After the impeachment of South Korean President Park Geun Hye, the newly elected South Korean President Moon Jae-In has gone on his first trip abroad to the United States to meet with President Trump. The leaders discussed many different subjects, specifically the growing nuclear and missile programs currently being developed in North Korea.
Ever since Kim Jong Un took office in 2012, he has tested more missiles than did his father and grandfather combined. The growing threat of North Korea has a possibility of damaging Seoul, Japan, or even the U.S.
Both Moon and Trump want to stop North Korea and their missile tests, but they each have their own ways of doing so. President Moon Jae-In has stated that he is a strong supporter of making efforts to resolve the issues on the Korean Peninsula and that he strongly believes in the alliance between South Korea and the U.S.
Moon has also said that he wants to start talking to North Korea about stabilizing the tensions on the Korean Peninsula, but the Trump administration has clearly stated that they will not negotiate with North Korea until they both meet certain terms and agreements, especially after the death of American college student, Otto Warmbier, who was accused of stealing a propaganda poster in North Korea and was held captive for 18 months, until he died in June 2017 after being released in a coma by North Korea.
The U.S is primarily concerned that North Korea could strike the U.S with their nuclear weapons. China also plays an important role in this controversy as China is the country in charge of more than 90% of North Korea’s trade and its energy and supplies. If the North Korean regime collapses, China would face many miserable and desperate North Korean refugees. South Korea will also be in a difficult position as the value of its exports to China are more than double than the ones headed to the U.S.
At the end of the meeting, President Trump tweeted that he had a “very good meeting” with President Moon Jae-In and even stated that they discussed a “new trade deal.” As the tensions continue to grow between North Korea and the U.S and South Korea, Trump’s advisers have already prepared response measures, including military options, should North Korea conduct actions that may put the U.S in danger.