Robert Kelly on Trump's North Korea Diplomacy and US-South Korea Relations

Trump's Approach to International Relations

• 💡 Donald Trump's foreign policy is characterized by what Robert Kelly calls "typical Trumpian posturing," focusing on interpersonal dynamics rather than traditional diplomacy.
• ⚠️ This approach, where Trump believes his friends will act favorably towards him, has repeatedly failed in past dealings, including with Ukraine and Russia.

Trump's Relationship with Kim Jong-un

• 🤝 Despite meeting Kim Jong-un three times between 2017 and 2019, no significant outcomes or behavioral changes from North Korea resulted.
• 🗣️ Trump has expressed a desire to meet Kim Jong-un again, citing a "great relationship" and understanding, though the veracity of this claim is unknown outside of Trump's own statements.
• 🇰🇵 Even if the relationship is genuine, it has not led to improved behavior from North Korea.

US-South Korea Relations and Strategic Competition

• 🇺🇸 The recent meeting between President Trump and South Korean President Lee Jiong in the Oval Office went better than expected, avoiding potential "Trumpian outbursts."
• 🤝 South Korea's shipbuilding capacity is highlighted as a key asset for the US in its strategic competition with China.
• 📈 The US desires South Korea's assistance in dealing with China, a sensitive topic that was likely avoided in public discussions.
• 💰 Trade is another significant issue, with South Korea seeking stable rules from the US, its largest trade partner, given Trump's unpredictable trade policies.

Trumpism's Global Spread

• 🔴 A "Trumpist right-wing movement" exists in South Korea, with some supporters wearing "Make Korea Great Again" hats and hoping for Trump's intervention in domestic politics.
• 🧐 Trump's social media posts about a "purge or revolution" in South Korea are seen as an oblique reference to this domestic political context.