Last week’s Hanoi summit, contrary to the expectations of the majority of observers, ended without a deal. Now seems the right moment to ask: what happens now, and what should we expect in the next few months?

To start with, the responses from both sides immediately after the summit give us reasons for hope. Both sides expressed their willingness to negotiate, even though the statements by Ri Yong Ho and Choe Son Hui were, predictably, tougher than remarks by Donald Trump and Mike Pompeo, and hinted at a possible breakdown of talks.

This positive impression is reinforced by the