N. Korea to remain a key agenda for Trump, even after midterm elections
  • 5 years ago
The outcome of the U.S. midterm elections are also closely tied to the on-again, off-again nuclear negotiations between North Korea and the United States.
Park Hee-jun reports.
In the 2018 U.S. midterm elections,... Republicans have held onto power in the Senate, and Democrats have seized the House.
So where are denuclearization talks with North Korea headed from here?
The Democrats, with their tougher stance on the North, will likely try to put the brakes on the administration.
They're also likely to demand that more be done on the North's human rights issues.

But experts believe that, all in all, the influence of the election on nuclear negotiations with North Korea will be limited,... since foreign policy is mostly conducted by the administration and the foreign and military committees of the Senate.

"But I think there will be indirect result. One is that, especially as the security side or also foreign policy is more of a Senate matter in the U.S. So, by having a more of a majority with the result of this midterm election, probably Donald Trump is more empowered to push forward with what he wants to do with the North and the U.S. relationship."

North Korea is likely to become even more important for President Trump,... because results on that front could help him in the presidential election two years from now.
Foreign policy is much more important in presidential elections than in the midterms.
And so the Trump administration will have to keep up the momentum of its dialogue with North Korea... and achieve a successful outcome in the second summit with leader Kim Jong-un.

Park Hee-jun, Arirang News.
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