Skidmore prof says Trump shouldn't underestimate Kim

SARATOGA SPRINGS — There's a lot on the line in the historic meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un: possible denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, the potential pullout of American troops from South Korea, and perhaps an official end to the Korean War.

Whatever happens between the two leaders as they come together Tuesday in Singapore, Skidmore College Professor Joowon Park said that as long as the president doesn't abruptly stand up and leave the summit, the meeting could start a sustained dialogue that benefits the entire peninsula.

"The ultimate goal for North and South Korea will be a peace treaty," said Park, a political anthropologist and expert on North Korea. "We can't expect this in one meeting — especially since there are historically deep-rooted issues between the two countries. But I think there will be an outline including (plans for) later summits and a sustained diplomatic dialogue."

The first step in the summit, Park said, could be a peace declaration to finally resolve the Korean War, which ended in an armistice that was never signed by North Korea. If that is achieved, future summits would likely center on compromises to align the contrasting goals of the U.S. and North Korea.

Park said Kim's main goal is preservation of his regime and the withdrawal of American troops from South Korea. Trump's goal is shorthanded as "CVID": complete verifiable irrevocable denuclearization in North Korea.

The problem, Park said, lies in Kim's understandable reluctance to give up the weapons that provided him with the clout to bring Trump to the negotiating table. Park said that Kim may agree to no longer develop any additional weapons, or to gradually denuclearize.

Trump has mentioned he might pull U.S. troops from South Korea, though Park says that concession is not a good idea.

"The military presence helps America to have more influence in the region," he said. Removing U.S. forces "is only a gain for North Korea."

Park would rather see a lifting of sanctions and hopes that Kim will open up North Korea to the world. Right now, the totalitarian nation forbids travel into or out of the country. It's a closed state.

"Bringing North Korea into the international community, normalizing the state — they would no longer need to have nuclear weapons as a deterrent," he said.

Park also said Kim's history of rampant human rights abuses should be high on the list of summit topics, though Trump administration officials have said those topics will not be addressed in Singapore. While there are many factors contributing to hunger in North Korea, including deforestation, Park said that Kim's focus on nuclear weaponry came at the expense feeding the people.

More importantly, Park said, he hoped Trump was prepared for the meeting.

"Kim is politically savvy and thinks quickly on his feet," Park said. "It's a bad idea to go in there unprepared. He needs to give what he is doing considerable thought. He needs to take things very seriously, because there are consequences."

What many are missing in the process, said Park, is the role played by South Korean President Moon Jae-in, the first liberal president to take power since 2008. Without his matchmaking work to get Trump and Kim to this point, the summit would not be happening.

"President Moon said the two Koreas must take the driver's seat in defining the fate of Korea, not foreign powers," Park said. "His policies have been driving a series of events that led to the summit. This is a historic moment. First time ever since the Korean War that leaders of North Korea have met face-to-face with the president of the United States. But when asked about a Nobel Peace Prize, President Moon said President Trump should get all the credit. President Moon should get a lot more credit."

Moon's goal, he said, is peace on the peninsula.

While many Koreans, especially the older generation that remembers a unified Korea, ultimately hope for the country to be one, Park said he's just glad that — at least for now — diplomacy is winning over Twitter tirades.

"I hope for a peace treaty," Park said. "Let's finish the unresolved war and emerge maybe as two states, but not complete enemies. That would be progress."