What does Vietnam gain from hosting the US-North Korea summit?

A resort in Da Nang. Illustration photo (Zing.vn)

Vietnam was mentioned most frequently last week in articles about the upcoming second meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The Washington Times reported that on February 5, in his annual State of the Union address, President Trump announced that the long-awaited summit would be held in Vietnam at the end of February. Although the President did not name a specific location, sources all talked about the coastal tourist city of Da Nang. This choice is understandable. Da Nang is a locality with many advantages in industrial development and a world-leading reputation in the field of high-end hotel and resort services, with many villas and beaches. The idea is to introduce Kim Jong-un to this city and say: You can have all of this in your country, the newspaper noted.

US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

The Washington Post writes: The choice of Vietnam, a Southeast Asian nation, for the February 27-28 meeting highlights how much the world has changed in the past few decades. Vietnam’s path from enemy to new security partner of the United States could offer Kim Jong-un a roadmap for establishing peace with the world’s most powerful nation. In addition, Time notes, Vietnam has maintained diplomatic relations with Pyongyang since 1950 and with Washington since 1995, and has embassies in both countries. Vietnam is politically neutral, has experience organizing major international forums, and its security team can ensure the safety of international leaders.

Washington’s goal at the February 27-28 talks is to get North Korea to agree to give up its nuclear weapons. North Korea views the issue differently, seeking to eliminate the “nuclear threat” posed by the US military in South Korea.

But, according to the prestigious Russian newspaper Kommersant, there is almost no possibility of forcing Pyongyang to take the lead in the denuclearization process. In the middle of last year, China lifted the trade blockade against North Korea. And Pyongyang has no great need to give up nuclear weapons in exchange for the lifting of sanctions by the West. The newspaper quotes a famous expert on North Korea - Professor Andrei Lankov: Kim Jong-un has no intention of disarming, his goal is to hold out until the end of President Donald Trump's term. Mr. Trump is an unpredictable president, under certain conditions he is ready to start a war against the DPRK, regardless of the losses of South Korea and Japan, the first two countries that will have to suffer Pyongyang's retaliation. And what does Vietnam gain by hosting the US-North Korea summit? With international press attention on one of the world's fastest growing economies, Vietnam will attract foreign investment and contribute to the development of the hotel industry, the Washington Post answers this question...