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Edward Cavanough

As spring breathes fresh life into Mongolia, hopes that its capital Ulan Bator could soon be the stage for a different kind of thaw are melting fast.
And for neutral observers in the country that had been nursing ambitions of becoming the ‘Switzerland of Asia’, it’s hard not to share Mongolians’ sense of missed opportunity.
Until recently, speculation that the capital could host the upcoming summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had been raising eyebrows and prompting reflection by learned analysts across the world.
Now, just a Tweet or two later from the world’s most powerful man and its hopes appear as empty as the vast open plains for which Mongolia is so famous.
Hang on, what language is Kim Jong-un speaking?
It had all started so promisingly for the country, which has long cultivated a reputation as a neutral state, maintaining strong relations with the entire region – including North Korea.
Speculation over Mongolia’s role went into overdrive when its former president Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj – perhaps sensing that a successful summit in Ulan Bator would put the country of population just 3 million firmly on the diplomatic map – jumped on Trump’s announcement in March that he was open to meeting the North Korean leader. Ulan Bator was best suited to play host, Elbegdorj said, without missing a beat.
“Mongolia would be a neutral third party,” he said. “This policy renders Mongolia to be called the ‘Switzerland of Asia’. World and regional peace is Mongolia’s [utmost] important mission.”


Mongolia’s current president, Khaltmaa Battulga, voiced his support, too. Following the inter-Korean summit between the South’s President Moon Jae-in and the North’s Kim Jong-un on April 27, Battulga praised Kim’s leadership and outlined the importance of the Korean peace process to the entire region.
“The event was an important step toward maintaining peace and security not only in the Korean peninsula, but in Northeast Asia, as well as the world,” Battulga wrote to Kim. “I believe that our two countries’ 70 years of friendship, [the] foundation of which was strongly laid by generations of leaders of Mongolia and [North Korea], will be consolidated even more in future.”
Since then, no formal location – or even a date – for the Trump-Kim summit has been announced by Washington or Pyongyang. But Trump has suggested the DMZ is now his preference. On April 30, he tweeted: “Numerous countries are being considered for the meeting, but would Peace House/Freedom House, on the border of North & South Korea, be a more representative, important and lasting site than a third party country? Just asking!”

Most observers now see the DMZ as the overwhelming favourite to host the summit, as both South and North Korean governments have welcomed Trump’s suggestion. But there is still a glimmer of hope in Mongolian eyes. If, for whatever reason, the DMZ falls out of favour, the Mongolian capital has assets that would make it a logical back up choice.
It’s no joke: the North Korean nuclear crisis could get Trump the Nobel Prize
The country has hosted leaders from both the US and North Korea in the past – US President George W. Bush visited in 2005. And Pyongyang’s rail connectivity to Ulan Bator also eliminates concerns about the reliability of North Korea’s aged air fleet and its ability to safely transport Kim to the summit location.

Ogi, 35, who sells oil paintings in front of Mongolia’s parliament, remains hopeful Ulan Bator will get its moment in the spotlight. “The whole world would have their eyes on Mongolia,” he said, wistfully.
Over at Ulan Bator’s English-language daily newspaper, reporter Chintushig Boldsukh, 22, was less optimistic. “A lot of people are disappointed, myself included,” he said. “It would have been a huge opportunity for Mongolia to vault itself into the group of neutral countries such as Switzerland and Sweden.”
And yet others wonder if a summit might have been a double-edged sword anyway. “Of course it would be a big deal … but it would be controversial,” said Sarnai, a barista in Ulan Bator’s flourishing cafe scene. “[Detractors] might protest over having two evil people come to Mongolia.”

But protests would be unlikely, even if some in the city had grumbled about the summit’s would-be impact on traffic, according to reporter Boldsukh. “Mongolians don’t seem to generally have that same contempt for Trump and generally have a more favourable view of North Korea [than the rest of the world],” he said.
Mongolian media has reported “low-level government meetings between North Korea and the US [have] taken place in Mongolia recently as the two countries initiated preliminary meetings”.
Unfortunately for Mongolia, it now seems unlikely that its role as facilitator between the two countries will reach the heady heights of hosting their leaders in a head-to-head meeting.
Even so, the publicity of Mongolia’s credentials on the diplomatic stage have done no harm.
Former president Elbegdorj is adamant Mongolia will continue to seek a role in regional diplomacy.
“Mongolia has always had its doors open wide for talks and engagement for resolving the issues of concern for the international community, including the security of the Korean peninsula,” he said. “And we will always remain open.” ■


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North Korea

Trump, Kim, Mongolia? A dream fades in the Switzerland of Asia

Mongolia hoped it would be put on the diplomatic map when speculation grew Ulan Bator would host a meeting between the two leaders. Now those dreams seem as empty as its vast open plains

Photo: Edward Cavanough

Khaltmaa Battulga, the presidential candidate of Mongolia's major opposition Democratic Party, speaks to reporters in the capital Ulan Bator on June 26, 2017, after casting his ballot for the presidential election. The election committee said on June 27 that the country's first-ever runoff to pick a new president will be held on July 9. Battulga is expected to face off against Miyegombo Enkhbold of the ruling Mongolian People's Party. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ulan Bator, the Mongolian capital. Photo: Edward Cavanough

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's entry in a guestbook is seen at the Peace House at the truce village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, South Korea, April 27, 2018. The writing reads "A new history starts now. An age of peace, from the starting point of history." Korea Summit Press Pool/Pool via Reuters

Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in head for the Peace House. Photo: AFP

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shake hands after delivering a joint statement during the inter-Korean summit at the truce village of Panmunjom, in this still frame taken from video, South Korea April 27, 2018. Host Broadcaster via REUTERS TV ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. SOUTH KOREA OUT.

epa06693367 South Korean calligraphist Kang Byung-in (C) during a calligraphy performance on the eve of the Inter-Korea summit in Seoul, South Korea, 26 April 2018. A large scale calligraphy piece, reading 'Peace is spring, flowers', was made in Seoul to wish for good fortune in the 27 April summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the truce village of Panmunjom. EPA-EFE/KIM HEE-CHUL

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in meet in the truce village of Panmunjom. Photo: Reuters

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Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in. Photo: Bloomberg

South Koreans hold unification flags to welcome the planned summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un near the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, April 26, 2018. Seoul says North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon-Jae-in will plant a tree together and inspect an honor guard after Kim walks across the border for the leaders' historic summit. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

epa06695625 North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) crosses the military demarcation line (MDL) as South Korean President Moon Jae-in (R) greets him at the Joint Security Area (JSA) on the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in the border village of Panmunjom in Paju, South Korea, 27 April 2018. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are meeting at the Peace House in Panmunjom for an inter-Korean summit. The event marks the first time a North Korean leader has crossed the border into South Korea sine the end of hostilities during the Korean War. EPA-EFE/KOREA SUMMIT PRESS POOL / POOL

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the truce village of Panmunjom. Photo: Reuters

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Mongolia hoped it would be put on the diplomatic map when speculation grew Ulan Bator would host a meeting between the two leaders. Now those dreams seem as empty as its vast open plains


Mongolia hoped it would be put on the diplomatic map when speculation grew Ulan Bator would host a meeting between the two leaders. Now those dreams seem as empty as its vast open plains.


North Korea nuclear crisis

Kim Jong-un

Donald Trump