We need to talk about Kim: US and South Korea remain far apart on the North as first summit approaches

Joe Biden and Moon Jae-in meet later this month and one topic will dominate - North Korea. Donald Kirk, in Washington, reports on the differences dividing the allies when it comes to dealing with Kim Jong Un

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (via REUTERS)

President Joe Biden and South Korea’s president Moon Jae-in are gearing up for a showdown over North Korea when they meet at the White House on 21 May.

The two will surely avoid overt harsh words but differ on the proper application of pressure on North Korea to give up its nuclear programme and the missiles for sending warheads to distant targets, including anywhere in the US.  Moon is due here five weeks after Biden hosted his first foreign leader, prime minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan, with which Korea remains at bitter odds over the legacy of Japanese colonial rule.

Ideally, Biden would love to persuade Moon to get along with Japan in hopes of forming a common front against North Korea.  Even if they ever come to final irrevocable terms on how much to pay for comfort women kidnapped from Korea to serve Japanese soldiers in the Second World War, however, South Korea and Japan remain far apart on North Korea.