Donald Trump could cut ‘reckless’ North Korea deal if he wins 2024 US election, John Bolton warns

Bolton, who served in the Republican’s White House in 2018 and 2019, wrote in the new foreword of his memoir, The Room Where it Happened, that Washington’s allies face a chaotic foreign policy in a potential second Trump term.

Bolton also said Trump previously “almost gave away the store to Pyongyang, and he could try again early in a second term”.

The US and South Korea have accused Pyongyang of sending weapons to Moscow, in defiance of United Nations sanctions, apparently in exchange for its technical know-how to boost the North’s spy satellite project.

“Pyongyang’s emerging role in the Beijing-Moscow axis, including providing ammunition and weapons for Russia to use against Ukraine, will not deter Trump from getting back together with Kim,” Bolton said.

Bolton’s arguments also rattled a major South Korean economic body, which has told local companies to brace for trade tariffs, possible US decoupling from China, and the upending of the already fragile global supply chain as Trump vowed to double down on his “America-first” policy.

With Trump winning the first two Republican primary contests, the Korea International Trade Association said it “found it necessary to prepare in advance in accordance with his trade policy proposals”.

Earlier this month, Seoul said Washington was unlikely to cut back its forces in South Korea even if Trump returned to the White House, because the US Congress had already decided the matter in a defence bill it recently passed.

Following a meeting with Kim in 2018, Trump said he would “like to bring them back home”, referring to the 28,500 troops stationed in the South.

He also demanded Seoul pay more for the US military presence on its soil, which is aimed at deterring aggression from the