U s sizes up north korean leader ahead of summit

You're referring to the historic summit between the United States and North Korea in 2018. Here's a summary of what happened:

Background: In March 2018, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un surprised the world by announcing that he was willing to meet with US President Donald Trump to discuss denuclearization. The summit was seen as a major breakthrough in the decades-long standoff between the two countries.

Pre-Summit Analysis: Ahead of the summit, US officials were keen to size up Kim Jong-un, who was known for his authoritarian rule and nuclear ambitions. The US wanted to assess Kim's intentions, his willingness to denuclearize, and his ability to deliver on any agreements.

US Assessment: According to reports, US officials were impressed by Kim's willingness to engage in direct talks and his apparent willingness to negotiate. They also noted that Kim's demeanor was more relaxed and open than expected, which was seen as a positive sign.

Key Takeaways: The US assessment of Kim Jong-un ahead of the summit included:

1. Flexibility: Kim was seen as willing to listen and adapt to US concerns, which was a departure from his previous rigid stance.
2. Authenticity: Kim was perceived as genuine in his desire to improve relations with the US and address the nuclear issue.
3. Calm and Collected: Kim's demeanor was described as calm and collected, which was seen as a positive sign of his ability to handle the pressure of negotiations.
4. Limited Understanding: US officials acknowledged that they still had limited understanding of Kim's motivations and the inner workings of the North Korean regime.

Post-Summit Analysis: After the summit, US officials praised Kim's willingness to engage in direct talks and his commitment to denuclearization. However, they also expressed concerns about the lack of concrete details on how North Korea planned to achieve denuclearization.

Conclusion: The US assessment of Kim Jong-un ahead of the summit was largely positive, with officials impressed by his willingness to engage in direct talks and his apparent willingness to negotiate. However, the lack of concrete details on denuclearization and the ongoing tensions between the two countries have led to a more nuanced assessment in the years since the summit.