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At DMZ, Trump Could Make History By Crossing Border

William Gallo

   Donald Trump may become the first U.S. president to set foot in North
   Korea when he visits the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas
   on Sunday.

   Trump has invited North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for a quick meeting
   at the DMZ's Panmunjom border village. Before landing in Seoul, Trump
   said he would feel "very comfortable" stepping across the border into
   North Korea.

   "Virtually a handshake," Trump said of the possible meeting. "But
   that's OK. A handshake means a lot."

   Though it isn't clear the meeting will go beyond a photo opportunity,
   many hope a DMZ handshake could restart stalled nuclear talks.

   Speaking alongside Trump on Sunday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in
   said "he could truly feel the flower of peace was blossoming on the
   Korean peninsula" when he saw Trump's invitation to Kim.

   "I believe that picture in itself would represent a historic event and
   also would be a significant milestone in terms of the peace process,"
   Moon said of a DMZ meeting.

   Kim has not publicly responded to the invitation, which Trump sent via
   Twitter. North Korea's vice foreign minister on Saturday called Trump's
   offer an "interesting suggestion."

     After some very important meetings, including my meeting with
     President Xi of China, I will be leaving Japan for South Korea (with
     President Moon). While there, if Chairman Kim of North Korea sees
     this, I would meet him at the Border/DMZ just to shake his hand and
     say Hello(?)!
     -- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) [1]June 28, 2019

   It would be the third summit between Kim and Trump, following meetings
   in Singapore last June and in Vietnam in February. Whereas those
   meetings were held at hotels, Panmunjom would provide a much more
   dramatic setting.

   With its iconic light-blue buildings that straddle the North-South
   border, Panmunjom is the only place along the 250-kilometer-long DMZ
   where North and South Korean soldiers can stand face-to-face.

   Working-level talks stall

   Since the meeting in Hanoi, North Korea has not responded to U.S.
   requests to resume working-level talks. North Korea is unhappy with the
   U.S. refusal to relax sanctions in exchange for limited steps to
   dismantle its nuclear program.

   Given that neither side has publicly softened their negotiating
   position, progress may be unlikely for now.

   "It's hard to see much more coming out of this other than showing the
   world that Trump and Kim are still on speaking terms after Hanoi," said
   Vipin Narang, a nuclear expert and professor at the Massachusetts
   Institute of Technology.

References

   1. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1144740178948493314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

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