Summit odds rise: South Korea’s National Intelligence Service assesses roughly a 50 percent chance of US-North Korea talks around the APEC meetings in China this November, according to lawmakers briefed by the agency. Yonhap News Agency
Pyongyang stays engaged: The NIS says North Korea appears intent on keeping the diplomatic opening alive, with officials handling US affairs reportedly becoming increasingly active. Yonhap News Agency
Rhetoric stays restrained: Pyongyang has avoided direct attacks on Trump and toned down provocative activity, which the NIS views as an effort not to derail possible dialogue. Yonhap News Agency
Demands remain firm: North Korea continues to seek recognition as a nuclear-weapon state and a shift in Washington’s sanctions and denuclearization policies before substantive talks.
Trump signals openness: Trump has continued to describe Kim in friendly terms and has expressed interest in renewed engagement, fueling speculation about a possible meeting during his Asia trip. Yonhap News
Russia ties watched: The NIS estimates about 9,000 North Korean troops remain deployed alongside Russia, while Moscow has been slower to transfer sensitive ICBM and nuclear-submarine technologies.
Ukraine dispute lingers: Seoul has received no apology from Kyiv over an alleged breach of confidentiality surrounding the transfer of two North Korean soldiers to South Korea, according to the NIS.
consnow@heraldcorp.com