Summit
Tedious steps on the way to a peaceful Korean peninsula

Hanoi prepares for the summit

Today (26.2.2019), after more than 4000 kilometres of train journey, North Korea's ruler, Kim Jong-Un, arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam, the scene of the second American-North Korean summit. In one and a half days, it should finally bring the progress in denuclearizing North Korea that has been missing since the first summit meeting in Singapore in June 2018. Among other things, the nuclear reactor in Yongbyon could be closed, but perhaps further concessions will be made. However, a complete abandonment of nuclear material and rocket technology by North Korea is considered unlikely. Conversely, North Korea expects concessions on the sanctions and possibly an end to the still officially existing state of war. Here too, major concessions are unlikely, but exceptions to the Sanctions rules, which have already been increasingly granted in recent weeks to humanitarian organizations operating in North Korea, are more likely.

Also souvenirs from the summit have been thought of

Partnership between Vietnam and the USA as a model for North Korea

A meeting in Hanoi is consistent for both Trump and Kim. Already for the first meeting the location was discussed. The USA believes that a partnership like the one that exists today between Vietnam and the USA could serve as a model for North Korea. Vietnam, the host country, has also undergone a transformation from a communist developing country to an emerging country, from a former enemy of the USA to one of the most important regional partners in Southeast Asia. Conversely, for North Korea the first economic reforms modelled on Vietnam and a gradual opening would probably be one of the few conceivable scenarios.

Waiting for the summit

Hanoi in summit fever - State visit to Vietnam

Hanoi has been in peak fever for days, with roadblocks, flags, banners and the marketing of a "Trump haircut" and a "Kim Jong-Un haircut". The Vietnamese seem to be happy or at least very curious about this summit. An Australian, who appears as a double for Kim Jong-Un, has already been expelled from the country.

Officially, Kim will also pay a state visit to his communist ally Vietnam and let state showcases be shown to him. One of these is the industrial site of Bac Ninh, close to one of Samsung's largest factories in Southeast Asia. In addition to the prestige win, Hanoi also has a lot at stake. South Korea is the most important investor in Vietnam. With a rapprochement to the south, these funds could also flow in another direction.

Extensive safety measures in Hanoi

During his trip to Hanoi Kim Jong-Un didn't fly in his own plane, probably because the way was too far for that. At the last summit he flew to Singapore in a borrowed Chinese plane. Now he followed in the footsteps of his grandfather Kim Il-Sung, who was famous for his week-long train journeys and also visited Vietnam by train, twice. At the border station Dong Dang Jong-Un changed into a limousine, which brought him over 170 km to Hanoi. He was accompanied by his sister, who was an important support for him and has already appeared diplomatically several times, for example at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang in 2018. For quite some time now, a pre-commando has been preparing the visit program for Kim. Yesterday, an Air Koryo plane arrived that brought over 100 North Koreans, including his bodyguards