If North Korea’s diplomatic charm offensive is successful in its objectives, it could pave the way for the realisation of the North Korea-China vision of a unified Korea. In this vision, the role of the US would be relatively weaker than it is now, and China’s influence would grow through the strengthening of China’s relations with the two Koreas.

As denuclearisation is the most pressing issue for now, it will dominate the US-North Korea discussions in Singapore. However, it would be important for the American president to discuss this issue within the larger long-term context of the Korean peninsula.

In the summit talks, Trump is expected to maintain American advantage in the reunification of the Korean peninsula as well as vis-à-vis China’s relations with the Korean peninsula.

… Bhubhindar Singh is Associate Professor and Coordinator, Regional Security Architecture Programme (RSAP), at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore.