Thayer Consultancy Background Briefing:

ABN # 65 648 097 123

Why Did North Korea and the
U.S. Choose Hanoi for Their
Second Summit?
Carlyle A. Thayer
February 20, 2019

We request your assessment on the forthcoming summit in Vietnam between the

United Stated and the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK)?.
Q1. What is your assessment about the decision by the U.S. and North Korea to choose
Vietnam as the place for their second summit?
ANSWER: When the United States and North Korea held their first summit, they
agreed to hold it in Asia and in the capital city of that year’s ASEAN Chair, Singapore.
When agreement was reached to hold a second summit Thailand was the ASEAN Chair
but was ruled out due to the risk of political instability. When the Thai military regime
rescheduled national elections from February to March street demonstrations were
held by political parties opposed to the military and counter-demonstrations by
political parties who supported the military.
Agreement between North Korea and the U.S. was reached to hold the summit in
Vietnam and there were two contending choices, Hanoi and Da Nang. The U.S.
reportedly favored Da Nang, while North Korea preferred Hanoi. When negotiators of
the two sides met in Pyongyang earlier this month they agreed on Hanoi.
Both North Korea and the U.S. have embassies in Hanoi that can provide
administrative and logistics support. Vietnam is trusted by both parties to be a neutral
host and capable of providing security, high-level accommodation and logistics
support. Reportedly Kim Jong-un wanted to make a state visit around the same time
as the summit. We now know he will arrive in Hanoi from 25 February, visit a Samsung
factory(ies) in Bac Ninh province and/or the Hai Phong Industrial Park, and meet with
President and Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong.
Q2. What is Vietnam’s role of Vietnam in peace process between the U.S. and North
Korea?
ANSWER: Vietnam has two major roles. The first role is a third-party facilitator of the
peace process on the Korean peninsula not only as host for the second summit, but as
ASEAN Chair in 2020, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2021,
and possibly beyond. The second role is a potential economic model for North Korea
to study and possibly adapt as the peace process moves forward. Chairman Kim is
keen to promote special economic zones in North Korea as UN sanctions are lifted.
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Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, “Why Did North Korea and the U.S. Choose
Hanoi for Their Second Summit?” Thayer Consultancy Background Brief, February 18,
2019. All background briefs are posted on Scribd.com (search for Thayer). To remove
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Thayer Consultancy provides political analysis of current regional security issues and
other research support to selected clients. Thayer Consultancy was officially
registered as a small business in Australia in 2002.