Prospects of the UAS-DPRK relations

The article analyzes the current state and prospects of US-North Korean relations during D. Trump’s second term in office in the context of his repeated statements both during the presidential election campaign in 2024 and after returning to the White House in January 2025 about his ability to “get along” with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un better than others. It is being shown that the practical actions of the Trump administration after returning to power actually continue the line of the previous administration of J.Biden and D.Trump himself on exerting maximum military and political pressure on the DPRK. However, the United States are facing a drastically new situation. Washington has to take into consideration radical changes in the geopolitical situation, the consolidation of the DPRK’s status as a nuclear power in the country’s constitution, and, finally, significant improvement of the DPRK’s international standing after the signing of the Treaty on comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia in June of 2024. So far the DPRK declines all attempts by Trump administration to restore contacts seemingly waiting for the US practical moves to repair relations. But even after resumption of the US-DPRK dialogue, according to American experts, it would be unrealistic for the USA to insist on the DPRK’s denuclearization. The Trump administration is advised to move instead to arms control, risk reduction of a nuclear conflict and other measures which can create the situation of stable coexistence on the Korean peninsula. It is concluded that it is unlikely that agreements with the DPRK on the nuclear issue and other key issues of bilateral relations will be reached before the end of Trump’s second administration.