.
The Korea National Diplomatic Academy publishes the annual outlook at year's end for policymakers and the public. The 2026 edition is to be posted on the academy's website and distributed to government agencies, universities, research institutions and media organizations.
- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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