The Second U.S.–North Korea Summit

Abstract

The second summit between the United States and North Korea was held on February 27, 2019. The negotiations in Hanoi between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un began in an optimistic atmosphere, but it was abruptly cut short the next day. The first information about the reasons became public at a press conference. According to these, there were insurmountable differences between the standpoints of the parties. Although North Korea offered serious concessions which contained the dismantlement of the Yongbyon nuclear facilities, Trump could not accept less, than total denuclearisation. From the perspective of the North Korean Government, that was an unacceptable condition. When this became clear, the American delegation stood up from the negotiating table without signing the final agreement. This article aims to present the antecedents and potential consequences of the failed summit.