Washington: The White House has approached the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) to explore possible actions in the event that U.S. President Donald Trump successfully negotiates a deal with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. This move is seen as another indication of Trump's interest in resuming talks with Kim.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kelly McKeague, director of the DPAA, disclosed this development during an online forum. McKeague stated that the DPAA has informed both the White House and the Defense Department of its readiness to engage with Pyongyang to recover the remains of U.S. troops who went missing during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. The terms POW and MIA refer to prisoners of war and those missing in action.
In another development, North Korea has reduced its diplomatic presence in London as a protest against Britain's imposition of sanctions on a North Korean camp. The camp is suspected of being involved in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children. The North Korean foreign ministry announced this move on its website, describing it as a "diplomatic response" to what it deemed a "politically provocative" action by Britain.
Additionally, a prominent expert, Victor Cha, highlighted that President Trump might not object to acknowledging North Korea's nuclear arsenal, believing it is "not his fault." Cha, who serves as president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), made these remarks during a podcast. He noted that Pyongyang might wait for the outcome of the November midterm elections before considering a potential summit with Trump, as the President seeks to meet Kim Jong-un later this year.