US-North Korea Rapprochement: Implications for the Indo-Pacific Regional Order?
Speculation is growing over a possible second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after Trump posted a photo from their 2018 Singapore meeting, just as diplomacy surrounding North Korea began to intensify. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has hinted that Trump remains interested in engaging Pyongyang, while China and North Korea have stepped up high-level exchanges and Kim continues to deepen ties with both Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. Could another Trump–Kim summit really happen — and if so, what would each side hope to gain? In this episode, we examine the prospects for renewed US-North Korea diplomacy, China's role behind the scenes and what a new summit could mean for Taiwan, the Indo-Pacific and the wider geopolitical balance. *Recorded on July 16, 2026 at 2pm Taiwan Standard Time Host: Wen-Ti Sung Producer: Suvam Pal Videographer: Celest Kao Our guests: Sung Soo Eric Kim - NUCB Business School Associate Professor Liou To-hai - National Chengchi University International Affairs Adjunct Distinguished Professor
