Kim beckons Trump to Pyongyang

North Korea leader Kim Jong-un, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands at the end of their summit in Singapore. AP-Yonhap

By Oh Young-jin

Is U.S. President Donald Trump watching the news from Pyongyang?

You bet.

Would North Korea be giving President Moon Jae-in the red carpet treatment with Trump in mind? Kim Jong-un has every reason to do so.

Not that Kim takes Moon lightly. After all, Moon has played well his stated role of honest broker between the U.S. and the North. Moon did so for a one-two summit in April and May, leading to the first summit between the leaders of the North and the U.S.

Now work is under way for a second Trump-Kim summit _ and the likelihood will go up dramatically if Kim and Moon come up with tangible results that can boost Trump's waning fortunes ahead of the U.S. mid-term elections.

But as seen in public and disclosed in Bob Woodward's new book "Fear: Trump in the White House," Trump's ignorance, impulsiveness and big ego make for his weakest point _ vanity.

On the first day of his three-day visit, Moon was greeted by Kim and his wife and a large welcoming group at the airport.

Pompeo: Trump prepared to engage in talks with Kim Jong-un 2018-09-20 08:42  |  North Korea
Then, on his way to the state guesthouse, thousands of Pyongyang residents, most likely mobilized by the state, gave Moon and his host Kim an enthusiastic welcome. The two left their car and responded to them.

There was some speculation that U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was awe-struck by the overwhelming welcome she received when she visited Pyongyang in 2000 as the supposed scout for President Clinton's visit. The Clinton visit failed to materialize because of opposition from then President-elect George W. Bush.

Now fast track to today and think of Trump. The North knows of Trump's vanity and his wish to get real results in denuclearizing the North.

A big welcoming party should look after his vanity. Remember what happened during the Singapore summit in June when Trump and Kim walked from opposite directions to meet each other. A promotional video promised the North a glowing and prosperous future if it adhered to what Trump said.

No one would be surprised that the Singapore show was a tacky imitation of the grandiose summit between Kim and Moon less than two months before at the Panmunjeom truce village.

Trump would be almost certain to bask in a Pyongyang summit, if the pomposity on offer is even half what has been offered to Moon.
Of course, mixed somewhere in the package would be a chance to win a Nobel Peace Prize.

The North could meet Trump's needs by providing a list of its nuclear assets.

Kim could always take a small step back any time he feels on shaky ground.

So if indeed the North was beckoning Trump to come to Pyongyang, what would be in it for the regime there? A peace treaty perhaps.