In his speech to the Nation, US President, Trump stated that he would meet North Korea’s leader Kim at the end of February in Vietnam. There are good reasons for Vietnam.
At first glance, Vietnam may be an unusual choice, but on second glance, clear might, why the Communist country, the ideal place for the Meeting. To Vietnam, Singapore, where the first Meeting took place (article photo), diplomatic relations with both North Korea (since 1950) as well as to the United States. On the other, Kim Jong-Un seems to be on Vietnam’s economic and political path as a possible model for North Korea’s development of interested in.
So a North Korea visited in November 2018’s Delegation under the leadership of foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi. During the meeting, the Vietnamese foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh that he welcomed the developments on the Korean Peninsula. Vietnam is willing to share its experience gained in its socio-economic development, the Vietnamese state media reported.
Even before Vietnam had been selected as the meeting place for Kim and Trump, Kim Jong-Un has informed the Vietnamese government about its desire for an official visit, said Carl Thayer, a Vietnam expert and Emeritus Professor at the University of New South Wales, DW. “For Kim, it is relatively easy for them to travel to Vietnam. From Pyongyang, he can reach Hanoi in three to four hours with his private plane.”
A role model for Kim Jong-Un? – A thriving trade in the old quarter of Hanoi
Vietnam as a model for North Korea
Thayer called for more points for the good bilateral relationship: “Vietnam takes students from North Korea, the Vietnamese economic model to study. And Vietnam as host to secret talks between North Korea and Japan, in the dispute because of the in the 70s and 80s, North Korea abducted Japanese nationals.”
The choice of Vietnam for the Meeting, Trump, Kim is, incidentally, a symbol for the economic revival of the country and its again gained recognition on the international stage. In 1975, after more than 20 years of war with American involvement, Vietnam was treated in the West as a Communist pariah state. The impoverished Nation has been faced with massive sanctions. In 1986 the “Doi began Moi” – called reform era. The economy is liberalised and transformed the Southeast Asian country into one of the strongest growing economies in the Region.
From the North Korean point of view, can serve Vietnam as a model, since it has been shown that people’s economic success is also without the development of a liberal democratic order. The one-party state is still untouched, what prevents the country from acting with the Rest of the world. In the past years, Vietnam has attracted billions of dollars as foreign investment and free trade agreement with the European Union and in the framework of the TRANS-Pacific free trade zone CPTPP agreed.
According to South Korean media, Kim Jong-Un of Vietnam’s rise is impressed. During a meeting with the South Korean President, Moon Jae In, the North Korean leaders have expressed, he an Opening to Vietnam would prefer the laws of the model compared to the Chinese. “There are certainly a number of economic questions, in which North Korea can from both China and Vietnam to learn,” says Thayer DW. “I don’t think the Vietnamese model is perfect, but it shows what is possible.”
Confirmation of enhanced relations with the Republic of Vietnam and the United States
The fight against the Vietnamese Communists is the past – Barack Obama in 2016 in Vietnam
For Donald Trump, Vietnam is a suitable place to meet. In the past few years have improved relations between Washington and Hanoi. Vietnamese heads of state and heads of government have met with both Barack Obama as well as with Trump. In may 2017, the Vietnamese Prime Minister, Nguyen Xuan Phuc guest in the White house. Shortly thereafter, a visit by Trump in Hanoi. The bilateral trade relations have gained against the Background of the trading conflict between the USA and China on a new meaning. This applies analogously also for the safety of political-strategic area, namely in view of the growing Maritime rivalry between China and the United States in the Western Pacific and, in particular, in the South China sea.