South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) perceives a significant possibility of a summit between North Korea and the United States, suggesting Pyongyang might seek such a meeting after March of the following year.
This insight was shared by lawmaker Park Sun-won following a parliamentary audit. Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s prior attempts to engage with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his recent visit to South Korea, Kim did not respond.
The NIS posits that North Korea is currently assessing U.S. officials involved in North Korean affairs and sees potential for a summit around March, coinciding with multiple upcoming events such as U.S.-South Korea military drills and North Korea’s military parade.
Kim has previously stated he would be open to discussions if the U.S. retracted its denuclearization demands. Trump indicated the possibility of meeting North Korea again in the near future, although the White House has not commented on the summit speculation.
Historically, Trump and Kim engaged in summits in 2018 and 2019, which subsequently faltered due to disagreements over nuclear disarmament. Currently, North Korea faces extensive international sanctions linked to its nuclear weapons and missile programs.
Additionally, Park provided reassurance regarding Kim Jong Un’s health, dismissing concerns about high blood pressure. There are indications that Kim Ju Ae, his teenage daughter, is preparing for a future leadership role, although she has been maintaining a lower public profile recently to not overshadow her father.
with information from Reuters
