PERHAPS United States President Donald Trump’s can use tips from his Art of the Deal book to prise something from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore today. Or is it the other way around?
The attendance of Trump and Jong-un impersonators will lighten up the atmosphere, though temperatures will be felt with the presence of 3,000 media representatives.
If only Trump can do the same when it comes to Palestinian and Iranian issues, while surprising and forcing European leaders to respond to his trade measures against their country’s exports.
Trump and Kim will be mindful of their countries’ contrasting policies towards each other that it is impossible to see any breakthrough at the summit.
But who knows? That the meeting will take place itself is unexpected, and historic, when both sides had initially wanted to avoid the meeting, with the North Koreans miffed at American officials’ use of bellicose language against them.
Trump had reminded everyone of his negotiating position, and how confident he is that Kim will need to acquiesce to the US if the latter wanted to avoid more punitive measures from the world’s superpower.
Trump’s “I know in the very first minute” whether Kim is serious is an early marker to either set an excuse for the meeting to fail or a clever ruse to pressure his opponent before negotiations start.
For the international media, it’s success or failure for the two of them. Trump, however, will not be too bothered.
North Korea’s main ally, China, will have a say on any new moves by Washington against Pyongyang, while sentiments in South Korea leans towards rapprochement with their neighbour.
In that sense, Trump and Jong-un will be conscious that it is not only about stopping North Korea’s nuclear programme and the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, but also easing Pyongyang back into the community of nations, and ultimately, the union of two Koreas.
Technically, the two are still at war after nearly seven decades.
As usual, not many analysts and observers are expecting a positive outcome, and it is not helped by the North Koreans’ bunker mentality when it comes to dealing with the outside world.
This is made worse by the killing of Jong-un’s half brother, Kim Jong-nam, in Kuala Lumpur last year.
A little light, however, is shone on the summit by former US ambassador to Malaysia Joseph Yun, when he was quoted by the Chicago Tribune.
“It’s a sign of recognition that the North Koreans have sought for decades.
“In my meetings with North Korea’s Foreign Ministry, its officials have repeatedly emphasised that only a leader-to-leader dialogue could break the nuclear impasse.
“At the root of this desire lies their central concern: regime survival.”
His line of reasoning should be seen from a North Korean perspective.
It is easy to dismiss Kim and his generals for having deep suspicions and misgivings about their treatment by the West when it is the Western-led military that’s practically camped at their doorstep, conducting military drills with South Korea.
The most important word from Yun’s thought is, of course, recognition.
More often than not, Pyongyang is on its own internationally, seen as a pariah and recluse. The nation often relies on symbolism to convey to outsiders matters close to its hearts and minds.
Kim, early in his presidency, had shown he wanted change with plans to modernise the economy, but they have not taken off, partly hampered by the sanctions and the country’s isolation.
The offer to open a burger restaurant as a goodwill measure might seem trivial to Western eyes, but should be welcomed as a confidence-building measure to boost US and North Korea relations.
Perhaps, this is what the Singapore summit needs, a confidence-building measure to help negotiations.
If not, only the impersonators will leave Singapore in a jovial mood, while waiting for the next meet up to happen.
Azman Abdul Hamid is NSTP (convergence) foreign editor