Now His Improbable Relationship With Kim Has Abruptly Resurfaced

U.S. President Donald Trump's renewed rapport with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is reshaping the Indo-Pacific, as Washington's allies in the region build a new defense architecture to fill the gap left by American neglect. In Trump's second term, East Asia has largely been neglected as the United States becomes entangled in crises elsewhere, including a war in Iran that overshadowed even Trump's visit to China. Now his improbable relationship with Kim has abruptly resurfaced.

Trump called Pyongyang "unthreatening and respectful" and ordered the Pentagon to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea, citing their cost and his renewed rapport with Kim. The White House has repeatedly said it remains open to talks with Pyongyang without preconditions. However, as The Japan Times recently reported, North Korea's deepening economic and military ties with Moscow during Russia's war against Ukraine have raised a more fundamental question: whether Kim still sees much reason to return to negotiations with Washington.