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Analysis | Two years after historic summit, what remains of Trump-Kim bromance?
- Their historic 2018 meeting raised hopes of lasting peace and stability on Korean peninsula but the initial thaw did not yield further breakthroughs
- Even so, the apparent goodwill between the two leaders may yet prevent a return to the days of sabre-rattling and threats of ‘fire and fury’
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In June 2018, their summit in Singapore was the scene of an unlikely bromance between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, the world’s two most recognisable leaders. There was plenty of wooing, the “beautiful letters”, a walk in the garden. There were handshakes, smiles and “fantastic chemistry”. According to Trump, they “fell in love”.
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Now, two years later, what remains of that relationship? Has it merely run out of steam? Or is it on the rocks and headed for a nasty divorce?
In the months before that first summit, relations between the US and North Korea had hit an all-time low, as Trump threatened North Korea with “fire and fury” over its weapons programme. Likewise, North Korea had reportedly considered developing a strategy to strike Guam, a US territory in the Western Pacific.
The highly anticipated, historic meeting between Trump and Kim raised hopes of a breakthrough. Initially it went well. The sabre-rattling was replaced by chummy smiles and shared jokes. Instead of hurling insults such as “dotard” and “rocket man”, Trump flattered Kim by calling the North Korean leader “talented” and “a worthy negotiator”.
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For the first time, there appeared a chance of long-term peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.
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