2nd Trump-Kim Summit May Reach a Peace Agreement: Expert

The second summit between U.S. and North Korean leaders is scheduled to be held in Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, on February 27th and 28th. The two sides will continue to hold consultations on the denuclearization of the peninsula. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last Thursday that Washington aims to "get as far down the road as we can" at the summit. Within a little more than a year, the situation went from the brink of a nuclear war, to the DPRK ending of missile tests and the holding of two summits between the leaders. Experts attribute these changes to Trump's non-conventional diplomatic efforts. Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute Doug Bandow: "President Trump believes very much in person to person diplomacy, and he’s also clearly willing to break with American traditions, that is President Obama would never have considered a summit under these conditions. That has given this opportunity with Kim Jong Un to reach out and perhaps forge a real peace agreement. I think President Trump deserves credit for that." Experts predict the two sides may reach three agreements at the Hanoi Summit. Harry Kazianis, the Director of Korea Studies at Center for the National Interest: "One that I would say is almost guaranteed is a peace declaration ending the Korean War, because it gives both sides a clear win. I think a lot has been talked about the closure of the Yongbyon nuclear facility for something like sanctions relief. The United States is not gonna be able to call it sanctions relief because of political realities here in Washington, but I think they will do something to relieve pressure off North Korea." Experts also predict that the two sides may agree to establish liaison offices in Pyongyang and Washington to strengthen direct communication. For the second summit, the critics are particularly concerned about whether the talks can make substantial progress on the issue of denuclearization. Experts believe that from a realistic perspective, denuclearization should be the ultimate goal which will be achieved step by step through negotiations and is unlikely to be completed within the short term. Harry Kazianis: "I don't think that the DPRK is gonna be willing to give up its nuclear weapons up front for just a promise and a win. The best way to do this is to solve a lot of the smaller issues first, go step by step, and then get to denuclearization. I think that’s the magic formula that’ll make this work, but even that’s not gonna be easy. But if that’s our hope, I think that gives us the best chance." According to a Reuters report, Kim Jong Un plans to arrive at Hanoi, on the 25th, ahead of the summit. He will visit the Vietnamese manufacturing base of Bac Ninh and the industrial port city of Hai Phong. Vietnam's president and general secretary of the ruling Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong, will meet with Kim. Kitty Wang, NTD News.