Will Trump and Kim Jong-un meet again early?

■ Host: Lee Yeo-jin, anchor Jang Won-seok
■ Starring: Lee Jong-soo, YTN commentator

* The text below may differ from the actual broadcast content, so please check the broadcast for more accurate information. Please specify [YTN News PLUS] when quoting.

[Anchor]
As the transition team of U.S. President-elect Trump discussed direct talks between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, attention is focused on whether the U.S.-North Korea summit will be held early.

Let's talk with commentator Lee Jong-soo about the background of Trump's transition team reviewing direct talks with Kim Jong-un, the conditions for early talks, and our response.
Welcome.

As the Reuters report comes out now, it seems that the parties involved are paying keen attention. What do you think? The actual possibility of success is.

[Reporter]
Reuter also reported, but it is a fluid situation because Trump has not made the final decision. But isn't it in the early stages of the transition? Improvements in relations with Chairman Kim are already being considered. President-elect Trump recently appointed Alex Wong, who oversaw working-level negotiations with North Korea during the first term, as the deputy national security adviser.As you can see, I was deeply involved in the three U.S. summits, namely Hanoi, Singapore, and Panmunjom. He also visited North Korea following Secretary of State Pompeo, and it seems that Trump will continue to rely heavily on Senior Deputy Advisor Lee Wong in North Korea policy. He is working hard on improving relations with Chairman Kim Jong-un and summit diplomacy early on.

[Anchor]
What is the reason why Trump's transition team, the master of transactions, is working so hard on the dialogue between the leaders of the U.S. and North Korea?

[Reporter]
Of course, it's because Trump has a strong will. After Trump announced his presidential bid, didn't he often mention Chairman Kim Jong-un and show off his friendship? Let's listen to the relevant remarks briefly.During the presidential election, Trump also mentioned several times the possibility of resuming summit diplomacy with Chairman Kim Jong-un again.

[Anchor]
What is Trump aiming for now through restoring relations with Kim Jong-un and further direct dialogue?

[Reporter]
Isn't the relationship between North Korea and Russia quite secretive in terms of military security? So this time, we sent troops to the Ukraine war to fully support and support Russia. Also, isn't there a growing concern about the seventh nuclear test? So from the perspective of the upcoming second Trump administration, all of this is emerging as a major task. So how are we going to solve this? In that way, it is necessary to ease the tension first. And since Trump's characteristics prefer a top-down approach from the top, not from the top, let's solve this through direct dialogue with Chairman Kim Jong-un. You're trying to do this. Therefore, Reuters, which reported this time, did not have any additional goals or set a detailed schedule in this regard, but the purpose of direct talks between the leaders of the U.S. and North Korea is to be involved. In other words, it's engagement. As you know, Trump is taking after the Nobel Peace Prize, isn't he? However, with the early end of the war in Ukraine, there are expectations and calculations that this could be a cornerstone or a stepping stone on the way to winning the peace prize.

[Anchor]
Then, what does North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who is looking at this, think about improving relations with Trump and direct dialogue?

[Reporter]
The relationship between the two is good, as Chairman Kim Jong-un does with Trump. I'm not confirming this and I'm not really sure. In 2019, the Hanoi talks ended with no deal. After returning home empty-handed, Chairman Kim Jong-un locked the door to North Korea-U.S. dialogue. In addition, he devoted his energy to upgrading nuclear missiles, and in doing so, he fully supported and supported Russia in its relationship with Russia, elevating relations between North Korea and Russia to the level of an alliance. As a result of this, we have been able to reduce the damage caused by international sanctions against North Korea. Isn't it getting all of this cash and military support from Russia? So, there is something Chairman Kim Jong-un said in his recent commemorative speech. Negotiations with the United States in the past have gone nowhere. This means I don't expect much. There is nothing more to be desired. That's what I said.

[Anchor]
Then, should we say that the possibility of direct talks between Trump and Kim Jong-un is low?

[Reporter]
However, many experts see it, and the situation may change depending on whether the war in Ukraine ends early as Trump has vowed to do, and whether the mirror relationship improves. From President Putin's point of view, if the war in Ukraine ends, North Korea is not as desperately needed as it is now. From Kim Jong-un's point of view, if the mirror relationship improves, he will become less wary of Russia and diversify his diplomacy. So you can find a way to live. If so, what you want is the recognition of a nuclear power. Talks with Trump for this. You can turn your attention to this. Anyway, didn't Trump's transition team send the signature? Let's do it well, let's improve U.S.-North Korea relations. The real concern is whether Chairman Kim Jong-un will be able to come up with a clear and specific position on expressing his major position in his New Year's speech.

[Anchor]
Didn't Trump actually value business interests in diplomatic relations? As a result, what do you think about these concerns, whether they are passing the so-called Korean country aside in talks with Chairman Kim Jong-un?

[Reporter]
As you said, you're very good at achieving benefits. And it is true that there is a great concern that something could happen if business-style Trump, who goes all-in on it, sits at the dialogue table with Chairman Kim Jong-un without conditioning denuclearization. That's why we need to make all-out diplomatic efforts to prevent passing Korea and direct transactions between the U.S. and North Korea. In my opinion, it seems necessary to refer to Japanese Prime Minister Abe during Trump's first term, and Abe held 14 face-to-face summits during his three years and eight months in office. And he made an official call on the 17th phone and moved Trump. So Trump trusted Prime Minister Abe very much, so before meeting Kim Jong-un, he even asked for various and various advice on Kim Jong-un and other agendas.

[Anchor]
So far, I've talked with commentator Lee Jong-soo. Thank you for talking with me today.