Table of Contents
- Trump’s Peace Pledge in Seoul
- Nostalgia for Kim Summits
- South Korea’s New Peace Initiative
- Skepticism and Challenges Ahead
- Sources
Trump’s Peace Pledge in Seoul
During a high-profile visit to South Korea this week, President Donald Trump declared his administration would “work very hard” to finally end the decades-long state of war between North and South Korea . Speaking alongside South Korean President Lee Jae-myung in Seoul, Trump framed the mission as both a personal ambition and a historic opportunity.
“We’re going to get it done,” Trump told reporters. “This hostility has gone on too long. It’s time for peace.” The remarks were met with applause from South Korean officials, who have long sought a formal end to the 1950–1953 Korean War, which concluded only with an armistice—not a peace treaty.
Nostalgia for Kim Summits
Trump lamented that he hasn’t spoken to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un since returning to office, calling their past meetings “historic” and “productive.” During his first term, the two leaders held three unprecedented summits—in Singapore, Hanoi, and the DMZ—marking the first time a sitting U.S. president met with a North Korean leader .
“I had a great relationship with Chairman Kim,” Trump said. “We stabilized the peninsula. And we can do it again—without preconditions.” His comments echo earlier statements this fall when he reiterated openness to direct talks with Pyongyang “anytime, anywhere” .
South Korea’s New Peace Initiative
Trump’s pledge aligns with Seoul’s recently unveiled “END” (Engagement, Normalization, Denuclearization) framework, which seeks phased reconciliation with the North. U.S. experts suggest Trump may actively back this strategy, viewing it as a pragmatic path to reduce tensions without demanding immediate denuclearization .
“President Lee and I are totally aligned,” Trump said. “We want peace, not propaganda. Not missiles. Peace.” The joint U.S.–South Korea stance signals a potential shift from the Biden-era emphasis on sanctions and containment toward renewed diplomacy.
Skepticism and Challenges Ahead
Despite the optimistic tone, analysts remain cautious. North Korea has not responded publicly to Trump’s overture, and its state media continues to denounce U.S. “hostility.” Moreover, Pyongyang has accelerated weapons testing in 2025, including new solid-fuel ICBMs capable of reaching the continental U.S.
Critics also point to the lack of concrete mechanisms in Trump’s proposal. “Vows are easy,” said Dr. Min-jung Park, a Seoul-based security analyst. “But without verification, timelines, or reciprocal steps from Pyongyang, this risks becoming another photo op without substance.”
Still, for many South Koreans weary of living under the shadow of war for over 70 years, Trump’s promise resonates. “If anyone can talk to Kim, it’s him,” said Seoul resident Ji-hoon Kim. “We just want our families reunited before it’s too late.”
Sources
The New York Times: “Feted as a Peacemaker in South Korea, Trump Vows to End Hostilities With North Korea”
Reuters: “Trump open to talks with Kim ‘without any preconditions’”
The Korea Herald: “US expert expects Trump to back S. Korea’s ‘END’ peace initiative”
Associated Press: “US to work ‘very hard’ to reach peace deal between North and South Korea”
