Sumi Terry's Expos? on 'Bolton Memoirs'... Will the North Korea-US Summit Open Pandora's Box?

Bolton "Trump Was Fooled by Kim Jong-un in Singapore"
Hardliner Bolton's Memoir Reveals the True Face of the Singapore North Korea-US Summit
Trump Impulsively Announces "Reduction of ROK-US Drills" Without Consulting Anyone
Experts Say "It Will Not Be a Significant Variable in Inter-Korean Relations"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Ryu Jeong-min, Lim Cheol-young, Lee Hyun-woo] Former White House National Security Council (NSC) advisor John Bolton's memoir has sparked a stir by revealing the raw realities of inter-Korean relations and North Korea?U.S. relations. In this context, Sumi Terry, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), has opened the 'Pandora's box' regarding the behind-the-scenes of the Singapore North Korea?U.S. summit. What had been circulating as rumors in diplomatic circles has been exposed to the world through the words and writings of a key figure holding a major U.S. national security position, fueling controversy.

On the 18th (local time), Senior Fellow Terry summarized and posted on Twitter excerpts from Bolton's memoir related to the 2018 Singapore North Korea?U.S. summit. Terry pointed out, "U.S. President Donald Trump had no concrete preparations or formal agenda for the summit with North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un and was only ready to sign a completely free-form joint declaration."

The memoir also includes content that when Kim asked whether the lifting of UN sanctions could be the next step, Trump responded, "If there is a possibility, I would like to consider it," indicating that Kim left with optimistic expectations. Terry also conveyed that "President Trump mentioned to Kim Jong-un that he would reduce or eliminate the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises without consulting or notifying anyone, including South Korea." This criticism highlights that President Trump approached the matter with an impromptu attitude, disregarding the importance of U.S. national interests and diplomacy and security in international relations.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Foreign media, citing Bolton's memoir, reported that the Trump administration's North Korea?U.S. denuclearization diplomacy was a creation of South Korea and that U.S. strategy was not properly reflected, expressing dissatisfaction. The foreign press also reported that Bolton criticized Trump for being 'hooked' by Kim Jong-un at the first Singapore North Korea?U.S. summit.

As a 'neocon' and a well-known hardliner on North Korea, Bolton's claims and perspectives require reinterpretation. Senior Fellow Terry conveyed, "Bolton criticizes President Moon Jae-in for having unrealistic expectations of both North Korea and the U.S., writing that 'this entire diplomatic fandango was created by South Korea.'"

President Trump expressed dissatisfaction on Twitter, stating, "All of Bolton's unbelievably stupid claims have set back North Korea and us terribly." The problem is that the Moon Jae-in administration cannot just watch the verbal duel between the U.S. president and the former NSC advisor as if it were a distant matter.

Senior Fellow Terry's tweets are shocking because they imply that when President Moon took on the role of mediator for the Korean Peninsula's fate, the U.S. engaged in major negotiations without internal coordination. This reconfirms the gap between the South Korean and U.S. governments regarding the resolution of the Korean Peninsula issue.

It is also noteworthy that the controversy surrounding the 'Bolton memoir' is not over yet. Whether his claims are true or exaggerated, the very spread of controversy is a burden for President Moon, who must untangle the complicated knot on the Korean Peninsula.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Unification, and other relevant departments maintain that Bolton's memoir is linked to U.S. domestic political issues and is not a subject for mention or commentary. Since Bolton directly criticizes President Trump's North Korea policy, it is judged inappropriate for the government to respond officially.

However, there is a sensed discomfort in diplomatic circles regarding Bolton's actions. Sensitive diplomatic matters, including summit talks, usually undergo government-level prior review procedures, so releasing them in memoir form raises questions. A diplomatic source explained, "From a general standpoint, the facts mentioned by Bolton in his memoir could become a government-level issue," calling it "an exceptional case."

Professor Jeong Dae-jin of Ajou University said, "The memoir's content is unlikely to become a special variable in inter-Korean relations," adding, "The atmosphere at the Singapore summit is already well known, so it is merely gossip."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.