Trump, South Korea’s Moon seek connection
N. Korea a likely topic as presidents meet at White House
There are plenty of issues that new South Korean President Moon Jae-in and President Trump could disagree on when they meet this week at the White House.
Moon, who was elected in May, wants to take a less confrontational approach in dealing with North Korea and its leader, Kim Jong Un. Trump, by contrast, has called for “maximum pressure” through economic sanctions and the threat of military action to halt Kim’s nuclear and missile development programs.
Moon also is less than enthused about a U.S. missile defense system the Pentagon — aware of his dovish views — rushed to begin deploying in South Korea ahead of his landslide election. The Pentagon says the system is critical to protect South Korea, as well as 28,000 U.S. forces stationed less than 40 miles from North Korea’s heavily militarized border.
Still, the two presidents may see a benefit in avoiding a fight over their policy differences and try to build a rapport that has marked past relations between two close allies when they meet Thursday and Friday.
“What’s unclear is how much the visit will focus on core policy issues or whether it will serve primarily to cement — if they can — a personal relationship,” said Jonathan D. Pollack, an analyst at the Brookings Institution, a Washington, D.C., think tank.
North Korea’s military threat has been thrust into Trump’s lap almost from the moment he took office in January. The isolated regime has vowed to develop a nuclear weapon capable of striking the U.S. mainland as a deterrent against a U.S. invasion, and began a series of missile tests in de- fiance of the United States and United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Trump responded by sending a carrier to the region, expanding sanctions and vowing to prevent North Korea from developing a long-range missile that can reach the U.S. Trump has pressed China to exert its influence to stop Kim’s nuclear programs.
The Trump administration succeeded in winning the release of Otto Warmbier, an Ohio college student held by North Korea for 17 months who was discovered to be in a coma. He died soon after returning home. Three other Americans remain prison- ers in North Korea.
“Trump has spent more time dealing with North Korea than any other foreign policy issue,” Pollack said.
Moon shows no signs of distancing himself from his pledge to hold talks with Kim to give up his nuclear program.
Moon remains skeptical about the U.S. missile defense system, called the Terminal High Altitude Air Defense System (THAAD).
Moon has had little exposure to the United States but he does have a personal connection: His parents fled North Korea with the help of America’s military during the Korean War.