Why, for Kim and Trump, domestic politics dominated the Hanoi meeting | NK News
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October 03, 2026Oct 03, 2026

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Why, for Kim and Trump, domestic politics dominated the Hanoi meeting

Goings-on at home likely played a major role in the no-deal summit

Most people would agree that domestic politics affect diplomatic negotiations, and last month’s Hanoi summit was interesting because it provided some visible clues as to the relationship between what goes on at home and foreign policy.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the congressional hearing of Michael Cohen — which took place during the summit — might have contributed his decision to walk away.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, too, seems to have been driven by domestic politics — albeit from the different direction. He sent two kinds of messages as the summit ended, a bitter one