quote:

The United States is trying again to persuade North Korea to end its nuclear weapons program.

A senior U.S. official tells NPR that U.S. diplomats are communicating with the reclusive regime. They are passing messages through North Korea's mission to the United Nations in New York.

The goal is a new round of "working-level" talks between experts from the two nations. President Trump and North Korean president Kim Jong Un agreed to make such an effort during their dramatic meeting in June at the fortified boundary between North and South Korea.

But the effort has begun slowly, and a question hangs over the initiative. After multiple frustrations, U.S. strategists are asking if Kim Jong Un is capable of making the nuclear deal the Trump administration wants.

It's significant if the U.S. concludes Kim can't make a deal, since the U.S. has tried so hard to appeal directly to him. President Trump has now met Kim three times, exchanged letters with him, and even declared that they "fell in love." Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has visited the North Korean leader in Pyongyang.

"The president still has faith" that Kim can be an effective negotiating partner, said one person closely familiar with U.S. deliberations. The person asked not to be identified citing the sensitivity of the matter.

But elsewhere within the U.S. government, there is a widespread "loss of faith." The source said U.S. strategists are baffled that the North Korean ruler has seemed unable to spur his country to keep what they see as his commitments.

quote:

President Trump on Friday defended Kim Jong Un after North Korea’s third short-range missile launch in just over a week, saying they did not violate the “agreement” he struck last year with the reclusive leader.

Despite acknowledging the launches may violate United Nations resolutions, Trump expressed confidence that his “friend” Kim “does not want to disappoint me with a violation of trust” and that “there is far too much to lose” for North Korea if Kim does not strike a deal with the U.S.

“Chariman [sic] Kim has a great and beautiful vision for his country, and only the United States, with me as President, can make that vision come true,” Trump tweeted. “He will do the right thing because he is far too smart not to, and he does not want to disappoint his friend, President Trump!”

Trump’s message came just hours after reports surfaced that Pyongyang had conducted its test launch, firing what South Korean officials described as short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan.

Lawmakers and many national security experts have expressed concern that Kim is using his talks with Trump to buy more time to build up his country’s nuclear and ballistic arsenal, rather than offer meaningful concessions in pursuit of a disarmament agreement.

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that North Korea has continued to develop fissile material and intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the U.S., citing independent analysis.

But Trump has repeatedly played up what he sees as his close personal relationship with Kim, expressing confidence it will eventually help produce a landmark nuclear agreement.

The president on Thursday also downplayed the short-range missile launches, saying they were “very standard” and not a part of the framework agreement he made with Kim last year at their Singapore summit.

“I think it's very much under control. Very much under control,” he said.

quote:

Seoul’s military says South Korea and the United States are preparing to hold their annual joint military exercises despite warnings from North Korea that the drills could derail the fragile nuclear diplomacy.

South Korea’s Defense Ministry said the exercises will be focused on verifying Seoul’s capabilities for its planned retaking of wartime operational control of its troops from Washington. It did not confirm reports that the drills began on Monday.

North Korea has been ramping up its weapons tests in recent weeks while expressing frustration over the planned drills it sees as an invasion rehearsal and also the slow pace of nuclear negotiations with the United States.

The North suggested last month it might call off its unilateral suspension of nuclear and long-range missile tests if the drills take place.