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North Korea May Force Trump to Change Course in 2020

William Gallo

   U.S. President Donald Trump regularly says his relationship with North
   Korean leader Kim Jong Un remains positive. But Trump may soon have
   little choice but to change his approach toward Kim, who within days
   may unveil a new, hardline policy toward the United States.

   Kim, who has given the U.S. an end-of-year deadline for nuclear talks,
   is set to deliver a New Year's Day speech that may give major clues
   about North Korea's direction in 2020. Kim is also presiding over a
   symbolically important meeting of the country's ruling party this week.

   While no one is sure what Kim will announce - there is always a
   possibility of a last-minute breakthrough in talks - North Korea has
   strongly hinted it will raise pressure on Trump in the new year, and
   Kim has vowed to take his country a "new way" if talks with the United
   States don't advance.

   Over the past several months, North Korea has threatened to resume
   intercontinental ballistic missile tests or other major provocations,
   even warning of an unspecified "Christmas gift" to the U.S. that so far
   remains undelivered.

   Trump has shown an unusual tolerance for North Korean provocations, at
   least by the standards of other recent U.S. presidents. But as evidence
   mounts that Trump's personal outreach to Kim is not leading to progress
   in nuclear talks, many Trump critics and allies are calling for him to
   change course.
   "From no angle - policy or political - does it make sense for Trump to
   keep things as they are," said Rebecca Heinrichs, who focuses on
   nuclear deterrence and missile defense at the conservative Hudson
   Institute.

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