So...Who Will Pay Kim Jong-Un's Hotel Bill?
Travel plans for the summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong-Un are almost all ironed out. The date is set (June 12). The country has been selected (Singapore). And we even know how the two leaders will fly to the historic meeting.
Virtually the only planning detail that remains to be locked in for first-ever summit between a US president and a North Korean leader is a bit of an uncomfortable one: Who will pay for North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un's hotel bill?
Though proud and extremely rigid with diplomatic protocol, North Korea is more than a little cash poor. So much so that the hermit nation, under heavy economic sanctions, will need another entity to cover its room and board costs in Singapore.
"Historically, North Korean diplomats have relied on (the) largesse of partners when they travel, in stark contrast to the official policy of maintaining independence," Scott Snyder, a Senior Fellow for Korea Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, told TPG in an email.
Kim, who did not travel internationally during his first five years in power, made his first international trip earlier this year — which was likely funded by third-party resources. "Kim took his own plane to Dalian [China] last month for the first time," Snyder said, noting that both Kim's father and grandfather who ruled before him had a strict train-only international travel policy. "It is likely that hotel costs for both of Kim's initial forays to China (Beijing and Dalian) were picked up by Beijing."
Though they have cash issues, the North Korean officials' tastes aren't cheap. For the summit, Kim Jong-Un would reportedly prefer to stay at The Fullerton hotel, which according to its website is a 400-room "grand neoclassical landmark built in 1928" on the banks of the Singapore River and charges more than $6,000 per night for one presidential suite.
Two people familiar with the summit logistics told The Washington Post that the US is open to covering the costs of the Pyongyang delegation's stay, but there is potential for the North Koreans to find that insulting. So US diplomats are reportedly considering whether to ask Singapore to pony up for the bill.
According to the Post's two sources, Singapore officials were informed that the US could be asking them to cover the cost of the North Koreans' hotel stay in the island city-state. It seems that Singapore officials are open to that possibility.
"It is a cost that we're willing to bear to play a small part in this historic meeting," Singaporean Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen told reporters on Saturday.
The US State Department told the Post that it would not be footing the bill for Kim Jong-Un's hotel, nor was the White House "asking others to do so." TPG reached out to the State Department for more information, but we were referred to the White House, who could not be immediately reached for comment.
Pyongyang, who has relied on this type of behind-the-scenes travel assistance dating back to the Cold War when it received such financial aid from Moscow and Beijing, according to Snyder, has also made more recent lavish travel demands.
For the 2018 Winter Olympics held in Pyeongchang, the North Korean delegation was able to negotiate $2.6 million for its travel and lodging costs from South Korea. Additionally, North Korea's 22 participating athletes had their travel expenses covered by the International Olympic Committee.
According to Snyder, the summit's hotel bill conundrum could have a large impact on tinting the overall negotiations.
"If you don't pay your own way to the talks, it drastically reduces the chance that you will feel an obligation to reciprocate other concessions made by adversaries in negotiations," he notes.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.