# If Kim Jong-Un Wanted To Pay A State Visit To The U.S. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 31, 2017, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-kim-jong-un-wanted-to-pay-a-state-visit-to-the-u-s/778623 "2017-01-31T00:26:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-kim-jong-un-wanted-to-pay-a-state-visit-to-the-u-s/778623/1 "2017-01-31T00:26:02Z")
Let’s say Kim Jong-Un decided to visit the White House or 10 Downing or wherever. Is he a _persona non grata_ in pretty much every developed nation in the West? Are there active arrest warrants against him for crimes against humanity? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-kim-jong-un-wanted-to-pay-a-state-visit-to-the-u-s/778623/2 "2017-01-31T01:16:20Z")
Trump: “He’s got a 99% approval rating. Very successful. Strong!” ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-kim-jong-un-wanted-to-pay-a-state-visit-to-the-u-s/778623/3 "2017-01-31T01:37:49Z")
The U.S. does not have diplomatic relations with North Korea, so he would not be welcome here. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-kim-jong-un-wanted-to-pay-a-state-visit-to-the-u-s/778623/4 "2017-01-31T01:48:23Z")
I’ve wondered this as well. How would that work? Could a neutral country host Kim and Trump? Can Kim Jong Un travel anywhere? It seems that China is still a bit friendly with him. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-kim-jong-un-wanted-to-pay-a-state-visit-to-the-u-s/778623/5 "2017-01-31T02:06:43Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > The U.S. does not have diplomatic relations with North Korea, so he would not be welcome here. Lack of diplomatic relations does not constitute a bar to one head of state hosting another head of state. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-kim-jong-un-wanted-to-pay-a-state-visit-to-the-u-s/778623/6 "2017-01-31T02:12:38Z")
He couldn’t make a state visit because that only happens by invitation, and he’s not likely to be invited. But if he wished to talk to US government figures, and the US government reckoned there was any advantage to be had by talking to him? Sure, arrangements for a meeting could be made. Maybe in China. I’m not aware that there are any outstanding criminal charges against him. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-kim-jong-un-wanted-to-pay-a-state-visit-to-the-u-s/778623/7 "2017-01-31T02:34:45Z")
> [@UDS](#): > > He couldn’t make a state visit because that only happens by invitation, and he’s not likely to be invited… And if the US did invite him it would be as a national leader on a diplomatic visa, not as a private citizen so trying to arrest him would be out of the question. IIRC the US would be obliged to allow him to travel to NYC to attend UN meetings if he wanted, but could impose a bunch of restrictions on his movement (use the most direct route possible, stay within 50 miles of the UN HQ, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-kim-jong-un-wanted-to-pay-a-state-visit-to-the-u-s/778623/8 "2017-01-31T02:43:34Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Trump: “He’s got a 99% approval rating. Very successful. Strong!” **Moderator Note** Let’s keep political jabs out of GQ. No warning issued, but don’t do this again. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-kim-jong-un-wanted-to-pay-a-state-visit-to-the-u-s/778623/9 "2017-01-31T03:33:48Z")
This is amazing. I was just wondering the exact same question a little bit ago. The new Antiques Roadshow just aired and one of the items was a Nixon autographed item from Air Force 1 during the flight to China in 1972. It got me thinking about security during such a visit and the train of thought naturally went to the logistics of Kim stopping by one of these days. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-kim-jong-un-wanted-to-pay-a-state-visit-to-the-u-s/778623/10 "2017-01-31T03:34:57Z")
To answer the OP’s question, there are no arrest warrants out for Kim. It’s not that nobody would like to see them. [Kim Jong-un is one step closer to being charged with crimes against humanity](https://www.pri.org/stories/2014-11-20/kim-jong-un-one-step-closer-being-charged-crimes-against-humanity) talks about UN resolutions. [UN Calls for Kim Jong-un to Be Prosecuted for Crimes Against Humanity](https://news.vice.com/article/un-calls-for-kim-jong-un-to-be-prosecuted-for-crimes-against-humanity) is another report about angry cries for justice. Nothing official has been done or is likely to in any foreseeable future, though. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-kim-jong-un-wanted-to-pay-a-state-visit-to-the-u-s/778623/11 "2017-01-31T05:20:40Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > This is amazing. I was just wondering the exact same question a little bit ago. The new Antiques Roadshow just aired and one of the items was a Nixon autographed item from Air Force 1 during the flight to China in 1972. It got me thinking about security during such a visit and the train of thought naturally went to the logistics of Kim stopping by one of these days. From what I remember about Nixon first approaching Red China to improve relations, this was first done in Poland where the U.S. ambassador approached the Chinese ambassador at a diplomatic party. The Chinese ambassador ran away: he had no instructions about what to do in such a case. I’m pretty sure H R Haldeman on a “60 Minutes” interview" said that when Nixon met Chou En-lai, Chou said that was a very good way to give their people heart attacks. A lot of the preliminary negotiations were done in 1971 when Henry Kissinger was on a world tour. While in Pakistan it was announced he was indisposed for a few days with food poisoning. He actually flew to China to negotiate Nixon’s visit. The United States paid Pakistan some money for the fake food poisoning story, and praised their ability to keep a secret. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-kim-jong-un-wanted-to-pay-a-state-visit-to-the-u-s/778623/12 "2017-01-31T05:31:20Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I’ve wondered this as well. How would that work? Could a neutral country host Kim and Trump? > > Can Kim Jong Un travel anywhere? It seems that China is still a bit friendly with him. It would probably be best for them to meet, each with an entourage of their most trusted advisers, on a specially devised raft in the middle of the Pacific. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-kim-jong-un-wanted-to-pay-a-state-visit-to-the-u-s/778623/13 "2017-01-31T05:44:59Z")
It seems any negotiation with NK involved months of negotiating over the size and shape of the table they were to sit at. With such attention to detail, Kim won’t be here anytime before mid century. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-kim-jong-un-wanted-to-pay-a-state-visit-to-the-u-s/778623/14 "2017-01-31T06:06:07Z")
They’d have to let him in if he wanted to meet with the UN, wouldn’t they? (How much of an uproar would there be if we abducted the guy on his way back out?) ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-kim-jong-un-wanted-to-pay-a-state-visit-to-the-u-s/778623/15 "2017-01-31T08:31:50Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Are there active arrest warrants against him for crimes against humanity? The only legal mechanism/institution for declaring one that I’m aware of (apart from the claim by the Spanish prosecutor Garzon of universal jurisdiction for Spain where there are Spanish victims) is the International Criminal Court, which the US refuses to take part in, or if the UN were to establish some special tribunal. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-kim-jong-un-wanted-to-pay-a-state-visit-to-the-u-s/778623/16 "2017-01-31T09:57:07Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I’ve wondered this as well. How would that work? Could a neutral country host Kim and Trump? > > Can Kim Jong Un travel anywhere? It seems that China is still a bit friendly with him. He was invited to Russia to attend a victory day celebration, and initially was supposed to be going but then apparently changed his mind because Russia wouldn’t give him the special treatment he wanted: > **[Kim Jong-un sends head of state to Russia in his place](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/11581041/Kim-Jong-un-sends-head-of-state-to-Russia-in-his-place.html)** > > North Korean leader had reportedly refused an invitation to visit Moscow because Russia refused to meet Pyongyang's demands for special treatment And yes he’s been invited to visit Beijing, but seems like it never happened. > **[Kim Jong-un visit to Beijing could restart Korean denuclearization](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jun/8/kim-jong-un-visit-to-beijing-could-restart-korean-/)** > > Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent meeting with Ri Su-yong, North Korea’s vice chairman of the Communist Party’s Central Committee, could be the beginning of a new type of bilateral relationship between China and North Korea. If recent rumors of dissent amongst North Korean elites are true then he is probably too paranoid to leave the country, in case of a coup happening while he is away. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-kim-jong-un-wanted-to-pay-a-state-visit-to-the-u-s/778623/17 "2017-01-31T10:32:13Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > They’d have to let him in if he wanted to meet with the UN, wouldn’t they? (How much of an uproar would there be if we abducted the guy on his way back out?) Wouldn’t that depend on whether the UN wanted to meet him? If they had no interest in meeting with him, could he unilaterally show up to demand an audience? ---
**Author:** ![Grim\_Render](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@Grim\_Render](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grim_Render)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-kim-jong-un-wanted-to-pay-a-state-visit-to-the-u-s/778623/18 "2017-01-31T11:44:17Z")
Isn’t the United States still at war with North Korea? Legally speaking, wouldn’t that be an extra winkle in the plan? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-kim-jong-un-wanted-to-pay-a-state-visit-to-the-u-s/778623/19 "2017-01-31T11:47:07Z")
> [@Grim\_Render](#): > > Isn’t the United States still at war with North Korea? > > Legally speaking, wouldn’t that be an extra winkle in the plan? It’s the United Nations, and there’s a truce in effect. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-kim-jong-un-wanted-to-pay-a-state-visit-to-the-u-s/778623/20 "2017-01-31T12:21:18Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > They’d have to let him in if he wanted to meet with the UN, wouldn’t they? Technically yes. They did so for Fidel Castro. > [@](#): > > (How much of an uproar would there be if we abducted the guy on his way back out?) Quite a big one, I’d imagine. This would be (or be taken as) a very powerful message that the UN’s New York headquarters are no longer safe for representatives of countries not on good terms with the US. The probable outcome would be that the UN moves the General Assembly (and possibly other organs and agencies) from New York to one of its three other headquarters (Vienna, Geneva, and Nairobi). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-kim-jong-un-wanted-to-pay-a-state-visit-to-the-u-s/778623.md?page=2)