President Donald Trump has concluded his Asia tour without holding a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and North Koreans have shown remarkable indifference to the omission. The event underscores a shift in Pyongyang’s diplomatic priorities as it strengthens alliances with China and Russia.
Trump’s five-day journey through Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea included high-profile engagements, such as accepting ceremonial honors and holding a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Despite publicly expressing openness to a meeting with Kim Jong Un, reminiscent of their historic 2019 encounter at the DMZ, no such arrangement was made during the trip. The U.S. president emphasized the intensity of his schedule, particularly the Xi meeting, as a key reason for the missed opportunity.
Logistical challenges also contributed to the lack of a meeting, as North Korea’s Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui was abroad on diplomatic missions in Russia and Belarus. This made it impossible to coordinate a last-minute engagement, similar to the hastily organized DMZ meeting in 2019. Trump told reporters he was “so busy” and suggested that adding a Kim meeting might have been disrespectful to the importance of his discussions with Xi.
In North Korea, the absence of any official response or public interest was striking. State media remained silent on Trump’s overtures, and residents in Pyongyang displayed little awareness of his presence in the region. According to Justin Martell, an American filmmaker who visited during the tour, locals were neither hopeful nor negative about a potential meeting, instead reiterating Kim Jong Un’s stance that nuclear weapons are not negotiable.
This indifference marks a departure from the global excitement surrounding previous summits in 2018 and 2019. Analysts note that North Korea has deepened its ties with China and Russia, as evidenced by Kim’s participation in a military parade in Beijing alongside Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. This strengthened alignment reduces Pyongyang’s reliance on U.S. engagement and enhances its resilience against international sanctions.
Despite economic restrictions, Pyongyang has undergone significant development, with Martell observing modern high-rises, increased car ownership, and traffic jams that reflect a burgeoning middle class. Restaurants in the capital offered diverse menus and high-end amenities, suggesting that sanctions have not severely impacted the elite’s lifestyle. This economic progress, coupled with military cooperation such as North Korean soldiers fighting in Ukraine, bolsters Kim’s domestic and international standing.
Trump’s Asia tour also yielded other outcomes, including trade agreements with South Korea and China, such as reduced fentanyl tariffs and discussions on rare earth materials. However, the missed meeting with Kim highlights the complexities in U.S.-North Korea relations. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed hope for U.S.-led peace efforts but acknowledged the difficulties in achieving direct dialogue with Pyongyang.
Looking ahead, Trump has indicated he may seek a meeting with Kim on future visits to Asia, but any progress would require addressing North Korea’s nuclear status. The current dynamics suggest that Pyongyang’s strengthened alliances have diminished the leverage of U.S. diplomacy, potentially complicating future negotiations and peace efforts on the Korean peninsula.