There could be more talks and summits between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Moon said on Monday according to Reuters, as U.S. officials prepare for a possible summit between Kim and President Trump.
Key quote: Moon told senior secretaries that the most important part about the meeting with the Korean leaders was that they "easily got in contact, easily made an appointment and easily met to discuss urgent matters, without complicated procedures and formalities, just like a casual meeting."
Israel's national security adviser, Meir Ben-Shabat, will arrive in Washington tomorrow for talks at the White House with his U.S. counterpart John Bolton, sources briefed in the trip told me.
The backdrop: Three weeks after President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, Bolton and Ben-Shabat will ratify the U.S-Israeli framework document on countering Iran agreed between the parties in December, before Bolton entered his new job. The document was reported first on Axios and Israel's Channel 10 News in Israel. The sources told me Ben-Shabat and Bolton will update the document to reflect the new reality after the U.S. withdrawal.
China is conducting an average of five simulated tests per month as it develops a more advanced nuclear arsenal, the South China Morning Post reports — that’s about five times as many tests as the U.S. typically conducts.
Why it matters: Russia is also stepping up its nuclear weapons program, with Vladimir Putin claiming to have developed an "unstoppable" nuclear missile and President Trump warning of a new "arms race." China is entering that race as it builds up its military strength and seeks to solidify its superpower status.
As of Sunday, China has handed Ivanka Trump her 13th trademark in the last three months, ranging from a collection of businesses, including books, housewares and perfume, per the AP.
Why it matters: Her growing portfolio comes as her father, President Trump, is engaged in a bitter back-and-forth battle with China over trading practices. Her trademark approvals give Ivanka's brand the opportunity "to market a lifetime’s worth of products in China," the AP adds. She has removed herself from management at her company since her father took office.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will be in China in June for a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a "China and Russia-led security bloc," Reuters reports.
The big picture: The summit is "aimed at avoiding disruption of joint projects," per Reuters, after the U.S. pulled out of the Iran deal.
Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, whose new book “Facts and Fears” is out now, told me in our interview last week that Russia presents the most urgent national security threat to the U.S., and China the biggest long-term threat.
The big picture: Clapper says Russia is “bent on undermining our system any way they can” and will be as long as Vladimir Putin remains in power, while China's "economic power" and "scientific and technical prowess" present big long-term challenges.
The Polish government has offered to pay the United States up to $2 billion to build a permanent military base in the country, reports Politico Europe, citing a defense ministry proposal obtained by Polish news portal Onet.
Why it matters: The move would be seen in Europe as an attempted Polish check against Russia, which could exacerbate tensions on the continent. And it's worth noting that President Trump gave a well-received speech in Warsaw last year, where he said that he would hold up Poland "as an example for others who seek freedom and who wish to summon the courage and the will to defend our civilization."
President Trump confirmed in a Sunday afternoon tweet that an American team had arrived in North Korea to begin preparations for a summit with North Korea — seemingly expressing optimism that the summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would indeed occur.
China blasted the U.S. on Sunday for sailing two Navy warships into an area of the South China Sea claimed by Beijing — a move that comes amid strained U.S.-China relations over trade as President Trump seeks cooperation on North Korea, reports the Wall Street Journal.
What they’re saying: The U.S. move was a "freedom of navigation operation," designed to purposefully test China's claims in the sea, per the WSJ, prompting Chinese foreign and defense officials to express “firm opposition” to what they characterized as a violation of sovereignty. The long-disputed area has become a recent hotspot between the U.S. and China with the Trump administration also threatening consequences for increased Chinese activity in the area.
A team of U.S. officials entered North Korea on Sunday in preparation for a planned summit between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the Washington Post reports — despite continued uncertainties surrounding the summit taking place.
The details: Per the Post, the team — which includes former U.S. ambassador to South Korea Sung Kim, the National Security Council's Korea specialist Allison Hooker, and Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia Randall Schriver — is focused on discussing North Korea's nuclear weapons. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Saturday that the North is committed to denuclearization.
The world’s most powerful woman, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, went to meet the world’s most powerful man, Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Thursday.
Why it matters: The trip comes as a deepening estrangement between Europe and the U.S. is reshaping Germany’s choices and challenges on the world stage. Only 14% of Germans think the U.S. is a reliable partner these days, according to a recent poll. More than 40%, meanwhile, now see China in a positive light.
A Chinese H-6K bomber landed on Woody Island in the Parcels last week — the first time a Chinese military aircraft has touched down on one of the disputed islands in the South China Sea, and a strong assertion of sovereignty by Beijing.
Why it matters: China is not only restoring its place as the dominant power in Asia, but also extending its presence and influence far beyond. Along the way, it has become the most significant global competitor the U.S. has ever faced.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is still committed to denuclearization, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said, per CNN, adding that both he and Kim believe the planned summit between Kim and President Trump must take place.
The details: The two leaders met secretly on Saturday morning, after Trump's surprise announcement on Thursday. Moon said Kim "expressed his intent to settle the history of war and confrontation, and to cooperate for peace and prosperity through the success of the North Korea-U.S. summit," per CNN.
