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Neutral ground or dramatic backdrop? Where Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un could meet

A South Korean soldier stands guard before the military demarcation line and North Korea's Panmun Hall, in the truce village of Panmunjom - AFP
A South Korean soldier stands guard before the military demarcation line and North Korea's Panmun Hall, in the truce village of Panmunjom - AFP

Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un caught the world by surprise last month with the sensational announcement that the pair are to hold unprecedented talks.

And now attention is shifting to where the most intensely-watched political event for years will be held.

Mr Trump this week said there were five locations under consideration, and none of them were in the United States.

Neutral venues in Asia and Europe are now considered the most likely options, but given that both Mr Trump and Mr Kim have a reputation for enjoying the limelight, the meeting will almost certainly need to have a dramatic backdrop.  

Europe

Officials in the US and North Korea would almost certainly be trying to identify a neutral venue which would not afford the other side a propaganda victory.

Kim studied at a Swiss school, and Geneva has been mooted as a possible location.

The city hosted talks between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985 as the US and Soviet leaders sought to limit the arms race. 

The men met in the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik, a year later, for another breakthrough summit.

Speculation that Sweden could play host to the Kim-Trump summit mounted following a visit last month by North Korea’s foreign minister to the Scandinavian country.

Sweden, which has an embassy in Pyongyang, has frequently been used as a communication channel between the US and North Korea. 

Oslo has also been mooted as a possible contender.

Officials from North Korea and the US met in the Norwegian capital over the release of Otto Warmbier, the American student who was brought back to the US last year in a coma after he was imprisoned for stealing a propaganda poster form a hotel.

Elsewhere in Scandinavia, Helsinki could also be another option, as the city has also hosted unofficial talks between US experts and North Korean delegates.

Finland's capital could also provide a historic backdrop for the talks as it was the site 1975 Helsinki Accords, which were seen by some as helping to ease Cold War tensions.

Other European cities reported to be under consideration include Warsaw and Prague.

However, Kim might favour a 'neutral' venue closer to home. 

Ulan Bator

Mongolia has long regarded itself as being non-aligned, but the country has strong links with North Korea.

It was the second state to formally recognise the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and in 2013, then-Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj visited the North.

Mongolia also has good rail links with Pyongyang, and trains are the favourite form of transportation for North Korean leaders.

Recent reports also suggest that Mr Kim may not have an aircraft capable of flying him to distant locations. He could, therefore, be forced to use the train that took him to Beijing last month for any overseas summit he attends.

"Mongolia has long offered its good relations with all parties involved in tensions on the Korean peninsula to provide a neutral venue for any discussions and negotiations," said Julian Dierkes  an expert on Mongolia at the University of British Columbia.

"Beyond a formal offer to host any meetings conveyed to US and DPRK diplomats in Ulan Bator a month ago, the Mongolian government is keeping its offer to host a summit very quiet."

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The North-South Korean border

Moon Jae-in, the South Korean president, is already scheduled to meet Kim at the Panmunjom Peace House in the heavily-fortified border between the two countries.

Panmunjom, which is located in the 4-km (2.5 mile) wide buffer zone between the North and South, is the focal point for one of the world's most dramatic borders.

The demilitarised zone is also highly symbolic and relevant to the current tensions, as it is a modern day reminder of the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended only with an armistice, not a peace treaty.

Mr Trump had planned to visit Panmunjom during his visit to Seoul in November, but had to cancel at the last minute due to adverse weather conditions. However the prospect of him finally getting his day at the popular tourist spot appear to have faded in recent weeks.

China

Beijing has long sought to deflect accusations that it is not doing enough to rein in North Korea by saying that the key players in the crisis are Pyongyang and Washington. However, Chinese officials will feel a loss of face with its position as a spectator in the emergence of talks which could have huge repercussions for north-east Asia.

One such way to boost China's status as a key player is to act as host. 

However, the likelihood of China staging the talks have also decreased as tensions with the US linger over security and trade. 

It is also unlikely that Kim would welcome China stealing some of his attention on his big day.

North Korea | Kim Jong-un’s fiery relationship with the US
North Korea | Kim Jong-un’s fiery relationship with the US

North Korea  

It seems highly unlikely that US officials would welcome the president handing the North Koreans a propaganda coup with a visit to North Korea, but it would certainly appeal to Mr Trump's sense of drama - and perhaps his curiosity.

Washington had apparently considered a visit by President Bill Clinton to Pyongyang, and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was supposedly laying the groundwork for this during her trip to the North Korean capital in 2000.

Mr Clinton eventually visited when after had left office in 2009, but US officials would almost certainly rule out a sitting president visiting Pyongyang over security concerns.

Mr Kim would have the same worries if the US invited him to hold talks in the US, or indeed, on an aircraft carrier anchored in waters near the Korean Peninsula.

Other possible Asian venues

Japan has much to gain from a de-escalation of tensions in north-east Asia, but it is seen by Pyongyang as one of its historic enemies. 

Singapore held landmark talks between the leaders of China and Taiwan in 2015, but acting as host for Mr Trump and Kim would be an entirely different matter. 

Vietnam is also reportedly under consideration. 

The Communist state has seen relations with the US improve markedly since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. 

Thailand is also another option. There is a huge US Embassy in Bangkok and the North Koreans might feel more at ease in a country ruled by a military dictatorship.