The Recurring Handoff

The Recurring Handoff

Korea's role before and after every US-North Korea summit, across three cycles

JUN 2018 — SINGAPORE
First US-NK Summit
Korea brokers the message that made it happen
FEB 2019 — HANOI
Talks Collapse, No Deal
Trump walks out; denuclearization terms rejected
2019 — PANMUNJOM
Trilateral Meeting
Korea manages the aftermath, deadlock persists
2026 — PROJECTED
Possible New Summit
Korea positions itself as "pacemaker" once again

A structurally similar role recurs across three separate diplomatic cycles, seven years apart