Nuclear facilities in Iran suffered bombings; meanwhile, the situation with North Korea remains distinct.
A Different Dance with North Korea
Grab a chair and buckle up, folks. We're diving into the rollercoaster ride that has been the relationship between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un. For our Reporter's Notebook series, host Scott Detrow chats with our website correspondent Anthony Kuhn about covering this chaotic dance and the outrageous twists it's taken. To learn more about our ad-free podcast Consider This, sign up via Apple Podcasts or our website. Drop us a line at considerthis@our website.
This episode was rustled up by Noah Caldwell. It was wrangled by Adam Raney. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
The political waltz between Trump and Kim has been a spectacle filled with moments of great optimism and daunting challenges. Here's a peek behind the scenes.
The Beat Goes On (and On)
- First Steps (June 12, 2018): Trump and Kim shook hands in Singapore, setting a new world record as the first-ever meeting between a U.S. president and a North Korean leader. The event was celebrated as a groundbreaking diplomatic victory, with both leaders signing a joint agreement vowing to work toward denuclearization, peace, security, and further talks[2][3].
- Two Steps Back (and Forth): Despite the warm start, the next dance was a stumble. Subsequent behind-the-scenes negotiations stumbled over hurdles, like refusing to take a dance floor step unless the other had previously danced a dozen[1].
- Side-Stepping the Border (June 2023): Trump danced his way into North Korean territory at the Demilitarized Zone, breaking records as the first sitting U.S. president to do the tango there. The world watched as this bold move hinted at a potentially frosty relationship thawing[1]. Yet, despite the televised camaraderie and strong bond displayed on the dance floor, the North Korean rhythm rejected the U.S.'s pleas for another waltz and kept testing missiles while sanctions remained in place[1].
- Stepping Back In (2025): As the music played on, Trump continued attempting to rekindle the romance, sending Kim lovelorn letters in hopes of arranging another dance. However, Kim initially refused to rise for a spin, mirroring the ongoing diplomatic limbo and reporting snags[5].
Rumba or Tango: Navigating the Dance Floor
- Two Left Feet: The dance has often felt like a series of abrupt reversals, from cancelled dances to sudden breakthroughs and chained missteps, causing media to struggle to provide consistent, coherent stories.
- The Music Man: The stage is rather dim in North Korea, due to its extremely secretive nature, making it hard for media to see and report the moves with clarity.
- Political Jazz Hands: Both Trump and Kim know how to put on a show, using grand gestures and powerful rhetoric that demand careful interpretation. For instance, Trump's early declaration that the nuclear threat from North Korea was a thing of the past drew criticism for being too eager and inconsiderate of the complex realities involved[2][3].
- Diplomatic Samba: Navigating the geopolitical floor is like a complex dance involving a dozen musicians and choreographers. The U.S.-South Korea military exercises, sanctions, and other activities must be balanced against diplomatic decorum and confidentiality while remaining accessible to the public.
- Dancing with Mirrors: The media finds itself playing a game of dance-floor mirrors, as both governments often use media strategically to support their narrative.
In short, the Trump-Kim negotiations have been a whirlwind filled with milestones that captured the world's eye, only to be followed by periods of disarray and hostility. The press corps has been put through the wringer, trying to keep up with inconsistent messages, shrouded diplomacy, and leading-man antics. These factors combine to create a challenging environment for clean, accurate reporting about one of the most perplexing diplomatic efforts in recent memory[1][2][3][5].
- Scott Detrow chats with Anthony Kuhn about the complexities of reporting on the dance between Trump and Kim, emphasizing the constant shifts in the relationship's nature.
- The political dance between Trump and Kim has been marked by periods of optimism and daunting challenges, as well as a struggle for consistent and coherent media coverage.
- Advertisers considering the ad-free podcast Consider This can follow the email provided to learn more about its approach to covering the Trump-Kim relationship and other global events.
- Navigating the geopolitical dance floor, with its dozens of musicians and choreographers, requires a delicate balance of military exercises, sanctions, diplomatic decorum, and confidentiality, while maintaining accessibility for the public.
