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Curated by Project Syndicate

The Trump-Kim Summit

19 commentaries

As the meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un approaches, the North Korean leader continues to surprise the international community, most recently by promising to halt nuclear tests. But can a credible agreement with the North be reached, and at what cost for the region and its major powers?

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  1. The Despot and the Diplomat
    North Korean leader Kim Jong-un with U.S. President Donald Trump Kevin Lim/The Strait Times/Handout/Getty Images

    The Despot and the Diplomat

    Jun 20, 2018 Christopher R. Hill explains why, when negotiating with North Korea and other brutal regimes, even body language matters.

  2. The Divine Right of Donald
    President Donald Trump attends a state dinner at the Great Hall of the People Thomas Peter - Pool/Getty Images

    The Divine Right of Donald

    Jun 11, 2018 Elizabeth Drew thinks President Trump's recent assertions of quasi-monarchical power reflect his growing desperation.

  3. Getting to Yes With Kim Jong-un
    Korean leaders Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-Un hold surprise second summit  South Korean Presidential Blue House via Getty Images

    Getting to Yes With Kim Jong-un

    Jun 8, 2018 Yoon Young-kwan urges a combination of political boldness and realistic prudence in denuclearizing North Korea.

  4. A North Korean Opportunity for America and China
     China's President Xi Jinping, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, US President Donald Trump FRED DUFOUR,BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI,TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images

    A North Korean Opportunity for America and China

    Jun 1, 2018 Richard Haass argues that resolving the nuclear issue could reinvigorate the world's most important bilateral relationship.

  5. Trump Cancels, China Wins
    A screen showing images of South Korea's president Moon Jae-in, US president Donald Trump, China's president Xi Jinping, and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un KIM SUE-HAN/AFP/Getty Images

    Trump Cancels, China Wins

    May 26, 2018 Bill Emmott says the US withdrawal from the planned summit with North Korea has further undercut its regional influence.

  6. What Sank the Kim-Trump Summit?
    Coin commemorating US-North Korea summit STR/AFP/Getty Images

    What Sank the Kim-Trump Summit?

    May 25, 2018 Ramesh Thakur says next month's planned meeting in Singapore was doomed to fail from the start, for three reasons.

  1. op_ghilarducci1_Jeffrey GreenbergUniversal Images Group via Getty Images_USelderlyworker Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    The Perils of Retirement in America

    Teresa Ghilarducci

    The US retirement system is failing American workers. But after decades of pushing fake fixes – especially forcing people to work longer – US policymakers have an opportunity to make real progress in bolstering Americans' economic security in old age.

    proposes a Grey New Deal that would boost economic security for all US workers in old age.
  2. nishtar8_AMAURY HAUCHARDAFP via Getty Images_africavaccine Amaury Hauchard/AFP via Getty Images

    Fifty Years of Immunization Success Call for 50 More

    Sania Nishtar touts the remarkable results of global collaboration on routine vaccination and foresees continued progress.
  3. GettyImages-2149550584 Photo by MARK PETERSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

    Trump on Trial

    From a long list of criminal indictments to unfavorable voter demographics, there is plenty standing between presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump and a second term in the White House. But a Trump victory in the November election remains a distinct possibility – and a cause for serious economic concern.

  4. woods56_Alex WongGetty Images_georgieva Alex Wong/Getty Images

    The IMF Chose the Right Leader the Wrong Way

    Ngaire Woods thinks the Fund’s process for selecting its managing director is woefully out of step with today’s world.
  5. bildt122_Mikhail SvetlovGetty Images_trumpputin Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

    Trump Is Putin’s Only Hope Now

    Carl Bildt considers the implications of Ukraine finally receiving the Western military aid it has been waiting for.
  6. frankel159_Getty Images_customer service Getty Images

    How to Rebuild Trust in Public Institutions

    Eleanor Carter & Carolyn J. Heinrich highlight the value of face-to-face interactions at a time when governments are phasing out in-person services.
  7. isenberg1_TIMOTHY A. CLARYPOOLAFP via Getty Images_trumptrial Timothy A. Clary/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

    Is Trump Above the Law?

    Nancy Isenberg

    Contrary to what former US President Donald Trump would have the American public believe, no president enjoys absolute immunity from criminal prosecution. To suggest otherwise is to reject a bedrock principle of American democracy: the president is not a monarch.

    explains why the US Supreme Court must reject the former president's claim to immunity from prosecution.
  8. deryugina1_BEN BIRCHALLPOOLAFP via Getty Images_ukraineflagsoldier Ben Birchall/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

    Ukraine Is Far From Doomed

    Tatyana Deryugina & Anastassia Fedyk compare Russia's full-scale invasion to World War II and see reason to hope – as long as aid keeps flowing.
  9. glennerster2_Scott OlsonGetty Images)_vaccines Scott Olson/Getty Images)

    The Pandemic Financing Developing Countries Need

    Rachel Glennerster urges multilateral development banks to establish mechanisms that enable at-risk vaccine purchases.

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