CAA Members on the Trump-Kim Summit

A historic summit took place this week between President Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un. The leaders met in Singapore where they signed a document stating that Pyongyang would work toward ‘complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.’ Read the document's full text here.

A collection of responses from members of the Council of American Ambassadors follows.

The opinions expressed on this page are the authors' alone and do not necessarily represent the position of the Council of American Ambassadors.

Curtis Chin, U.S. Ambassador to the Asian Development Bank from 2007-2010

“This is such a unique moment in history. And it was driven by Trump and Kim Jong Un, but also look at what South Korea is doing. If we think about the last year, it was a move from South Korea that really made some of the initial steps to invite North Koreans down to the Olympics and to move it forward.”

Watch Ambassador Chin's interview on CNBC here.

Robert Orr, U.S. Ambassador to the Asian Development Bank from 2010-2016

"I think this is diplomacy without diplomacy.  Trump made such egregious concessions to Kim as to be beyond explanation.  What has the United States gained?  Zero concessions.  If this had happened under Obama the impeachment bells and attacks would be clanging loudly.  Human rights mentioned in passing.  Such a disgrace."

Bill Richardson, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations from 1997-1998

"The North Koreans, I 've negotiated with them. They always want you to go first. And then they say, 'we'll step aside,' and they don't do anything. That worries me."

Watch Ambassador Richardson's interview with Shepard Smith on Fox News here.

Thomas Stephenson, U.S. Ambassador to Portugal from 2007-2009

"What is far more important now is what will occur behind the scenes in Beijing and Pyongyang between our experts and theirs on the very challenging details that might lead to a successful outcome. If we are to achieve our goal of CVID on the Korean Peninsula, both Xi and KJU will have to conclude that the outcome for their key interests will be better served through reaching such an agreement with us."

Read Ambassador Stephenson's full article on Ambassadors Perspectives here. 

Donald Blinken, U.S. Ambassador to Hungary from 1994-1998

Ambassador Blink recommends and agrees with the following article:

"The Best Model for a Nuclear Deal with North Korea? Iran," by Antony Blinken in the New York Times