Can North Korea Be Trusted?

Just a year ago, the world was bracing for a possible nuclear war between the United States and North Korea. That summer, the isolated Communist nation successfully tested long-range missiles. Experts say these weapons are capable of reaching cities in the U.S. At the same time, North Korea’s young dictator, Kim Jong Un, threatened to reduce America to “ashes and darkness.” In response, President Donald Trump vowed to unleash “fire and fury like the world has never seen” on North Korea. A nuclear conflict seemed more likely than at any time since the end of the Cold War (1947-1991).

Then, on the morning of June 12, 2018, the seemingly unthinkable happened. The two countries put aside their decades-long hostility and vowed to work together for peace—at least for the moment. Trump and Kim shook hands at a hotel in Singapore, marking the first time a sitting U.S. president has met with a leader of North Korea.

Just a year ago, the world was bracing for a possible nuclear war between the United States and North Korea. That summer, the isolated Communist nation successfully tested long-range missiles. Experts say these weapons are capable of reaching cities in the U.S. At the same time, North Korea’s young dictator, Kim Jong Un, threatened to reduce America to “ashes and darkness.” In response, President Donald Trump vowed to unleash “fire and fury like the world has never seen” on North Korea. A nuclear conflict seemed more likely than at any time since the end of the Cold War (1947-1991).

Then the seemingly unthinkable happened. On the morning of June 12, 2018, the two countries put aside their decades-long hostility. They vowed to work together for peace, at least for the moment. Trump and Kim shook hands at a hotel in Singapore. This marked the first time a sitting U.S. president has met with a leader of North Korea.

At the conclusion of their historic summit, they signed a joint statement in which Kim committed to “work towards complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” In return, Trump agreed to suspend military exercises with South Korea, which the U.S. has been conducting for decades.

The joint statement also said that Trump and Kim would seek “to build a lasting and stable peace regime” on the divided Korean Peninsula. If further talks are successful, say experts, they could even lead to a treaty that would finally end the conflict that made the U.S. and North Korea bitter enemies: the Korean War (1950-1953).

“We’re ready to write a new chapter between our nations,” Trump told reporters. “Yesterday’s conflict does not have to be tomorrow’s war.”

They signed a joint statement at the end of their historic summit. Kim promised to “work towards complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” In return, Trump agreed to suspend military exercises with South Korea. The U.S. has been conducting those exercises for decades.

The joint statement also said that Trump and Kim would seek “to build a lasting and stable peace regime” on the divided Korean Peninsula. Experts say that if further talks are successful, they could even lead to a treaty that would finally bring an official end to the Korean War (1950-1953). That conflict made the U.S. and North Korea bitter enemies.

“We’re ready to write a new chapter between our nations,” Trump told reporters. “Yesterday’s conflict does not have to be tomorrow’s war.”

But critics warn that North Korea has failed to live up to its agreements many times before—and that the U.S. gained nothing more than vague promises from the summit. By meeting with Kim, “President Trump has granted a brutal and repressive dictatorship the international legitimacy it has long craved,” says Senator Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat.

North Korea is an authoritarian nation where leaders have spent billions of dollars developing nuclear weapons while millions of its people live in poverty. Anyone who challenges its leaders can be arrested and forced to work in a labor camp—or simply be killed. For decades, U.S. officials have considered North Korea to be one of America’s greatest threats. North Korea has also long threatened its neighbor, South Korea, a key U.S. ally.

While the summit between Trump and Kim might suggest that a new chapter is unfolding, it remains to be seen whether anything has really changed between the nations.

But critics warn that North Korea has failed to live up to its agreements many times before. They also warn that the U.S. gained nothing more than vague promises from the summit. By meeting with Kim, “President Trump has granted a brutal and repressive dictatorship the international legitimacy it has long craved,” says Senator Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat.

North Korea is an authoritarian nation. Its leaders have spent billions of dollars developing nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, millions of its people live in poverty. Anyone who challenges North Korea’s leaders can be arrested and forced to work in a labor camp, or be killed. For decades, U.S. officials have considered North Korea to be one of America’s greatest threats. North Korea has also long threatened its neighbor South Korea. South Korea is a key U.S. ally.

The summit between Trump and Kim might suggest that a new chapter is unfolding. But it remains to be seen whether anything has really changed between the nations.

North Korea’s troubled history with the U.S.—and its neighbors in Asia—goes back to the end of World War II (1939-1945). When the war began, Japan had been occupying the Korean Peninsula for decades, brutally repressing its people.

During the war, the U.S. and the Soviet Union came together to defeat Japan. When Japan surrendered in 1945, the Americans and Soviets agreed to temporarily divide the Korean Peninsula between them at the 38th parallel, the line of latitude at 38 degrees North (see map, below). Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin controlled the northern half. He and U.S. President Harry S. Truman agreed that a united Korea’s future would be decided by elections. 

But the Cold War—a long contest for global influence that pitted the U.S. and its democratic allies against Communist nations led by the Soviet Union—was deepening. Stalin soon refused to participate in the elections. 

In 1948, the U.S.-backed half of the peninsula became the Republic of Korea—or South Korea. The Soviet-backed North then declared itself the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It was headed by a Communist, Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Un’s grandfather. He quickly assumed dictatorial power. 

North Korea has a troubled history with the U.S. and with its neighbors in Asia. This conflict goes back to the end of World War II (1939-1945). When the war began, Japan had been occupying the Korean Peninsula for decades. Japan had been brutally repressing Korea’s people.

During the war, the U.S. and the Soviet Union came together to defeat Japan. Japan surrendered in 1945. The Americans and Soviets agreed to temporarily divide the Korean Peninsula between them at the 38th parallel. That is the line of latitude at 38 degrees North (see map, below). Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin controlled the northern half. He and U.S. President Harry S. Truman agreed that a united Korea’s future would be decided by elections.

But the Cold War was deepening. That conflict was a long contest for global influence that pitted the U.S. and its democratic allies against Communist nations led by the Soviet Union. Stalin soon refused to take part in the elections.

In 1948, the U.S.-backed half of the peninsula became the Republic of Korea, or South Korea. The Soviet-backed North then declared itself the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It was headed by a Communist named Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Un’s grandfather. He quickly assumed dictatorial power.

Korea was now permanently two separate nations. Meanwhile, in 1949, Communists won a civil war in China and seized control of the country’s government. President Truman and his advisers feared that Communism was spreading. 

So when North Korea attacked South Korea and occupied its capital, Seoul, in 1950, Truman believed he had to take a stand. He turned to the United Nations (U.N.), which authorized its members to fight back the invaders. (Although 16 U.N. countries sent troops, most were from the U.S.) 

Early on, the U.N. forces seemed poised for victory. After retaking Seoul in September 1950, they began making their way across the 38th parallel, toward North Korea’s border with China.

But in late November of that year, some 300,000 Chinese troops swept south to aid North Korea. Outnumbered, the U.N. forces were soon in full retreat.

Korea was now permanently two separate nations. Meanwhile, in 1949, Communists won a civil war in China. They seized control of the country’s government. President Truman and his advisers feared that Communism was spreading.

In 1950, North Korea attacked South Korea and occupied its capital, Seoul. Truman believed he had to take a stand. He turned to the United Nations (U.N.), which gave its members official approval to fight back the invaders. (The troops came from 16 U.N. countries, but most were from the U.S.)

Early on, the U.N. forces seemed likely to win. They retook Seoul in September 1950. Then they began making their way across the 38th parallel, toward North Korea’s border with China.

But in late November of that year, some 300,000 Chinese troops swept south to aid North Korea. The U.N. forces were outnumbered. Soon, they were in full retreat.

By April 1951, the war had become a stalemate. In July, the warring parties were ready to talk peace. It took two years of negotiations before the U.S., North Korea, and China signed an armistice. 

The war had lasted nearly three years and resulted in about 5 million deaths—including 37,000 Americans. After all that, the armistice left the border between North and South Korea close to where it had been before the war. It also created a 2.5-mile-wide buffer between the two countries, called the demilitarized zone (DMZ). 

By April 1951, the war had become a stalemate. In July, the warring parties were ready to talk peace. It took two years of negotiations. Then the U.S., North Korea, and China signed an armistice.

The war had lasted nearly three years. It resulted in about 5 million deaths, including 37,000 Americans. After all that, the armistice left the border between North and South Korea close to where it had been before the war. It also created a 2.5-mile-wide buffer between the two countries. This is called the demilitarized zone (DMZ).

Still, the peace was incomplete. South Korea’s president was unwilling to accept anything less than victory and refused to agree to the cease-fire. Over the following years, no formal peace treaty was ever signed. Technically, the Korean War has never ended.

Today, the Korean Peninsula’s DMZ remains one of the most heavily secured borders in the world. Hundreds of thousands of North and South Korean troops stand guard against attack by the other country. The U.S. also keeps about 23,000 troops in South Korea—just in case.

Still, the peace was incomplete. South Korea’s president was not willing to accept anything less than victory. He refused to agree to the cease-fire. Over the following years, no formal peace treaty was ever signed. Technically, the Korean War has never ended.

Today, the Korean Peninsula’s DMZ remains one of the most heavily secured borders in the world. Hundreds of thousands of North and South Korean troops stand guard against attack by the other country. The U.S. also keeps about 23,000 troops in South Korea, just in case.

Since the war, South Korea has risen from being one of the world’s poorest countries to having the 11th-largest economy in the world.

North Korea has remained stuck in time. Most North Koreans lack cell phones and internet access, and the government controls all of the media outlets. Children are taught to worship the Kims like gods. A 2014 U.N. report estimated that as many as 120,000 political prisoners are held in prison camps in North Korea. In 2013, Kim even ordered the execution of his uncle—his second-in-command and mentor—for allegedly plotting to overthrow him.

Kim Jong Un is now the third member of a dynasty of dictators to rule North Korea, after his father and grandfather. All three have stoked a fear of America to keep their people loyal, says Kathryn Weathersby, a historian at Korea University in Seoul: “It’s very useful for an authoritarian government to have an outside enemy they can point to.” 

Since the war, South Korea has risen from being one of the world’s poorest countries to having the 11th-largest economy in the world.

North Korea has remained stuck in time. Most North Koreans lack cell phones and internet access. The government controls all the media outlets. Children are taught to worship the Kims like gods. A 2014 U.N. report estimated that as many as 120,000 political prisoners are held in prison camps in North Korea. In 2013, Kim even ordered the execution of his uncle for allegedly plotting to overthrow him, even though his uncle was his second-in-command and mentor.

Kim Jong Un is now the third member of a dynasty of dictators to rule North Korea, after his father and grandfather. All three have stoked a fear of America to keep their people loyal, says Kathryn Weathersby, a historian at Korea University in Seoul. “It’s very useful for an authoritarian government to have an outside enemy they can point to,” she explains.

In the past two decades, the U.S. has tried negotiating with North Korea—as well as punishing it with economic sanctions over its nuclear weapons program. Neither approach has worked. When President Trump took office in 2017, he criticized his predecessors for failing to contain North Korea. 

But the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, this past February brought hope for peace. In an effort to reduce tensions in the region, South Korean President Moon Jae-in invited North Korean athletes and a group of North Korean officials to the Games. That led to a meeting between Moon and Kim in April. There, the North Korean leader expressed an interest in meeting with Trump.

In the past two decades, the U.S. has tried negotiating with North Korea. The U.S. has also punished the country with economic sanctions over its nuclear weapons program. Neither approach has worked. When President Trump took office in 2017, he criticized his predecessors for failing to contain North Korea.

But the Winter Olympics this past February brought hope for peace. They were held in Pyeongchang, South Korea. In an effort to reduce tensions in the region, South Korean President Moon Jae-in invited North Korean athletes and a group of North Korean officials to the Games. That led to a meeting between Moon and Kim in April. There, the North Korean leader expressed an interest in meeting with Trump.

The world watched the summit between North Korea and the U.S. with great expectation. Yet it’s unclear if real progress will come from it. The joint agreement signed by Trump and Kim leaves almost all of its details blank—to be filled in during later negotiations.

Some experts believe that, unlike his father and grandfather, Kim Jong Un sincerely wants to make peace with the U.S., build North Korea’s economy, and usher his country into a new age of openness with other nations. 

The world watched the summit between North Korea and the U.S. with great expectation. Yet it is unclear if real progress will come from it. The joint agreement signed by Trump and Kim leaves almost all of its details blank, to be filled in during later negotiations.

Some experts believe that, unlike his father and grandfather, Kim Jong Un sincerely wants to make peace with the U.S. They say he wants to build North Korea’s economy. They believe he wants to guide his country into a new age of openness with other nations.

But whether Kim will agree to give up his country’s nuclear weapons remains to be seen. North Korea has made agreements to abandon its nuclear weapons program with each of the three previous U.S. presidents but has never followed through on them. 

“I’m not sure this [short] meeting . . . would suggest that there’s nothing to be concerned about,” says Christopher Hill, a diplomat who has negotiated with North Korea in the past.

Meanwhile, although Trump said he would end joint military exercises with South Korea—which North Koreans have long seen as a rehearsal for a U.S. invasion—he is leaving U.S. troops in place in South Korea for now.

In the long run, finally negotiating an end to the Korean War will likely be necessary to stop North Korea’s nuclear challenge, experts James Dobbins and Jeffrey Hornung wrote recently in The New York Times. “Standing ready to formally end the old war may be the key to getting there without starting a new one.” 

But whether Kim will agree to give up his country’s nuclear weapons remains to be seen. North Korea has made agreements to abandon its nuclear weapons program with each of the three previous U.S. presidents. But it has never followed through on those agreements.

“I’m not sure this [short] meeting . . . would suggest that there’s nothing to be concerned about,” says Christopher Hill. Hill is a diplomat who has negotiated with North Korea in the past.

Meanwhile, Trump said he would end joint military exercises with South Korea. North Koreans have long seen those exercises as a rehearsal for a U.S. invasion. But at the same time, Trump is leaving U.S. troops in place in South Korea for now.

In the long run, finally negotiating an end to the Korean War will likely be necessary to stop North Korea’s nuclear challenge, experts James Dobbins and Jeffrey Hornung wrote recently in The New York Times. “Standing ready to formally end the old war may be the key to getting there without starting a new one.”