North Korea: an uncertain dialogue

North Korea's dialogue with the United States is worrying Japan and South Korea.

During his visit to Washington on Friday, North Korean General Kim Yong Chol handed a letter from leader Kim Jong Un to Donald Trump. An "interesting" missive, said the US president, who confirmed the holding of a historic summit with North Korea on June 12 in Singapore.

"In the light of how North Korea has behaved in the past," notes Itsunori Onodera, Japan's defense minister, "it is important not to reward her for agreeing to start a dialogue."

In 2000, US President Bill Clinton had already received a North Korean envoy; a summit was being considered, but negotiations on the Pyongyang nuclear program had been cut short. What to invite to caution.

"The most important thing to move forward," said Victor Cha, an academic and Korean affairs expert, "is that the two leaders are now in silent mode, no tweets, no statements, no propaganda focus on Singapore's political goal on June 12. "

Donald Trump also indicated that nothing "would be signed on June 12", and that the question "would not be settled in a meeting".