South Korean President to meet US counterpart at White House

South Korean President Moon’s meeting with US counterpart Trump at the White House on Tuesday is going to be a crucial test of whether the two presidents will make history or see their plans fizzle out.

The two are slated to hold a 30-minute one-on-one meeting with only their translators, followed by a nearly 90-minute expanded meeting with additional staffers, according to an administration official.

As Politico states “the two leaders’ political fortunes are intertwined, now that they’ve made the risky bet that they can orchestrate a game-changing detente with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.”

The Los Angeles Times reports that analysts said Moon’s efforts are expected to focus on the goal of keeping talks between the North and the U.S. possible — and ultimately successful — while looking out for South Korea’s well-being. The South’s security is linked to peace between the U.S. and North Korea. In addition to sharing international concerns about the use of nuclear weapons by the North, the South feels the sustained threat of conventional weapons such as artillery by its neighbour. The U.S. is a key ally with 28,000 troops in the South, but the two countries have had thorny disagreements over security costs and trade policy.