FIVE THINGS ABOUT KOREAN TALKS

1 THEY’RE IN THE DMZ THIS TIME

For the last summit, in 2000, the leader of South Korea flew to meet North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un’s father, avoiding the Demilitarized Zone. Friday, Kim is expected to walk across that border to greet President Moon Jae-in of South Korea.

2 PAVING THE WAY FOR FUTURE TALKS?

The talks could produce a statement about pursuing a peace agreement to end the Korean War of 1950-53, which never formally ended. But it will probably be overshadowed by future talks, said Andrei Lankov, a professor at Kookmin University in Seoul. “The South Korean government is ... not in a position to discuss most of the issues which really matter. It’s kind of a preliminary event to pave the road for a future meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong Un.”

3 DENUCLEARIZATION ON TABLE

Trump and Kim are expected to meet in late May or early June. North Korea recently announced it will shutter its nuclear test site and suspend tests, and Kim has indicated he’s ready to discuss denuclearization.

4 BUT WILL KIM GIVE UP CAPABILITY?

Doubts linger over Kim’s readiness to relinquish nuclear weapons, and what he’d want in return. North Korea is already at the brink of being able to threaten the U.S. mainland with a nuclear-tipped missile, and views that capability as a defence against regime change.

5 POMPEO MET KIM ALREADY

Trump revealed Thursday the soon-to-besecretary of state, Mike Pompeo, wasn’t supposed to meet with Kim during a secret trip to North Korea this month, but that they ended up talking for an hour.