With Donald Trump back in the White House and North Korea’s nuclear program under Kim Jong-un continuing unchecked, another summit between the two leaders seems to be a matter of when, not if. This time, they should meet in Mongolia.
The first two Trump-Kim summits produced spectacle but little substance. Singapore offered glamour in 2018 but yielded only vague commitments. Hanoi in 2019 collapsed entirely. Their third meeting on the DMZ was made for the cameras. The diplomatic window closed afterwards as Covid-19 and US domestic politics intervened.
Now, that window has reopened. North Korea has advanced its capabilities significantly, testing intercontinental ballistic missiles and tactical nuclear warheads while deepening ties with Russia. The nuclear challenge hasn’t disappeared – it has intensified.
When Trump decides to reengage with Kim – and most likely he will – the choice of venue will shape both process and outcomes.
For Washington and Pyongyang to re-engage effectively, they’ll need a venue that addresses the practical and symbolic barriers that hampered previous efforts. Mongolia offers unique advantages that neither side can afford to ignore.
First, accessibility. When Kim travelled to Singapore, he was forced to borrow a Chinese aircraft that may have led to a national embarrassment. Mongolia allows him to arrive by train, just as his grandfather did in 1988, projecting independence rather than reliance on Beijing. For a regime obsessed with symbolism and self-sufficiency, this matters tremendously.
Second, Mongolia’s diplomatic positioning. Unlike other potential hosts, Mongolia maintains equally constructive relationships with both sides without competing strategic agendas. A democracy with strong Western ties, Mongolia nonetheless treats North Korea with consistent respect rather than isolation. This balanced approach – democratic values paired with pragmatic engagement – serves both American and North Korean interests.
The limited progress of the Biden administration on North Korea issues has demonstrated that “strategic patience 2.0” only buys time for the regime to advance its nuclear program. Trump’s unconventional approach, for all its flaws, at least created direct channels between the leaders. Those channels need to be reopened, but with clearer objectives and realistic expectations.
A Mongolian summit would signal both continuity and reset – acknowledging previous diplomatic efforts while creating space for more substantive negotiations. The setting itself would reinforce the message that this engagement is different from the attempts of the past.
South Korea, too, would welcome the summit in Mongolia. Seoul’s relations with Washington have become more complicated, with growing concerns about US security commitments. Former presidential adviser Moon Chung-in recently noted that “there is no guarantee the US will protect [South Korea] in the event of inter-Korean war”. It means the better relations Washington and Pyongyang have, the more secure Seoul would feel.
Some critics will argue that North Korea has proven untrustworthy in previous talks. That’s precisely why the diplomatic approach must evolve. Trump’s return to office creates an opening, but previous mistakes need not be repeated. A focused dialogue in Mongolia – modest in setting but significant in substance – could establish parameters around North Korea’s nuclear program rather than pursuing the elusive goal of complete denuclearisation.
When Trump decides to re-engage with Kim – and most likely he will – the choice of venue will shape both process and outcomes. Mongolia offers what other venue options could not: a setting where both leaders can meet as equals, unburdened by excessive expectations or third-party interests. Mongolia might be the missing piece in a diplomatic puzzle that has confounded US presidents for decades.

Published Date:2025-04-02