Post-summit analysis: What happens next?

Now let's get some post-summit analysis from an expert on North Korea.
We have Dr. Bong Young-shik, a researcher at the Yonsei Institute for North Korean Studies joining me in the studio.
Welcome.



it's been three days since the high stakes summit came to a close with no agreement.
While we're still waiting for the dust to settle... South Korea and the U.S. have decided to end their Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint exercises. The defense authorities say the decision reflects their resolve to keep alive dialogue with Pyeongyang despite the summit breakdown. What did you make of the latest announcement?

There's been a lot of speculation as to why the talks broke down. U.S. President Donald Trump said that North Korea had demanded the lifting of all sanctions,... while North Korea contradicted that saying it had asked for partial sanctions relief. How did you see these two contrasting remarks?

Would you also say there was a lack of preparation? Some foreign media reports cited North Korea watchers as saying that there were indications that the talks could fall through even weeks before the actual summit took place. What's your take? Do you think the summit itself should have been put off until working level talks had produced something significant?

It's without a doubt, South Korean President Moon Jae-in again has heavy shoulders.
Trump has asked Moon to play an active role to mediate dialogue between Washington and Pyeongyang.
It must have been a huge disappointment given that he was hoping to speed up economic cooperation with North Korea. What do you see coming from Moon?

Do you see the possibility of a inter-Korean summit anytime soon?

North's media has had extensive coverage of the summit itself as well as Chairman Kim's visit to Vietnam. It has said talks were productive and has not made any critical comments regarding the U.S. What do you think Pyeongyang's intentions are?

Some have said it was good for Trump to walk out of the deal rather than making too much concessions.
and that the fact that he showed his desire for substantive actions on denuclearization was important because Kim Jong-un had been ignoring U.S. negotiators and trying to use his personal appeals with Trump. What's your take?

But it seems that both sides for now at least appear as though want to keep the door open for dialogue. Now that both sides know for sure know what each other want,... and that the latest summit showed the negotiating style and how far apart they are... do you think working level negotiations will be able to close that gap better now?

So you think it was a bump in the road rather than veering off course entirely?

Now alot of hardliners have got what they want.
Do you perhaps see a tougher approach from the U.S. side in future negotiations?

Thank you for your insights.