However, Washington is likely to seek a solution to ensure the security of allies and closer ties with North Korea. Meanwhile, even bilateral talks between the United States and North Korea without the participation of allies are not far-fetched.

The Korean War armistice of July 1953 ended hostilities, but was not a final peace treaty. However, widespread tensions in North Korea-US relations have persisted for decades. Trump met North Korean leader Kim Jong-un three times: in Singapore in 2018, in Hanoi in 2019, and in the demilitarized zone where North and South Korea meet in 2019. But they ultimately failed.

There has been little progress in the talks under the Biden administration. Over the past four years, North Korea has declared South Korea and the United States as principal enemies in its constitution. It has increased its production of nuclear and hypersonic weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) aimed at the United States.

With Trump back in office and starting in January 2025, talk of resuming diplomacy with North Korea has increased. Trump called North Korea a “nuclear power” and later said he would call Kim Jong-un again in his second term.

Meanwhile, Trump now appears to be taking a multipronged approach to North Korea. In 2025, following Donald Trump’s initiative to reduce federal spending, the North Korean human rights community, think tanks, the Voice of America, and Radio Free Asia (which broadcasts in Korean) will see their funding and government assistance cut.

Meanwhile, Trump appears to be taking a pragmatic approach, not lumping China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea into the same ideological category, and has also taken steps to reduce media and multidimensional tensions.

On February 7, Donald Trump emphasized his good personal relationship with Kim Jong-un, saying he considered it a great asset. However, the United States does not have political or diplomatic relations with North Korea and does not have a direct diplomatic mission in the country. But Trump’s relationship with Kim Jong-un still allows the United States to begin a better relationship with North Korea.

In February 2024, the media reported that Pyongyang had focused on economic development and a “rural industrial revolution.” In the eyes of many in Washington, North Korea’s continued development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile systems poses a more direct threat to the United States than in the past, and the United States expects North Korea to continue developing critical technologies in 2025.

While Trump’s push to create an “Iron Dome” for America ??to counter North Korea’s ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles has become more important, reducing tensions with North Korea may be more on agenda, and providing greater security to East Asia by allies in line with Trump’s “America First” approach.

A classified defense policy document from April 2025, Washington is shifting responsibility for deterring Pyongyang’s threats to South Korea and Japan.

While Pyongyang still considers denuclearization to be its red line and its status as a “nuclear state” will not change, South Korea, the United States, and Japan reaffirmed the goal of “complete denuclearization of North Korea” in Brussels in April. In fact, given the support for acquiring nuclear weapons in South Korea, Seoul could produce a nuclear strike force, and the United States would provide sufficient support.

On another level, future political changes in Seoul could have a significant impact on the US approach to North Korea. Recently, however, General Xavier Brunson, commander of US Forces Korea (USFK), said that the United States and South Korea signed a new joint operations plan in 2024 to counter North Korea’s nuclear weapons capabilities and the security in the region.

In addition, in March 2025, the United States and South Korea began their annual joint military exercise “Freedom Shield”, and in March 2025, the USS Carl Vinson and its task force arrived in Busan, South Korea. The aim is to demonstrate Washington’s firm support for South Korea in the face of North Korea. However, the approach of reducing the US military presence on the Korean Peninsula and strengthening domestic defense in line with Trump’s “America First” approach seems to be one of Washington’s major scenarios for economic and geopolitical reasons.

The USFK commander warned against any reduction of the US military presence on the Korean Peninsula. In this view, the reduction of the US presence weakens the deterrent against Pyongyang.

Meanwhile, there are still signs that North Korea is accepting nuclear weapons in the interests of America. In this approach, Trump has long hoped to defuse tensions between the United States and North Korea. In addition, the perspective of the US approach to North Korea also seems to be linked to China and Russia. Washington’s fears of a growing North Korea-Russia relationship are significant from June 2024.

North Korea has China as its main ally. Meanwhile, any easing or escalation of tensions in Washington’s relations and talks with Moscow and Beijing could also be effective or destructive for the US approach to North Korea.

Outlook

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was previously an outspoken opponent of North Korea. This support has become more moderate amid Trump’s spending cuts and America First. Diplomatic engagement with North Korea is also still on the agenda, despite the US imposing heavy sanctions to pressure North Korea. North Korea seems interested in a peace treaty to end the Korean War, security guarantees, economic development assistance, and the lifting of sanctions. In the meantime, although the United States’ nuclear ambitions are an obstacle to a realistic approach to North Korea, there is also an opportunity for a peace treaty and formal recognition of North Korea.

Although the Trump administration has not yet made any significant proposals on North Korea, an agreement may be on the way. Future policy toward North Korea will be based on establishing personal contact with Kim Jong-un and emphasizing diplomacy and reducing tensions rather than maximum pressure or military confrontation.

Therefore, US policy is likely to be a combination of cautious diplomacy, maintaining sanctions, and emphasizing military deterrence. However, Washington is likely to seek a solution to ensure the security of allies and closer ties with North Korea. In the meantime, even bilateral talks between the United States and North Korea without the participation of allies are not far-fetched.

Samyar Rostami, ? political observer and senior researcher in international relations. Courtesy

https://journal-neo.su/2025/04/17/washingtons-approach-to-north-korea-variables-and-prospects/