Ex-Trump Adviser Says North Korea Nuclear Talks Face Narrowed Space but Notes Trump’s Interest and Kim’s Window

Alex Wong said Friday that conditions for renewed talks with North Korea over its nuclear weapons do not exist at present. " Wong, now global chief strategy officer at Hanwha Group, said Pyongyang's closer ties with Moscow, its experience surviving sanctions during the COVID-19 pandemic, and major powers' focus on other crises have narrowed the space for engagement.

He argued that the strategy should identify imbalances in North Korea's approach and reposition the nuclear program so that denuclearization becomes the most positive pathway.

Wong noted that President Trump retains interest in engaging North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and that South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has expressed openness to dialogue. He added that Kim understands a window of opportunity will close when Trump leaves office.

Looking back at the 2018-2019 Trump-Kim meetings, Wong said North Korean working-level officials lacked sufficient authority to represent their government's full position.

He rejected the idea of accepting North Korea as a de facto nuclear state, stating that granting recognition of a new nuclear power would carry unwise global consequences. Wong stressed the need for informal channels in the absence of formal diplomatic relations. He said such back channels are necessary to build trust, pass messages, lay groundwork and serve as a release valve.

Yonhap reported the remarks from the June 26 session in Jeju, South Korea.