Kim Jong-Un and
Donald Trump could be set to hold the first face-to-face meeting between the sitting leaders of
North Korea and the
US in history, with experts eager to use the opportunity to learn more about the reclusive dictator.
North Korea has held official talks with other nations on very few occasions in its history. The secretive regime has continued to operate in the shadows over the years and the lack of bilateral talks has given foreign nations very little opportunity to find out more about the Kim dynasty.
So, what has happened at previous bilateral meetings, and what can we expect to learn from any future meeting between Washington DC and Pyongyang?
1994A sitting US President has never met with their North Korean counterpart, during Bill Clinton’s reign, former leader Jimmy Carter travelled to Pyongyang to see with Kim Il-sung.
The meeting was a massive success and saw talks between the two countries resume, creating a deal known as the “Agreed Framework”.
The meeting helped the West learn that North Korea could be open to future co-operation.
While the deal failed to lead to peace, it put in place the motions needed to start future talks.
2000At the turn of the millennium, cameras were all focused on a meeting between the leaders of the two Korean countries.
It was the first time the heads of the two nations had met since the war 50 years earlier.
The meeting gave the international community a rare glimpse of the North’ new leader, Kim Jong-il, who took over from his father following his death shortly after his meeting with President Carter.
However, while friendly relations between the two countries improved after the talks, no peace agreement was close to being reached.
2009Another former US President travelled to Pyongyang in 2009 with the hope of guaranteeing the release of two detained American journalists.
While George W Bush was President, Bill Clinton met with Kim Jong-Il.
Despite a budding relationship between the two figures, which saw Clinton invited back for a holiday, limited progress was made in diplomatic ties between the countries.
2018?With Trump eager to hold talks with Kim Jong-un by the end of May, 2018 could be the year the leaders of both countries finally hold face-to-face meetings.
It is also the first time that international photographers may get a chance to grab a picture of Kim Jong-un.
Melissa Hanham, a senior research associate with the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in Monterey, said: “North Korea is such a data-poor area.
“Every bit of information we get, we try to use as well as we can.”
The leader is known for his Mao-styled uniforms, but in his New Year address appeared to wear a Western suit.
Ms Hanham claims all information, including his clothing, will help give an insight into the leader.
The discussions could also be the first time that the West can learn how he interacts with his political aides, giving an insight into the man’s political operation.
Kim Jong-un, who is thought to be 34 years-old, has put on a large amount of weight during his six years at the helm, leading to suggestions he may suffer from diabetes or gout.
How he walks, could give an indication as to what has caused the weight increase.
However, with Kim enjoying his mysterious characterisation, it is also likely North Korea will try to keep media exposure of their leader to a minimum.
Jenny Town, assistant director of the U.S.-Korea Institute at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, said: “They are going to try to control the optics of this meeting.”
A date for a meeting between the US and North Korea is yet to be set.