Trump drops North Korea denuclearisation goal in 2026, hinting at talks with Kim Jong-un
Trump strategy omits North Korea denuclearistation; Pyongyang calls goal meaningless, demands US drop ‘absurd pursuit’ of its nuclear weapons
The target of ending North Korea’s nuclear threat had been a constant in the National Security Strategy of every US president since the emergence of Pyongyang’s programme in 2003, but was conspicuously absent in Friday’s document.
Trump has spoken of his willingness to sit down with the North Korean leader in a “proactive” way, indicating he “wants to get something done by taking some action,” said Hong Min of the Korea Institute for National Unification.
“Then I think there is a certain degree of conscious intent there, that the idea of denuclearisation … really doesn’t need to be brought up here,” said Hong, an expert on Pyongyang’s strategic thinking.
In Trump’s previous security blueprint issued during his first term in 2017, North Korea was mentioned 16 times as a threat to “our homeland” and a rogue state that could “use a nuclear weapon against the United States”.