Seoul fears US-Kim talks could sideline South Korea — SkimNews
Get the Geopolitics newsletter
Daily geopolitics — wars, elections, sanctions, the diplomatic moves that move markets. Free.
- North Korea fired around 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan just before German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to Seoul, escalating regional tensions.
- Seoul accused North Korea of planting a landmine that injured three soldiers, prompting Pyongyang to deny involvement and claim a false-flag operation by the South.
- North Korea conducted military drills, displayed drones at a public exhibition, moved artillery to the border, and prepared propaganda loudspeakers, signaling heightened hostility.
- U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed interest in resuming talks with Kim Jong Un, with speculation pointing to a potential meeting on November 18 in Shenzhen during the APEC summit.
- South Korean officials fear the U.S. may negotiate a deal allowing North Korea to keep short-range nuclear weapons targeting South Korea and Japan while scrapping only long-range missiles.
- Kim Sang-woo, former politician and board member at the Kim Dae-jung Peace Foundation, stated that trust between Washington and Seoul has eroded due to tariffs, troop funding disputes, and lost access to key U.S. decision-makers.
- Lim Eun-jung, professor of international studies, warned that uncertainty over U.S. commitment is fueling domestic debate in South Korea about developing its own nuclear deterrent.
Why it matters: South Korea faces a strategic dilemma as U.S. outreach to North Korea advances without clear consultation, risking a bilateral rift at a time when Pyongyang’s weapons tests and troop deployments directly threaten Seoul’s security and could trigger a regional nuclear arms race.
Ask SkimNews
