Kim Jong-un's image makeover palpable in Hanoi

U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speak during a dinner at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel in the Vietnamese capital, Wednesday. / Yonhap

By Lee Min-hyung

The latest summit between Washington and Pyongyang was a half success for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, as he achieved a big image makeover by actively engaging in a formal diplomatic schedule there despite the breakdown in his denuclearization talks with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Since taking power in 2011, Kim had been regarded as one of the world's toughest dictators, apparently orchestrating the assassination of his half-brother and the execution of his uncle.

Until the end of 2017, the young third-generation dictator of the Kim dynasty was also seen as the most reclusive leader, making few public appearances and not actively taking part in diplomatic engagement with other leaders.

But starting last year, he began altering his negative image by expressing a willingness to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, and holding talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Last year alone, Kim held three summits with President Moon and one landmark meeting with Trump. In particular, the Singapore summit last June with Trump drew the global spotlight, as this was the first time that a North Korean leader had met with his U.S. counterpart.

At that time, the two leaders built the basic groundwork for them to continue talks on denuclearization of the peninsula. But the one-day summit was not enough for Kim to achieve an outstanding image shift, he did not participate in an outstanding diplomacy schedule there besides meeting with Trump.

But the second two-day-long summit between Trump and Kim, which started Feb. 27 in Hanoi, was somewhat different, as Kim took part in surprise diplomatic meetings, and gave his first press conference.

When a reporter asked Kim about his willingness for denuclearization, Thursday, Kim responded by saying: “I would not have made my way here if I did not have the determination.”

Despite the Washington-Pyongyang summit ending with “no deal,” Kim went on to expand his presence in the Vietnamese capital by holding talks with President Nguyen Phu Trong. Kim also paid tribute to Vietnam's late revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh as his last official event there.

According to Vietnamese media, Kim was also impressed by the economic growth of the country, which raises the possibility that Kim will customize the Vietnamese economic growth model for his goal of achieving economic prosperity in North Korea.

After ending the four-day trip to Hanoi, Kim left for Pyongyang via train Saturday. It will take about 65 hours for him to arrive in Pyongyang. It remains to be seen whether he will visit Beijing en route to Pyongyang for another summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.