Time for calm assessment of Kim’s response to Moon’s envoy; Pyongyang’s request has been from it first formation a guarantee of national security with some agreement among the major powers, primarily China and the United States, against invasion with one standing as defender against the other. Now armed with a recognized nuclear potential Kim may see a realization very possible arising through negotiations never before realized.
China wants talks, So. Korea wants talks and Trump has indicated their possibility. There are N ways to blow that option away by laying down preconditions being one, but Washington really needs to align its team, and Trump can claim his moment in history he so desires; ego aimed in the right direction?
1
I'm not sure whether Kim Jong un is seriously considering giving up his right to have a viable deterrent but if he is I would urge him to reconsider. When dealing with a recidivistic terrorist state like the US you have to be able to deter an unprovoked attack. The US is seeking to prevent NK from being able to defend itself against the US using nuclear weapons just as it did with Iran. Iran as a result is in the invidious position of being subject to attacks by the US's puppet, Israel, which it can do little or nothing about. NK is very close to having an ICBM with a miniaturised nuclear warhead that can reach the US mainland. When dealing with evil you have to ensure you can deter them. Only if the US knows they are dealing with a realistic counter strike it is possible to offer real deterrence against a US pre-emptive strike. No country on earth has the right to take away a country's sovereign right to defend itself. NK must stick to its guns and Russia and China need to make it plain, as the US has done with Israel and Taiwan, that any unprovoked attack on NK will be considered an attack on them. This will neutralise Trump. Evil comes in many forms and its most potent is a country that considers itself better than others; a country that considers it has the right to impose its values on others at the point of gun. The US is that country.
Hilarious to read these comments.
Some NYT readers are skeptical but others are worried that Trump might succeed.
3
Having lived in Japan for 10 years several years ago, I have often wondered what the point of us having military bases in Japan and South Korea is. And in Germany.
It's well past time for us to leave those countries and encourage them to take responsibility for their own defense. We need to back them as allies, of course, but to maintain military bases from many decades ago is anachronistic.
Maybe this is a good time for us to put our military bases on the table in exchange for a peace treaty and a real, enforced ban on nuclear missiles in both North and South Korea.
1
Plenty of comments argue that Trump’s tough has brought Kim to the table, but let’s not congratulate Trump just yet.
I’m sad to say it, but if I had to place bets on who could outsmart whom, Kim would have the odds.
Can Trump make the biggest deal of his presidency? If he does, his re-election is assured.
2
Yeah, right. I don't believe one word of it. We should ratchet up economic and maritime sanctions to squeeze NK dry. If they do another missile or nuclear test then we should bomb NK with everything we have, and ready to go to a ground war if necessary.
1
There is no way in heck that he is going to give up the nukes.
3
"The statement gave no indication that North Korea would start dismantling nuclear or missile programs anytime soon."
You wouldn't expect that, would you. A state of war still technically exists, so this is a matter of negotiations, just as is the presence of US troops in the South, If NK puts its weapons program on the table, it will logically expect the US to put its bases in SK on the table as well and sign a ironclad security agreement. No doubt Kim and Co. see that forgoing nuclear weapons did not guarantee the security of the Saddam Hussein and Khadafy governments, nor did the Iran nuclear deal end US hostility to that nation.
2
If you believe this Trump will sell you a bridge. The DPRK has NO plans to give up their nuclear program. They've only gotten better at PR.
6
If North Korea actually gets rid of its nukes, it will be Trump's version of killing Bin Laden No matter how racist, sexist, greedy, and incompetent he remains thereafter, he will be re-elected. That will be great news for China and Russia. Makes me think that China and Russia are in Kim Jong Il's ear, just as Russia & Wikileaks were in the Trump campaign's era during the election. It will be wonderful if North Korea does get rid of its nukes. But make no mistake: America is being played as no nation of the modern era has ever been played.
3
Maybe this could turn out bad for Russia and Especially China. Maybe Kim makes a deal with the US and the Korea's unify and allow the US to make and maintain many new military basis on the peninsula becoming a bigger threat to the whole region then it already is. And Russia and China did it to them selves by agreeing to impose US sanctions on the North.
If only reality was so simple. Many twists and turns to come.
Even if Kim is really interested in giving up his nukes for promise of security, like trade and tariffs, Trump won't be able to resist being confrontational.
2
Mr.Kim was mightily impressed by the Olympic Games held in South Korea.He was so impressed by the world flocking to his southern neighbor that he sent a delegation hoping to steal a little of the limelight.The modern dynamic South Korea may have made him realize that his poor pitiful kingdom could modernize if every penny did not go to nuclear projects.Let us hope that it is something like this and not another fake to get attention and easing of some restrictions.
1
Choe just won’t stop.
“The cautious American reaction partly reflected a history of suspicion toward the motives of North Korea, which has remained an enemy of the United States since the 1950-53 Korean War.‘
A cautious reaction requires explanation?
And the history is of SUSPICION? Not the dead Americans, South Koreans and North Korean relatives of the Kim dynasty?
And North Korea has remained an enemy of South Korea in the war THAT HAS YET TO END.
It is as if Chie is repeating propaganda he learned thirty years ago in his anti American study sessions.
2
The PRC wanted and still wants a deal in which Korea turns neutral, US troops withdraw , and N. Korea has no nuclear bombs.
Trump made it possible. China will do her part.
Ask yourself.
Would we happy with a Chinese Army stationed in Mexico, and Mexico having nukes ?
No, we wouldn't be happy with a Chinese army on the Mexican border.
Neither would the Chinese. They find it is more efficient to compete for dominance in a global economy rather by maintaining a general's pipe dream of military dominance on a peninsula on the opposite side of the Pacific.
Mexico would be unhappy if China was "helping" them repel capitalism. China could "help" Mexico by selling them high tech armaments to "protect" them against the U.S. Especially if the U.S. could destroy Mexico City in a few minutes with conventional artillery emplacements and plain rocketry. Add to that scenario a willingness on the part of the U.S. to use bio and chem weapons as a deterrence against attack.
Perhaps one obstacle to peace on the Korean peninsula is Daddy Warbucks. The South Koreans didn't even want our latest shipment of toys that are supposed to shoot down North Korean air threats via a system that is like "hitting a bullet with a bullet." That doesn't even work on paper.
So why do we keep sending South Korea armaments they don't want, and soldiers, and assault rifles and why do we keep grinding our gears with military drills around the South's paranoid neighbor to the North?
There are three answers to a half century of rotating boots and arms in South Korea, and they are very good answers:
Jobs, Jobs, Jobs!!!
Attention, 37 percenters: Your taxes $ did not report to work. A good 15% of your federal tax invested in cold war politics. With zero return.
"The cautious American reaction partly reflected a history of suspicion toward the motives of North Korea, which has remained an enemy of the United States since the 1950-53 Korean War."
Hmmm. Under the 1995 Agreed Framework of cooperation between North Korea and the USA, North Korea froze its nuclear facilities in exchange for American fuel oil supplies and the promise to build two light-water reactors which could not serve as a source of weapons-grade plutonium.
The commissioning of the first reactor was scheduled for 2003 and, prior to that, the America would supply the DPRK with 500,000 tons of fuel annually for conventional power plants. To fulfill this task, an international (American-Japanese-South Korean) Organization for the Development of North Korean Energy (KEDO) was specifically created in March 1995.
America refused to fulfill its commitment and the DPRK, after futile request that it do so, reverted to indigenous development of nuclear power and, later, weapons.
We should be ashamed of ourselves.
8
To be more specific, it was the Republican congress that controlled purse and refused to fulfill the deal. They also refused to drop the sanctions that the US promised to. It is North Korea that need to be wary since the Republicans again control the congress. Let's just hope that it'll be different this time since the nuclear threat over our head is now real.
2
"We should be ashamed of ourselves."
Not "we" but those who finance the politicians, run the media, plunder the economy, and tell us a steady stream of lies which politically immobilize the people.
In other words, us.
I can't wait to hear from North Korea just how much or what Kim wants to do that. My guess is if the "denuclearization" offer is legitimate, the accompanying price will be steep.
more like the other way around --- back in the early 2000's america decided to not live up to it's end of the bargain struck with NK in 1995 which stated that the USA would help build light water reactors in NK... even before that America's fuel shipments were lagging...... then of course america needed another boogieman... so NK became parted of the dreaded 'axis of evil'..
Over the past several decades NK has repeatedly asked for a peace treaty with America(never the other way around!) -- and every time America has demanded that NK give up virtually every weapon it has before uncle sam even steps to the bargaining table! What the heck - who would agree to totally disarm before talking to a fully armed adversary? If NK demanded that of America should the US disarm? NO.
So basically America has done everything it could to create itself an enemy to scare the locals with.
2
No Steve, if North Korea signs a peace treaty with America, they are going to demand the US to demilitarize from the South. After that, they are going to bring the South Korean regime under their control, to eventually change ROK's constitution. It is happening now with Moon's regime. He is a pro-north Korean politician. Peace treaty means that US bases gone from South. Thus making Japan the only ally in the region. Steve you are seriously underming the security of South Koreans and American,s japense too.
I was under the impression that Russia was enabling Nort Korea. Perhaps the are pushing Nort Korea to help Trump.
1
China and Russia are clearly displacing the US and Europe early in the 21st Century. Kim obviously doesn't consider Trump and the US a real threat, and whatever the Asians do, they do in their own best interests—which probably includes not bombing the US.
1
Does anyone else feel like this is a trap?
3
Soooo funny that a lot of people leave comments like if it happened already....
Sad too...
1
Many months ago amid the wild and dangerously unrestrained public back and forth between the United States and North Korea, a "high level" North Korean official was quoted in the Times as saying that the North wanted a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. The United States has been a threat to the national security of the North since 1953. North Korea, half the size of California and a poor nation made poorer by sanctions has watched various US administrations drop two A bombs on Japan, wage a murderous and gratuitous ten year war on Vietnam and became an existential, "regime change" threat to the North Korean regime that has lasted for 66 years. It is the South Koreans who must decide if the North is a national security threat to their country. They have seem to come to the conclusion that a agreement can be worked out with their country men and women from the North. It is hard to believe that North Korea wants to continue a public confrontation with the mightiest nation the world has ever seen particularly given its successful political struggle and nuclear development to avert a military and political disaster. It takes a lifetime to understand just one country but the belief here is that the North, now having its nuclear weapons, and if given the US standing down and providing security guarantees to the North Korean regime can lead to the stabilization of the Korean peninsula and remove a dangerous and unnecessary flash point.
Every second that passes gives North Korean scientists that much more time to develop the ability to place a nuclear warhead atop an ICBM.
The North Koreans must abandon their labs, and cease all work on nuclear and missile production.
This cessation MUST be verified by international inspectors.
Then North Korea must reveal all of its hidden facilities.
This process could take months.
I wish I could be optimistic, but it looks like once again the North Koreans are trying -- and may well be able -- to pull the wool over the eyes of the western world and under the guise of pretending to seek to negotiate will further enhance their ability to deliver a nuclear weapon to the country of their choice.
4
Negotiations are great. There would be more luck, I'm convinced, in negotiating with South Korea and other nations of the world with sane, stable, well-intentioned leaders.
If this brings progress, try the USA later on. We're lost at the moment.
Just wondering if Kim Jong-un has been 'out crazied' by Trump. Is it possible he thinks that 'if you make them, why not use them' Trump is actually crazy enough to use those nuclear weapons that he seems to have a have a fascination with?
3
Wouldn't it be nice to have a functioning State Department? Wouldn't it be nice if we had a President who knew more about diplomacy than your average third-grader? I know. Crazy talk.
6
What a shame that they chose this time to come forward, with a President more concerned with his bully quota than any concept of humanism. Maybe an advisor will be intelligent enough to persuade him that Asian peace would bolster his ego resume.
ever considered the opposite possibility: that they're (maybe; let's wait and see) choosing to come forward at this time because President Narcissus has out-bullied the bully ?
Keep the pressure on, President Trump!
5
Let's hope, at least, once in the History since the East found West, the Asians will have the guts to take their fate to decide by their own without the arrogant interference of alien people, aka the westerners, currently the Americans as it was the British in the past. What a shame for the US to defend its interests at the expense of splitting of a people, such split that was caused in the past by the geopolitics interests led by alien people to Asian History, that include among others the Americans.
1
"Unbiased guy" should probably rename himself "Naive uninformed guy." His post reflects just those qualities.
High on the list of the Nobel Committee's considerations for the Peace prize should be South Korea's President Moon Jae-in. He broke the log jam, for the moment at least, with his flexible Olympic Games diplomacy and with his risk-taking follow-up by talking directly with his antagonistic counterpart from the DPRK. Until then, resolution was going nowhere.
Of course, today's news represents only a baby step. It remains to be seen how Kim Jong-un specifically interprets a regime security guarantee, or who would be the guarantors. China might be acceptable; Russia is not. Anything Russia touches turns lethally rotten, as most Syrians, Ukrainians, Georgians and former Soviet intelligence officers in the UK would attest.
1
Seems to me that Moon Jae In merely responded to Kim Jong Un's overtures. North Korea is leading the way on this, and South Korea is just following. So if anyone deserves a Nobel peace prize, it's Kim Jong Un. (Or maybe his sister Kim Yo Jong.)
1
Ha, ha, ha ha, ha,ha.
Really? Again? Any guesses out there on how many times Mr. Kim and his cabal of authoritarian murderers along with their Chinese enablers have used the carrot of negotiation to relieve crippling pressure in order to buy time and economic space in order to advance their nuclear weapons program?
Anyone? No?
How about every time. Without exception.
The appropriate answer to this phony diplomatic overature is to ram more sactions on North Korea and begin boarding it's ships at sea- whose only job is to move weapons and evade sanctions.
Better we get to the end game sooner, rather than later. North Korea is a stooge for China and Russia. Let's move the chess pieces right up to their backdoor. Maybe we can then have a meaningful de-escalation.
3
This is horrible! If peace breaks out on the Korean peninsula and that leads to [gasp] possible talks of unification, Trump may get the credit and right before the November elections. This must not happen or it must be ignored by the American media. Out of sight out of mind.
1
don't worry -it won't happen. :)
1
Mark - I'm not worried at all!
The fact that the US feels threatened by North Korea's nuclear program makes no sense. However as US officials recently made clear that the billions spent on attempting to design a missile defense system are meant explicitly to defend against North Korea, as the system can easily be overwhelmed by serious nuclear powers, like Russia.
North Korea comes across as credible when it says that their nuclear program is meant exclusively for defense purposes. It would make absolutely no sense for Kim Jong-un to attack the US with nuclear weapons. And this is besides the fact that he has nothing to gain from it, he seems like a man who enjoys his life and does not have a death wish.
He also seems to enjoy his position as the absolute leader of North Korea and it would make no sense for him to have his country destroyed and for him to hide in a bunker waiting for US commandos to kill him.
It is alot more likely that the US government simply cannot stand the idea that some man in his 30's who is the leader of a joke of a country should have the ability to nuke the US.
1
Kim Jong Un and Trump share the Nobel Peace Prize?
Remember Kissinger.
To avoid buying the same horse thrice, it occurs to me that the buyer should have horse in hand before paying for it. But I'm not a diplomat or a president, so there's probably something about this transaction that I "don't understand."
2
This time, no concessions for coming to the table. Inspections or no food.
1
This is clearly the work of Mr. Moon, who along with Mr. Kim have worked together to sideline American opinion on the matter by ignoring the heated rhetoric and deescalating the situation. Good for them both.
2
I keep on getting the feeling that Trump wants a war with someone, anyone. And that feeling scares me because wars cause more damage than they're worth. Trump reminds me of a child in need of a nap. He's cranky, whiny, and not amenable to reason.
12
TO hen3ry
I want to say something that expresses how ignorant you are but words fail me.
Trump should not be President but neither should you be.
I would rather have him then you as your comment makes no sense.
We are already fighting wars.
We are fighting in Afghanistan.
Obama could have ended that war but didn't.
Where is your anger with him.
Did he remind you of a child in need of a nap.
I am guessing the answer is no.
You are just angry that Trump might succeed where Obama failed and if Trump succeeds he will win a second term.
This is a question that to be considerred.
If a peace agreement will guarantee that Trump will win a second term should we support that peace agreement which will get Trump re elected or should we try to sabotage it so Trump isn't re elected.
Having mastered the nuclear and missile technology, now North Korea wants technology and manufacturing base in that country. The ultimate motive is that China and North Korea want US out of Indo-pacific arena
7
I believe anything Kim Jung-un says as much as I believe anything Trump says.
10
Mr. Kim also said he would suspend all nuclear and missile tests while such talks were underway, As definite as that sounds, at least the gives the painters there a chance to repaint the launch tower while the firings are temporarily on hold, so when they start them back up everything looks great on camera.
1
"If the statement is corroborated by North Korea"; To quote that brilliant philosopher, Yogi Berra, it’s déjà vu all over again; we have been there and done that drill before. The chances that Kim Jong-un will de-nuke are between slim and none – and slim has already left town.
3
We have seen this movie before.
We pay to hear the words NK will stop producing nukes and testing missiles, but they don't. They continue to make nukes and test missiles and we are assured again they are ready to talk about stopping making nukes and testing missles.
Tell the guy with to goofy haircut we are not interested.
6
This has become a pattern with North Korea--saber rattling and threats followed by detente in an effort to increase foreign aid. (Selling us the same horse twice.) Kim is not going to do anything to undermine his regime, and until that regime has been replaced, nothing real has been accomplished.
Being on the West Coast, I will be relieved that the threat of thermonuclear war has subsided. But I can't imagine that the problem has truly been resolved.
4
It looks like Kim Jong-un figured out that his nuclear and missile program needs a little more time for development (in other words, being able to hit a continental US city with a reliable chance). So this warming up of relationships is convenient or indicated. In the meantime, everyday that goes by, the North Korean nuclear and missile programs advances, while the US options remain essentially the same as what they were 10 or 20 years ago: Essentially we are stuck! Having said that we should give him a chance to show that he is serious on his offer, just because the alternative is a complete environmental apocalypses, but as Ronald Reagan said "Trust but verify".
4
Past presidents have gotten to this point, and beyond, before. Having talks and actually getting a signed agreement are nothing new. Then come the threats and accusations from Pyongyang, calming rhetoric from the rest of the world to maintain the agreement, then the nuclear activity starts up again.
Wake me up when NK actually starts verifiably destroying their nuclear arsenal.
4
I guarantee that if SK and NK engineer some sort of accommodation, Trump will figure out a way to take credit for it.
3
He will try, and his followers may believe it, but the truth will be that he will have lost an American strategic ally (SK breaking from US) and ceded even more ground to China.
Re: North Korea Signals Willingness to ‘Denuclearize’
Please remember: No one can unlearn riding a bicycle. No matter how hard you try.
Specially the bicycle that one mastered with so much effort and connivance with willing friends like China, Pakistan and Russia, and after diverting so many resources that could have been put to better use elsewhere in a famished country.
Despite all the positivism of the moment, South Korea and Japan have to be extremely careful here. Methinks that Kim is essentially pulling a fast one for a quick and remunerative shakedown, a seat at the table, and longevity for his odious regime.
I do hope I am wrong.
2
North Korea has what it wants mutually assured destruction. They will continue to exist,( its better than a bloody war). The Kim Regime will continue, I don't know if it will share the bounty with its people though. He know his regime will not be overthrown.
I would rather North Korea not have nuclear weapons. But if they have them, then what.
They know if they start a nuclear war, it is suicide.
I don't like Pakistan or Putin having nuclear weapons but so far they, too, don't seem to want to start a nuclear war.
And most people forget, Israel has always refused to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Pact. Although Iran doesn't forget that.
1
interestingly though, north korea and iran did sign the nuclear non proliferation pact and (unless you are willfully blind) are treating it like toilet paper. at least the israelis are honest enough to not sign the agreement and then break it.
2
As I've been suspecting for a while, a solution to the Korean problem is in the making, and it is most likely that it will not include the USA in the picture. Everyone in Asia has enough of the American war-mongering and aggressive posturing thousands of miles from its homeland. I don't know any South Koreans who support America's persistent presence in their home affairs.
The solution will likely involve secret three-way talks between South Korea, North Korea and China. A free pass will be granted to the Kim family to enjoy their retirement billions in gilded palaces in China, Korea or wherever they wish to go. Korea will be re-united and a 200 Km military-free buffer zone will be established around the Chinese border. The Chinese will contribute to the steep bill for rebuilding the poorest parts of North Korea, in exchange for billions of dollars of trade with the new unified Korea and its rich southern corporations. It will be a win-win solution for everyone which will bring a future of peace, wealth and stability in the whole region. And the Americans? They'll be unceremoniously kicked out, their military no longer welcome in the new Asian order which will see China as a much more attractive (and more benevolent) regional center of power. Welcome China, goodbye America.
2
I guess in the way that a broken clocks is right twice a day, Trump may actually be right in the assessment that this may be "possible progress" but it may also be "false hope." (Although Trump is not right nearly so often as broken clock.) The problem with insular, autocratic regimes like North Korea is that it's very hard to figure out what's happening behind the scenes from the outside. Even CIA analysts may only have a vague idea of internal politics is driving the latest round of conciliation. Kim Jong Un's whims can cause national policy to do a 180 degree about-face. It's just too early to say what this means, when there are so many unknowns and so many obstacles along the way.
1
One has to assume that some behind-the-scenes discussions have been secretly taking place, and that the purpose of the discussions was to figure out what interests North Korea, South Korea and the United States might have in common. I suspect that what Kim wants more than anything is to unify North and South Korea (with himself as the leader, of course). That's going to be hard to swallow. Would a rapprochement between North and South be possible under any circumstances? Would a cease fire be a necessary precondition? Just eliminating the risk of slaughter of millions in North Korea and elsewhere of itself will be worth a try. No?
1
Wasn’t it the Vice-President not even greeting the delegation from the North just a few weeks ago? Wasn’t it the President claiming that any talks with North Koreaa would be useless? If there will be somehow peace in Korea - and that certainly will be a great progress - then it will be under conditions we seem to have no influence on at this time. Trump himself tweeted “The world is watching”....
Kudos to Trump; seems his hard line policy toward N Korea is bearing fruit
2
Again, The U.S. must by all means refrain from screwing this up. I cannot imaging that Trump could restrain himself from saying/tweeting something horrific that will queer any deal No. and So. Korea are hammering out. This diplomatic development between the two Koreas is a god send.
The U.S. must keep our mouths shut and let it--whatever it may be--happen. Then, succeed or fail, we need to learn the lesson that these events can transpire and we only have to get out of the way for them to be.
3
Who do you think brought them to the table?
Why the good Reverend Dr. President Trump did it, when he pressed for hard core sanctions that are strangulating his access to EVERYTHING. Yeah, maybe that had something to do with it.
continue.to trash the president, but he is the reason we are at this point right now.
Tactic to drive a wedge between South Korea and the US. Old communist trick.
4
This about-face has China written all over it from the North Korean standpoint. On Trump's end, de-nuking NK would obviously look great in terms of a hollow victory that distracts us from the rest of this reality show. It's comical that we buy wholesale this tiny country being a threat. Leave these ppl alone. We have more nukes than anyone in the world, who are we to say...?
4
After all the lies of NK, How can SK take anything said by KIm to be real. Actions are the only thing NK can do show good faith. I sense some nefarious machinations of Kim. SK paid for NK to attend and stay and participate in the Olympics. Can you say Moon is a mug? I think he too blinded being from NK. He is looking backwards, not forward.
1
Talk is cheap, as it has been for a very long time with NK. Trump sent aircraft carriers with cruise missiles to their front door step and it worked. The North are bullies and sad as it may be to many, it took another bully to scare them.
6
Easy folks. We're not there yet.
4
Kim not giving up his nukes. Not only as insurance against US but also against China who could topple him.
1
Even if was Trump being certainly nuts that pushed it over, if this actually happens I will give our own maniac some credit. The problem is in knowing because if it works Trump will say he did it.
1
What's that Soviet phrase for 'trust but verify'?
Who can seriously imagine reunifying the two Koreas? The barbarous north, and the sane south have very little in common, now. How much longer can murderous regime's survive?
2
I believe Trump wants a war because he thinks it will save him from prosecution, since wartime presidents always seem to become more popular. That's one of our more unfortunate American tendencies. It will not be surprising if he does everything he can to Scuttle any possible peace agreement with North Korea.o
1
I don’t believe that Kim intends to give up nuclear weapons. Kim’s prime concern is the preservation of his fiefdom, and after seeing what the US did to Muammar Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein, he found it necessary to ramp up his nuclear defenses in order to repel the US. Now that he has weapons capable of hurting the US, he’s satisfied. Negotiations are a way to delay action by the US; at most, he will negotiate a halt in new development, but he will never give up his “safety” weapons.
3
Much as I hate to say it, I think that Trump by his bellicose and undiplomatic stance may have started something good here.And remember that success is everyone's success so we should be hoping for success.
7
Seeing is believing, and until I see real communication coming from Donald Trump, I have no choice but to believe this is a non-starter. Kim Jong Un and Donald will, if there is anything positive to come of this, be relegated to the sandbox while real adults do the hard work.
We can hope, but we have to still do the hard work of bringing into Washington real leadership, not tyranny. Trump is not the former.
1
NK will say anything to anyone for sanction relief. Of course, NK will actually do nothing, but they say they will.
4
It’s not like we haven’t negotiated with the North Koreans before. They actually stopped their enrichment program until Bush reimposed sanctions. They don’t trust us and we don’t trust them and rightly so. It’s too soon to celebrate.
4
President Trump is an accomplished expert on "false hope". False hope is one of his most used political tools.
3
Cynicism is understandable. But what if this occasion could be used to restart global talks on reducing, rather than increasing, nuclear weapons? We have seen how one small nuclear-armed country could wreak havoc on the world. Isn't it time to begin winding down again? The twin egotists, Trump and Kim, could claim credit and win honored places in history instead of continuing on their current courses to damnation.
2
In all seriousness, I wonder how long Kim will live as a morbidly obese smoker with gout. His health (or lack thereof) could prove to be the ultimate plot twist.
1
Since Donald J. Trump wants to claim all credit, he will frustrate all reasonable efforts to achieve peace in the Korean Peninsula. In fact, Donald J. Trump may start a kinetic war there so he can claim credit for bringing peace.
4
Both leaders have played that game. Heighten tensions, ignore for a while, take credit when the other guy does't launch missiles. Look like a leader to supporters, repeat during election season. It's in the Dictator's Playbook, or the Handbook of 20th Century Despots, I forget.
2
Comments from all angles, but almost no mention of the Olympics. Could there be common humanity in sports? Two weeks ago, NK and SK athletes looked each other in the face and realized they had much more in common than their political leaders had taught them. Among the candidates for the Peace Prize should be Thomas Bach.
6
Remember Chamberlain and Hitler. Why would a megalomaniac want to abandon his weapons program?
As a ruse to show that when negotiations inevitably fail, he can claim that he tried to get along, but the other side is bent on hs destruction.
No dictator ever negotiates for less power. He clearly views this as a way in increase his power.
3
No offense to Thomas Bach, but he did next to nothing. The Olympics were just an excuse for Kim Jong Un to start talking again instead of launching missiles and exploding bombs. We'll see how serious he is soon, as sanctions are clearly starting to bite.
1
Kim will not trust the Americans. Recall how after Gaddafi of Libya gave up his nukes and then was over-thrown with assistance from American bombing. He was tortured and murdered by his captors one that was caught on video putting a stick up Gaddafi's bottom.
Whether or not this is just another ploy and/or propaganda initiative by Kim the possibility of nuclear disarmament by the North Koreans is none. The United States record of abandonment of allies is well documented. Why would Kim Jong-un risk everything? Also, consider the motives of China that behind the scenes is the major supporter of Kim. Their mutual goal is to get the U.S. out of the Korean Peninsula and out of the Pacific. Nothing will come of this.
8
Kim Jung Un is is stuck between a rock and a hard place, basically in a no win situation. He has come to terms that if he doesn't negotiate/denuke Trump will ultimately invade the North and he'll end up like Saddam & Gaddafi. Kim Jung Un isn't suicidal.. he wants to live & he realizes, unlike previous administrations regarding this matter, Trump isn't playing softball.
1
Trump is not going to invade NK. Cooler heads at the Pentagon will prevail. He may however try a limited strike (whatever that is) and destroy enough of the nuclear infrastructure of the North to set Kim back several years or longer. The problem with that is that Kim, to save face and stay in power would be compelled to retaliate. How much back and forth until a cease fire takes hold is a great concern. How do we keep things from escalating out of control is a major concern. The only thing that will work is severe sanctions enforced until Kim capitulates or is overthrown. Maybe the next move is a quarantine to intercept ships headed for NK.
No one knows what would happen if that option is used.
There are no safe or sure options. That is the only certainty.
1
Trump’s reliance on Twitter is so embarrassing. It says, obsessively, compulsively, “It’s all about me, I am the US supreme leader, no one else matters.”
2
North Korea know what happened to Libya, I don't think they want to do the same mistake by trusting the USA by word or agreement. Stopping nuke will mean end of the current regime in North Korea.
2
My wife suggests that the fact that a U.S. civilian, Elon Musk, has a bigger rocket by far than the Little Rocket Man may have some bearing on the latter's current mood. I wonder if Musk will now start developing his own weapon to go on top of it?
1
I give the odds of this happening between 0 and 0 percent.
4
Glad to hear this welcome news. Just hope it is not a ruse again. Trump actually made something happen.
7
It is certainly good news that North Korea is talking instead of launching missiles and exploding bombs. And it is noticeable that no one is throwing around words like "dotard" or bragging about the bigness of buttons.
Still, it is hard to see where we go from here. Talk about reunification is silly. That's not going to happen. Maybe some sort of peace treaty and North Korea giving up its nuclear weapons in exchange for money? Who knows.
This all does show, though, that President Trump and President Moon are both savvy negotiators who know what they are doing. Kim Jong Un as well. My hopes are high that the fears of a war or attack of any kind (other than warring words) have dissipated.
3
North Korea has offered to negotiate away its nuclear program several times in the past, going at least back to Clinton. Every time, negotiations have progressed or even been completed, and North Korea has pulled out or has violated its treaty agreements. Why on Earth would we think it will go differently this time?
8
I wonder if the two parties broached the topic of unification. War as a vehicle to unification is no longer a realistic option for either side. But both parties need unification for lasting peace.
1
Though not to many in this country will be willing to give President Trump credit but his doubling down on sanctions, subtle courting and pressure on the Chinese and hard-nosed tact in dealing with the issue seems to be working. The North Korean leader is also playing this pretty smart. I believe these two understand each other - Kim wants to stay in power and I think he knows Trump is not interested in telling Kim how to run his country but is focused on doing away with NK's threats to our own. I think there's a deal here that previous Presidents were not able to pull off.
4
No, they did nothing of the sort. Read the fine print - only if the US signs a peace treaty promising to never attack North Korea, and pull all troops out of South Korea. That ain't gonna happen.
3
Isn't this somewhat like the way the Cuban Missile crisis of 1962 was solved?
The Soviets demanded a commitment from the USA not to attack Cuba (as the US had done at the Bay of Pigs just a year earlier). In exchange for that commitment, which they got, the Russians removed their missiles from Cuba.
2
To borrow a recent comedian's line, Trump will attempt to assist in this process by invading North Dakota to send a message to North Korea that they're next.
2
Donald trump's decisions these years have been ridiculous but i think making peace with NK would resolve some problems with the baby man. If donald does the right things like making AMERICA GREAT AGAIN this would be the beginning. Other things we need to do make This country safe and wealthy is trying to make others safe like the muslims and the jews and stop with gun incidents. If trump survives another 4 years i think we might be getting into a crisis and it would be great to get a new president.
Just imagine if she won the mess we would be in, now.
5
It's possible Trump might be OK with this--now. He doesn't need North Korea's help creating a distraction from his own corruption and ineptitude now that his pal Putin is helping him restart the entire Cold War.
2
''...the U.S. is ready to go hard in either direction !'' (Donald J. Trump)
This clear message, which has been overdue for the last 30 years will produce the result the free world is looking for !
Thank you President Trump !
5
Always the hyperbole, and the grateful exclamations. And you are sitting in Australia?
All you folks are correct. We are being "played for suckers" again!
I hope there are men/women in Washington that realize this
and take heed.
Is there a Trojan Horse nearby?
VOTE 2018 & 2020.
1
Sounds like a plan
7
America, all you need to do to get NK to denuclearize is to pay them large amounts of money annually to feed and house their population, so they do not have to admit their economic system has failed. Oh, and there will be additional, separate annual payments from the US for NK to stop their cyber-attacks on US entities and to stop their export of missile and chemical weapons technologies to unstable middle east countries. America, if you think it works to pay a blackmailer, think again! The US is being played, yet again.
All this in the setting where NK cannot use its nuclear weapons anyway without risking vaporization. We would do better helping our South Korean allies move their population and important industries farther away from the border to minimize collateral damage.
6
Move 25 million people out of Seoul? Are you mad? That's not going to happen.
2
I wouldn't get my hopes up. The North Korea leader has no intention of making peace. This is a dictator.
14
well MR trump. here we go. let me tell you. first of all north should turn there ther missles pointing to Russia an if Russia don't like it to bad the north is with us now.
You know, I think that, since Jong-un has repeatedly one-upped 45 on the world stage and has the last laugh at 45's expense, he now feels that he is one of the world leaders and can now talk to South Korea and other countries without losing face with his generals. What an interesting development.
6
How exactly did he 'one-upped' Trump? After all, this is a Korean issue, the US is only a spoiler there.
5
Carole, that should make you happy.
Plus, that was the plan all along. North Korea isn’t our problem. He’s Japan, South Korea and China’s problem.
I don’t mind giving Japan and South Korea nukes, but apparently the Left is.
So...push Kim to the point where he’ll talk to the players in his region so they can all agree on something they all need to live with.
Sounds like Trump’s plan is working out after all, even though it’s too early to tell what the long term play is for NK. I hope they look for a way to reunify, but that would require a heavy lift by Kim. We’d have to give him $10 billion and an island paradise...and maybe he’d turn the keys over to the kingdom. East Germany reunified with West took some doing...and took some time, but it can be done. That would be ideal...and I don’t think we should even talk about that at this point. Baby steps first.
4
Love how Trumpkins are already calling this an 'accomplishment' of Trump's.
But Trump says 'talks only under certain conditions' and Kim says 'no preconditions,' so I have serious doubt the talks will even begin.
But even if they do, does anyone seriously think Kim will allow nuclear inspectors all over NK when it's an arrestable offense for anyone to even take a tourist photograph in NK without permission of the government? Does anyone (especially Iran-deal skeptics) think we should agree to anything without on-the-ground inspectors being allowed in?
This will result in a stalemate, at best, I would think. Never forgetting there is a line of people behind Kim who would be happy to paint him as soft on the West and stage a coup.
6
Thanks for the tremendous insight Eeyore.
Did you step in something on the way to work this morning?
For Christ’s sake, you look at this as if it’s the end of the world. Trump doing something positive for the world shouldn’t torque you off. It should make you caustically optimistic.
6
Trump has done nothing but aggravate the situation. The US should stay out of it as they dont understand Asians and will only mess it up.
2
You never get a true win with NK. Here, we see they're moving to using guile and misdirection instead of direct provocation (missile and nuke "tests", which just happen to fly over Japan the USA). So we haven't won yet, but they're feeling significant pressure. Trump has moved the needle measurably in our favor, and considering that NK is a highly recalcitrant, hostile entity backed by China and aided by Russia, while we tend to have an inconsistent foreign policy run by people who either have no clue (elected reps) or have no loyalty (Dept of State), that's a better than expected result.
Will the next turn be to NK's advantage? Will it be spun into splitting US away from SK, something that would be richly rewarded by NK's sponsors? Will our President be thus outwitted and outmaneuvered? Who knows, but unlike some here I'd rather the outcome be "We win and they lose."
This is the first part of Trump's strategy to disarm and then obliterate North Korea.
1
Let the hockey team decide.
3
Mr. and Mrs. Pence’s frozen faces at the opening ceremony for the recent Winter Olympics and their refusal to acknowledge Kim Jong Un's younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, showed the North Koreans that the US means business.
11
They actually looked completely lame and out of place there.
2
Why should NK keep up the expense of these kinds of weapons when much larger, more powerful allies (Russia, China) are firing up the rocket thrusters for them? There's a big conflict setting up right now, and none of these actions is separate from the Trump/Russia or China/Russia partnerships. I don't see this as a positive development at all. I see it as a clumsy attempt at distraction/sleigh of hand, all the more disturbing for the fact that the party involved doesn't feel the need to even put on a show of selling it well. And just listen to all the pro-weaponry people crowing about the success of Trump's "strong arm" tactics. You fools.
Seems like we've seen this movie before. Kim has not confirmed any of this.
1
I feel it's important to say that if Trump manages to successfully negotiate an ACTUAL (not merely purported) denuclearization of North Korea, it would be an unambiguous victory for his presidency. Trump often tries to claim unearned glory for his own self-described "greatness," "genius," etc. Let us see if he can take advantage of an opportunity to truly set himself apart from his predecessors (... in a good way for once).
That said, it will be very interesting to see what Trump concedes to North Korea in return for a chance to achieve something where others have failed. Remember, Trump and the GOP still scream bloody treason over the Iran Nuclear Deal because they said Obama gave too much away. Yet all the U.S. (as opposed to Europe) really did was unfreeze some of Iran's own assets and agree not to punish OTHER countries that deal with Iran (U.S.-Iranian trade is still essentially non-existent). Even now, it seems that the economic boon Iran hoped for has not fully materialized, but ~89% of their fissile material is most definitely gone and their reporting obligations to us remain.
It's rumored that Jong-Un may ask for MUCH more than Iran ever did. Would Trump agree to withdraw all U.S. troops for the peninsula? To reduce our naval presence? Such a concession would make the concessions of the Iran deal seem petty by comparison, but the prize of being able to say he negotiated with Pyongyang must be tantalizing to Trump's ego. [shrug] Tough call, but we'll see.
2
"89% of their fissile material is most definitely"
Let's imagine that is true, which I think is naive. Iran retained its more advanced centrifuges, and those are only the ones we know of. Inspections are on Iran's terms, at limited sites, and ONLY with inspectors approved by Iran. There are also terms the WH did not disclose, such as prohibiting the US from criticizing the agreement. But let's say that 89% of their HEU is gone.
So? Iran has huge deposits of natural uranium - it's a large country, and one with rich mineral deposits. They are allowed to keep a stockpile of LEU 20%, which isn't bomb fuel but is far, far faster to enrich than natural U which is just a few %. But they don't especially need HEU, they need only run an "electricity generating" reactor to create plutonium, extract that and boom they have bomb fuel.
Funny thing about those Iranian reactors: We in the USA have found that nukes cost more to run than the current gen natgas plants, using expensive locally extracted shale gas. Iran, by contrast, has vast oil reserves right under the sand, their difficulty of extraction is about 80% less than ours. Factor in their labor costs - FAR lower than ours - and it's obvious that those nukes are not there to make watts. They are instead optimized to produce plutonium, which is now in the fuel rods.
TL;DR Iran can make bomb fuel stat, from multiple different, separate sources.
Yes but Trump is all about his own voice. Watch as he sabotages the denuclearization initiative -- he loves to say Liddle Rocket Man at rallies. Just watch, s. Korea is going to have to go to China for support. Watch China step in and gain even more influence.
3
My sense is that our new Commander in Chief, V. Putin, is behind this major change of heart by NK. I.e., lets make Trump look like he can change something that no other US President has been able to deal with, thereby getting him re-elected. It is well known that Russia has been violating sanctions and supplying NK with oil, goods, and possibly weapons. This whole thing sticks as bad a DJTrump and his family.
2
The Russians have been saying all along, that 'fire and fury' ain't gonna work and it didn't and doesn't.
The 2 Koreas will hammer out something that benefits both of them, all by themselves. They should be allowed to do so.
Keeping NK has saved China about $1 trillion in US commerce now that we are failing to hold China accountable for currency manipulation and specific dumping of products. How about we just destroy NK and use the $1 trillion to rebuild South Korea? Trump, you really need to learn to play chess better, I know you are very intelligent, but you need to learn to work with equally intelligent but more experienced US government personnel that know foreign strategy, diplomacy, and intelligence information. Several heads are better than one, Donald.
1
Can we just give this a chance? Have we become so jaded and cynical that we dismiss out of hand any outreach for dialogue as being underhanded or sinster?
We should welcome this development, given where we were just a few months ago.
By all means, “trust but verify”. But let’s pursue this. The option for war, unfortunately, will always be on the table.
6
Yes, yes, yes, talk away. We all know it’s among the most murderous, repressive regimes but halting the possible path to unfathomable loss of life and irreparable devastation tp the world is obviously good. The South Koreans are joined and we know that military action would devastate both.
The history is filled with deep wounds for South Korea and the United States and veterans who served in the Korean War made the sacrifice. We will always have a relationship and ally in South Korea.
It won’t and shouldn’t be “forgive and forget” but rather diffuse the bomb literally. The human rights issues are a huge concern underlying any talks.
Our little planet already on environmental peril can’t handle war anymore.
1
If the US hadn't moved into Korea at the end of WWII, there wouldn't be 2 Koreas.
The formula applied there (cut the country in half, put a pliant regime in place your half) was later also tried in Vietnam and we all know how that turned out.
SK is not an ally; it is occupied territory. Just as Japan is.
The planet is a rock crust over molten metal around a radioactive core. It'll handle any war we can throw at it just fine. The people, not as much.
1
Is this figuratively a potential "Chamberlain effort" or a potential "Israeli- Egyptian peace accord" effort? I am sure everyone has an opinion. Not me. I have no idea what is transpiring but am hoping and praying for the best possible outcome.
3
I think you have it right: the situation is difficult, fluid, and hostile to us. At least it's changing, and it is possible we'll get a favorable outcome. Who knows what % that possibility is, certainly not me.
Many people giving Trump credit for a WIN' This is not a WIN; this is just talk. Trump is still the most unstable president we have ever had. We still could be blown up at any second by Trump's temper. Last week the Pentagon ran table top war games where America sustained major casualties in every scenario. Trump has not WON anything. We are lucky to be alive on a daily basis under Trump's regime. Ray Sipe
1
The Chicken Little routine is getting really old and tiresome. The children's tale has true meaning.
2
Table top war games? Were you there? Let’s see, the results of the “table top war games” would probably be classified... You must be a real insider...
3
Un knows how to play Trump and he is going to demonstrated it again. He's ignored all Trump's threats and has blown through about 4 red lines Trump laid down. He's not about to give up his nukes because they are his security blanket. He knows what happens when a country gives them up.
He's far smarter than Trump and he remembers what happened when the US leveled North Korea.
1
i would be interested to know how Trump and his Trumpkins think any deal that might actually come about would be substantially different from the Iran deal they hate so much.
I am a little skeptical about this seemingly 180 degree turnaround. I'm more inclined to believe, that some of what was said was lost in the translation.
It is more likely, that when Kim was asked, whether NK is willing to talk to the US, he may have said 'yes' and repeatedly. He said that many times, with adding 'but only without preconditions'.
I
6
We are being scammed again by North Korea. There is no way that Kim Jong un is giving up his Nukes no matter what he says. We are so foolish to believe there is even a chance he will. Instead, he will tell us whatever we want to hear, continue doing what he is doing or maybe slow or stop for some brief period and then go right back to where he was. Kim Jong un is merely playing for time to complete his ICBMs that can send nuclear bombs to the US mainland and/or he is feeling some of the squeeze and wants some respite( but it will not last). The Koreans have cheated on every past deal and they will on whatever might be done here. Even DT expresses some doubt instead of taking credit for some grand breakthrough. The stakes were never higher. Get this wrong and we will be attacked by North Korea. We may be regardless unless we do something first to include a preemptive cyber strike or anything else. And, keep in mind that whatever North Korea develops, it will sell to Iran, Syria, Pakistan, and any other rogue state or terrorist organization.
8
North Korea will never attack the US. They just want to keep the US out of North Korea.
1
The DPRK has done this negotiation stunt numerous times in the past going back to the Clinton administration. Don't trust them and don't believe them.
1
There's nothing in NK we want. It would be a huge liability.
I gotta say, the praise of Trump on this issue irks me. In my short life I don't know how many times I've heard that we need strong Hawks in order to find peace, and I've never seen it work out. Never...Maybe Reagan? Maybe? Or he got lucky.
More often, like always, I've seen strong Hawks unable to shift feet when opportunities for peace arrive. That or they snuff out any possibility from the start through their endless goading. Hmm, seriously, seriously, what do we think Trump is capable of? Yeah, it would be great, but the man's still a singular toad, and the world keeps allowing bad actors like him to exist due to fantasy.
6
Compare Chamberlain and Churchill- Obama and Trump. The ONLY reason this is happening is because Trump's threats and pressure on China are and were credible. He convinced NK and China and Russia that he was about to use military force. That may irk you-but probably not as much as it irked North Korea, China and Russia.
8
In reply to logodos New York
Thank you, logodos, you state what all reasonable people believe.
1
It irks me that you compare Churchill with Trump. Churchill would not approve.
President Kim-Jung-Un is smart. He knows when and how to negotiate and he also knows when to retreat.
He says, "give me security guarantee and I will take down my Nukes". He will then hand Moon a peace treaty (of the 1948 ear) which includes removal of US forces from South Korea.
He might even go ahead and request a joint military command.
There would be pressure to bring back the troops in the US. Americans today are war-wary.
3
Please notice that this apparent lightening comes after N. Korea has achieved its nuclear missile objectives.
5
Their underground test site collapsed entirely, killed over 100 including some high end techs.
The comments are all over the place. This is such a startling development people don't even know how to react. It may be too good to be true, but miracles have happened before. Everyone needs to back off and realize this development transcends petty politics and old grudges. It is time for people of good will to come together and to unite behind our President. So far he has done good.
11
I am so sorry you feel that way. So far he has not done good and he keeps getting worse. If there were some folks worth their salt still at the state dept. I would feel better if we had some experts in there instead a bunch of clowns starting with Trump and Tillerson.
Trump is mildly acquainted with truth and definitely is not doing good so far by any measurement.
1
My impression is that this move has far more to do with developments in China regarding Xi Jingping's power grab and overtures from South Korea, than anything Trump did. Maybe Xi told them something to the effect of " As long as I am in power, we will ensure the survival of your regime. "
3
And IF that happened the way you suggest, the ONLY reason Xi acted that way is because Trump's threats were credible. Unlike Obama's "red line" in Syria that became "yellow" when Syria used chemical weapons, Trump sent missiles-
Few tyrants want to test him.
5
This is hopeful news, but will Kim demand the withdrawal of US troops from SK in exchange for denuclearization? If so, that may well be a dealbreaker. My take: extremely cautious optimism.
2
This would be a remarkable step toward a more stable, peaceful world.
If it happens, Trump will take credit for it whether he deserves it or not.
That's okay with me.
I can live with Trump's chest pounding and self adulation if it results in a more peaceful world.
2
You can, P, but trust me - many people can’t. Case in point, the NYT.
4
Just as N and S Korea begin negotiating Trump is looking to damage US - S Korea relations with a trade war
7
A broken clock is right twice a day.
I loathe Trump and his abuse of the presidency and the nation. His bluster toward North Korea was dangerous, however it may well be one of the factors that moved Kim Jong-un to talks with South Korea.
For those who think it was brilliant strategy, I must take exception. He has not demonstrated strategic thinking or intent in any other sphere, except perhaps engaging Russian corruption of our election.
And despite the hollowed out State Department (speaking of strategic thought...) I think it can be done. I have confidence that Tillerson IS capable of constructively finishing the deal. He IS a successful business person (who recognizes that Trump is a moron). Running a company like Exxon takes a skill set including pragmatism, a broad view and strategy that should be eminently transferrable to a complex negotiation between hostile parties.
I am hopeful.
4
We'll see.
2
Is someone pulling strings to set up what looks like a huge Trump Victory?
Nyet!
1
It is a really sad commentary when the head of a rogue nation like North Korea seems far more intelligent and reasonable than the POTUS of the US.
The US is currently controlled by a small fraction that are acting like a rogue state themselves. Trump, Ivanka, Jared, Ryan, McConnell and all the rest of the henchmen. Anyone who still supports Trump is a racist because it has really come down to white supremacy, money and guns is what Trump stands for. It is so sad and alarming that Trump is in control. With all the incredible minds, abilities in this country and we have such despicable people in charge right now.
At least NK did the right thing with the Olympics and they came out looking much better.
7
Another HUGE victory for Trump, Americans, the world, the North and South Koreans and all of humanity. None of the spineless previous Presidents could do it. You constantly criticize Trump but he gets the impossible accomplished. The Clintons and Obama should be embarrassed to show their cowardly faces in public.
10
Trump has accomplished exactly nothing.
1
I read an article a year ago that said the reason Kim was setting off so many ICM was to gain as much knowledge as he could because he knew he would have to stop. It has come to pass. they will not let the US tour their facilities.
Can you imagine what the headlines would be if this story broke while Obama was President. He would have been awarded an additional 8 Nobel Prizes plus an ESPY.
8
This seems pretty simple.
Goal: contain NK nuke threat/generally contain them
The USA and South Korea shared that goal and its pretty obvious that Moon is seizing the good cop opportunity left open by Trump’s bad cop.
Pressuring NK to the bargaining table was the MO until “strategic patience” took over.
Hate on Trump all you like but admit he played his role brilliantly here—one our previous demi-god leader failed utterly to execute.
5
you could not resist the “demi god” snark in the end. And the “brilliant”. I guess we might get lucky if something positive comes out of this despite of Mr Trump.
Never mentioned in this discussions re; NKs intentions, etc. The signing of an actual peace treaty. Ending this stupid standoff. Ending the truce, for real, is perhaps NKs best bargaining chip, and the one that would most likely flummox the Trump WH, and certainly create a crisis in the Tillerson State Dept.
If Kim asks for an actual peace treaty and end of the standoff, what would the US do? How would Trump react? If he rejects it...who looks like the dope? Who looks like the peace and deal maker?
If Moon pulls this off Trump will take total credit. Not to worry. Even if he does, a stoppage to nuclear lunacy is what every peace-loving person on Earth wants, so let him puff out his feathers in victory.
1
But isn't Russia increasing a threat of use of nuclear weapons? More so than North Korea.
1
My goodness - many folks seem to have extraordinary future vision. My suggestion would be to hold more realistic expectations. There will be talks and it's not likely that anything substantive will emerge for quite a while. My expectation is that anything that works will be similar to the agreement with Iran. Imperfect, enforced by sanctions and inspections but far better than nuclear holocaust. Should Mr. Trump get credit for some small part of this? Probably. But, as they say, even a blind pig finds an acorn now and then.
4
Another eddy for Meuller along the shifting banks: Whether Trump colluded with North Korea.
I don't believe this for one minute.
2
The normalization of relations between North and South Korea is really because of Moon Jae-in, not because of sanctions or President Trump. For the past 10 years there were a freeze of relations because of conservative presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak and their hard line policies towards North Korea. During the Sunshine years with North Korea, there were left leaning presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Kim Dae-jung.
3
Should I remind you that Moon Jae-in has proposed a federal government after uniting North and South Korea?
The question is will Kim Jung-un give up his role/wealth/power and become a private citizen in united Korea? Can you imagine giving Kim Jung-un a role in ANY democratic government?
1
I think I've heard this one before.
Don't get me wrong, it would be wonderful if it happens. And, though I detest the man, I'd be cheering Trump if he pulls this off.
But it's early days, to say the least.
3
Let's see if Trump recognizes this one. It's straight out of the Trump book: tell them what they want to hear.
1
Someone with a brain has to ask, how long would the North Korean regime last if they did not have nuclear weapons?
When a Democratic administration talks to North Korea, it's a traitorous and naiive waste of time. If the Trump administration does this, it will be an ultra-patriotic show of strength. But the outcome will be the same. Even a Dotard should be able to see that.
2
When anyone talks to North Korea, from a weak consolatory, give them what they want, don’t make them mad, point of view it is a waste of time. Being the blustery bully that can back it up with aircraft carriers and cruise missiles has apparently worked.
Which means Obama, Bush and Clinton could have all done the same thing.
3
This is not going to end well.
I truly hate to be the pessimist, but Mr. Kim has been as belligerent about this situation as Mr. Trump has been - for the past year plus. Do we really think NK, less than six months after its last missile test, will simply hand over its nukes, disarm, and call it a day, returning to unity and cohesion with SK and the US? Of course not. That's a ludicrous pipe dream. There will be concessions made by NK, SK, and the US. Given our President's hard-line stance on trade WITH OUR ALLIES at the moment, does anyone really see us giving in to NK economic and political concessions?
So celebrate the rejoined calls for peace by both Koreas, if you desire.
But this is not a glorious success story on any level.
2
Many people seem quite pleased that Trump’s tough talk seems to have brought North Korea to the table. Before doing a victory dance, please consider Trump has done everything possible to hollow out our state department and emasculate his Secretary of State. Tillerson is not a diplomat and the Chinese may own Kushner. And Trump is clearly not capable of negotiating anything, let alone peace, by himself.
It’s far more likely KJU is trying to run out the clock on the Trump presidency. They watch our politics (and probably get advice from China and Russia). As Trump’s administration implodes, he’s likely to become more unstable and dangerous. Having proved they can explode a fusion boosted device and send a missile anywhere in the US, the North gives up very little by pretending to negotiate. They can still continue to produce fissile material, make more nuclear weapons, and even make more missiles. And they can still thwart sanctions with help from the Russians.
Meanwhile, Trump is now far less likely to attack preemptively. De-escalating tensions is no doubt a great good. But now the real danger is that Trump will sell out South Korea just to get a notch in the win column. And gullible supporters will no doubt celebrate even as tanks roll into Seoul. They’ll just blame it on Obama.
2
One of the more fascinating features of the partisan-based comments found in the Times is the way in which fantasizing the ignominious downfall of the commenters’ hated foe is the ever constant motif... Hatred of that magnitude must be an awful burden....
1
Marcus, it will be interesting to see whose view of reality more closely matches events as they unfold. Did you hear that Gary Cohn resigned and Sam Nunberg is testifying before Mueller's grand jury this week? Stay tuned.
1
Trump is already trying to foul it up. "US is ready to go hard in either direction!" Hardly the stuff of high level diplomacy. Don't expect much better from our current State Dept., unfortunately.
3
What State department?
"“So let us begin anew—remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.
Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.
Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms—and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.”
JFK 1960
No one wins if one side uses military force. The reality is that we must, even at the 11th hour, be prepared to talk. We must be clear-eyed on verification yet also be supportive of a willingness to talk. We can not let this spiral into a win-lose either internationally or domestically.
We. the American people, must demand that both parties work together.
In the end we can talk and find common ground or, as President Washington said, we can fracture along the fault lines of Partisan divid and doom our nation.
Bill Clinton fell for NK's propaganda in the 90s. NK is looking for the U.S. to lift sanctions. Once that is completed, NK will be back on the nuclear trail. Bush and Obama failed to take any course of action to derail the North. Our government has failed miserably in containing NK's nuclear plans.
2
This is the usual Trump in which he picks all sides and no sides.
Which is why nobody can figure out what he will do because he usually does things on a whim.
2
The first step was always going to be finding a way to get North Korea to stop testing. Now that North Korea is so close to achieving its goal of becoming a real nuclear power, there is no reason for Kim not to agree to stop testing and come to the table. He feels he is on an equal footing with the US and other major nuclear powers. The key to success in this opening is for Trump to keep his mouth shut and allow qualified experts and negotiators to do the talking.
1
Been there and tried it under Clinton, it did not work then, it will not work now. The NK government will never agree to onsite monitors nor will they open up ALL storage and R&D facilities. The only true way to achieve peace with NK is to remove their government.
2
What's amazing here and on places like CNN is that the very people who were clamoring for Trump to pursue and exhaust all avenues of negation with Kim and vilifying him for turning his back on a diplomatic solution... are the same people who are now pointing out that how completely unreliable Kim is and how anything that is agreed upon in negation will be, as in the past, empty promises that North Korea will quickly ignore as they resume their nuclear buildup. There's madness in all of this and it's not just Trump and Kim.
7
If I walk into a bank for a loan and the loan officer sidles up with a smile and says "Hey boss, how about no interest for life!" you had better believe my response is "What's the catch?"
There is certainly a lot to be gained from the Koreas speaking again. But this sudden and abrupt change of heart from NK to denuclearize isn't the US trying to negotiate. It's a shark swimming straight towards us with a giant toothy grin.
What's the catch?
1
It’s the same old song and dance: NK steps toward the negotiating table in order to buy some time for tensions to cool. They draw the U.S. in with false promises like these, then turn their back on negotiations when they’ve received food/fuel, and then continue launching rockets.
Only difference here is that we have an irritating president who will likely take credit for this, then blame the inevitable breakdown in talks on someone else.
Other than that, I’d be surprised if history didn’t repeat itself.
1
Do you want to talk with NK or not? If you don’t want to try to strike an agreement and follow through by enforcing it, then what is it you want? The alternatives? Well, that would be either doing nothing except whining and periodically making idle attempts to placate the Kim clan — the way things were done until Trump showed up — or the use of brute force.... What do you prefer? The time has come to force Kim’s hand. And that’s what’s happening....
4
I have to give Trump a little credit here. He is engaging in what game theory buffs would call "madman theory". That was what the shouting match between Trump and Kim Jong Un was.
My god, North Korean diplomats, who are civilized, were talking to their American counterparts and asking us what was going on with Trump. They had never seen this ever before, this kind of unhinged head of state. Kim Jong Un was the reasonable one in this shouting match.
Nonetheless, Trump successfully and probably unwittingly engaged in "madman theory." Kim Jong Un is not crazy (although he is power-mad, unlike his father). Madman theory is why the North Koreans started talks with the South Koreans. Nothing else would do it. If I recall, the last president who tried it was Nixon.
I have a friend who votes the Democratic ticket every time but has lived around the world in her youth, her father might have been an attache. She referred to Obama as "weak" on the world stage. The C-span Atlas of Presidential Rankings has Obama as slightly below average in international relations.
Even with all this, Trump is still the WORST president in American history (much worse than even Bush II). And I will be out canvassing for the Democrats in the midterms. Get involved in your local Indivisible group and turn congress BLUE.
5
Thank you David, it's good to know that with all the abundant evidence of strategy at work you're going to cling to the least likely and plausible: "it all happened by accident."
Yes, I will be doing my part with volunteering and donations. Sad that the democrats have now abandoned dreamers and just shelved their gun control bill. Bad strategy or accident?
Perhaps your vision is a little skewed.
Excuse me?
HISTORICALLY, North Korea has used the time spent discussing disarmament to further its arms programs. So we will see if they are sincere, or lying once again.
2
Trump will torpedo this opening to negotiate with N Korea because it will remove a source of chaos and remove an enemy. He needs both to continue to survive.
LOL... As long as the Times, WaPo, CNN, and a host of other members of the contemporary media are plying their trade he will have no shortage of enemies...
4
This may not be all that hard to figure out. Both China and NK see the US presence in Korea as a threat. Can Trump be tricked into thinking that his sabre rattling worked and will remove the US military presence in return for promises to denuclearize the peninsular?
I suspect that as the world has finally started to pay attention to and enforce previously ignored sanctions on North Korea, the regime is under increasing pressure to negotiate.
Illegal shipments of oil into North Korea and all kinds of illegal military exports have been keeping the regime alive. Employing NK contract workers by Russia and others also fuels the nuclear program, as well as old Soviet rocket engines smuggled out of Ukraine.
Sanctions only work if backed up with the resources and will to enforce them and punish violators.
I believe North Korea will demand that the US military pull out of South Korea as a condition of denuclearization.
1
Re your last sentence: what if he does? What if NK and SK agree on a non-aggression pact? What justifies then the US' continuing military presence?
It's a sad testament to the MSNBC-Fox News partisan times we live in that the following comment, totally lacking in logic and nuance, is the number one recommended comment on this board solely because it is anti-Trump:
"This is not an endorsement but Kim has outmaneuver Trump at every turn"
18
Perhaps remember that "recommends" on this commentary is not a scientific poll, nor a representative opinion even amongst Democrats.
If NK eliminates nuclear weapons under agreement with the Trump administration, then Trump will deserve credit for that.
Let's also remember that Nixon helped to thaw relations with China, that was an accomplishment. Nixon also broke the law and was appropriately held accountable. My main hope is that if we learn that Trump broke the law, he too will be held accountable. This is supremely important for the health of our democracy.
More than that, though, there are some precedent norms with respect to the Presidency that should not be broken. I do hope to see a backlash from the electorate in November related to Trump's violations on this front, irrespective of legalities.
Once again the god emperor introduces chaos, sets lefties' heads on fire, and somehow gets NK to the table. We all knew, deep down, that he would get us to this step.
No Mr. Nice Guy, you have to strangle their economy by cutting off all imports, and it's obviously having the intended effect.
I understand he may turn people off, but I can really see open minded people here giving him a chance in 2020 with so many great results - no doubt about it.
Thank you Dr. President Trump!
11
You mean before or after he’s impeached? This man is beyond reproach, be careful what you wish for!
Sorry Steve Mason from Ramsey NJ, there will be no impeaching.
He's now gotten the clowns on aisle 5 to "run for the hills" on the dreamers issue and now their own gun control bill after they shelved it. Wow, way to demoralize your base!
It's ok, Dr. President Trump will see us through it all!
1
North Korea has agreed to abandon nuclear development before in return for food. The, afterthey receive the good they start up again. Wake up, don’t waste your time and food expecting a different outcome. https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2012/0229/North-Korea-agree...
4
Kim Jong-un's dilemma? There's an expiration date on everything and his is fast approaching. Plus - the nuclear war option offers nothing but a desert landscape in the way of followup.
Donald Trump? After a year of intense nonsense - America and the world are gearing up to tell him to take a hike in 2018.
Neither of these guys is negotiating from a position of strength. Should be interesting.
The US could have have cut a deal with their Iran war ally, Saddam Hussein, but the American military-industrial complex found a way to whisper (via Cheney and Rumsfeld) into a very stupid man's ear and the colossal Iraq invasion disaster was the consequence. The complex got trillions and the rest of us got failing schools, a decaying infrastructure, and ISIS.
Will Korea be Trump's Iraq war redux, Nixon in China, or more deteriorating stalemate? Like I said - there's an expiration date on everything.
4
Your hilarious response to President Trump's accomplishing in 2 short years what the dems claim to have been trying to accomplish for decades, says it all.
Wait until some sort of ME arrangement is accomplished. He isn't going anywhere, and we Deplorables will see to that, just as we saw to the election of President Trump.
Because your guy lost, you have been insane for over 2 years and show no signs of regaining your sanity any time soon. Sad.
4
What has he accomplished? NK has said they'd negotiate before. The HAVE negotiated before and signed agreements. And then once they'd stockpiled food, energy and other goods enough, they go right back to the same old behavior.
Shall we wait for something to actually happen before we break out the champagne?
If you think Trump is sane, you're in no position to judge sanity.
There's an old saying about the North Koreans: The real negotiating only starts once the agreement is signed. In other words, there's very little reason to think they'll comply with the terms they appear to agree to.
No one should get too giddy at this point. Kim Jong Un is more likely trying to spin a web before sinking his fangs into South Korea.
8
It's really ridiculous! Do you heartily believe that Kim Jong Eun will really give up the nuclear weapons and missiles? My answer is "Never."
8
Let's hope he does. The alternative is not good for anyone, including North Korea.
1
What’s even sadder is that Trump’s followers think he will and that it’s actually an accomplishment by Trump.
1
And what's even sadder than that, is that Democrat left leaning derelicts would be happier with a ongoing NK nuclear threat, than having Trump diplomatically denuclearize our adversaries and receive credit for it. Sad indeed
1
If someone desires something badly and can't get it, they are suffering badly.
I'll take 100 boxes of those fortune cookies.
6
Made in China, but written in Russia.
A similar happened before.. President DaeJung Kim of South went to North Korea (with a lot of aids including huge amount of $$$) and that was a really big deal. Kim received a Nobel peace prize for the effort while North Korea continued to develop the nuclear weapon. I have little doubt that Kim in North will continue to refine his nuclear weapons whether there are talks or not.
4
Does no-one here remember the "Food for Nukes" deal made by Clinton (negotiated by Jimmy Carter?)! We negotiated a deal giving them humanitarian aid in trade for them giving up their nuclear program. We lived up to our side of the agreement, they just straight-up lied. If Jong-un was willing to put anything ahead of his nuclear program, their people would be fed and they wouldn't have nukes. Will the regime that's sending chemical weapons to Assad and used talks as a ruse in the past suddenly change their colors? I doubt it.
6
You should read more about that deal, because we straight up did not live up to our end of the bargain, leading to the deterioration of the agreement.
What are you saying here? Jong-un gets his marching orders from the ghost of his dead father in his dreams? Because previous negotiations have failed, we should dismiss any hope of a peaceful resolution and just get the nuclear war over with? That they're selling chemical weapons to Assad for fun, and not because the rest of the world is working together to starve them to death? That developing and holding on to your only strategic leverage is something only crazy evil people do? It's easy to doubt.
MacArthur wanted to nuke the North in the Korean war. The North Korean leadership remembers that very well.
Readers should hail this Korean-led breakthrough. Credit to Mr Moon and Mr Kim and the millions of Koreans on the peninsula and in the diaspora who have urged, marched and rallied for, and demanded a pathway to resolve 7 decades of domestic and international (U.S.) hostility. Now, American friends of peace need to be vigilant to insure that U.S. negotiators do not undermine the possibility for a historic resolution to the world's longest war.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the meteoric rise of China, South Korea has become a critical strategic asset in U.S. efforts to catch up to and contain China's regional influence. In that regard, North Korea's nuclear capability has served as a convenient rationale for maintaining an enormous U.S. military footprint in the South that serves as a key link in a U.S.-led, Asia Pacific cordon to challenge China's influence. Should negotiations with North Korea open the door to genuine and full denuclearization of the entire Korean peninsula as we all wish, U.S. hegemons will have every reason to undermine the talks.
It is vital for those who wish for a genuine resolution to U.S.-North Korea hostilities to applaud this historic breakthrough but also to be extremely vigilant lest U.S. advocates of global domination seek to discredit the negotiations. Beware of blame cast on North Korea should talks begin to falter mindful that U.S. strategic and economic interests are served by a demonized North Korea.
2
"U.S. advocates of global domination"? What, all five of them?
2
Why do we have to contain China's regional influence? It's their region. Let us mind our own business.
We are the world's dangerous pest.
Please, who else has 800 military bases worldwide?
"The United States has active duty military troops stationed in nearly 150 countries. The table below details how many troops are in each country as of September 30, 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Defense." (http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2012/04/us/table.military.troops/)
Chamberlain comes to mind, he too was duped by talks of peace while Germany armed. This is a trap by none other than Czar Putin. Give the Pretend King Trump a win of some kind, by giving up a little country like North Korea to tell the world he can negotiate with an insane person. Kim has not changed he is still the deranged lunatic. Czar Putin is definitely in control. While we talk with a maniac he will make plans for his next steps. Genius no, just playing with the small deck that his puppet King and his GOP minions have. The nightmare is deepening. Are we there yet?
1
Kim is not a deranged lunatic, nor are his advisors. They knows how to rattle the cages of those countries surrounding NK. Kim's only goal is to rid themselves of the sanctions. Once that is completed he will continue developing weapons of mass destruction. They duped Bill Clinton and hope to do the same with the South and the U.S. government.
1
Trump administration should engage with NK to create
peaceful conditions on the peninsula. Ultimate deal may
or may not be reached, but there is no harm in talking.
Jaw-jaw is better than waw-waw. Don't waste the
opportunity.
2
yes just keep 'em talking and talking and talking with the precondition for talks being there are no tests. That at least will buy us some time.
Of course it would be a relief if Kim Jong Un curbed his nuclear program. However, I, for one, would wish it didn't have to happen under this president's watch. He's already sufficiently obnoxious without having an enormous achievement like this to take credit for and crow about.
2
I commend you for your honesty despite the outrageously biased point of view.
Wow, sounds like someone would prefer a nuclear war rather than Dr. President Trump go down as the man who solved the huge Korea problem. This would certainly make him one of the great Presidents of all time.
Hey, you might even help re-elect him along with so many millions of more Americans!
1
This is very encouraging on its face. My only fear is that His Great Impulsiveness will manage to blow this opportunity.
1
Let's note that the duplicity and hostility has been on the both sides. In 1994, the Republican congress scuttled the Agreed Framework by refusing to fund it. Then in 2000, Bush scuttled the Korean effort at peace by naming the North Korea an Axis of Evil.
This is one opportunity for Trump to achieve something good and lasting for a change, and show that he is a pragmatist, not an ideologue. For a starter, he should reciprocate the freeze offer by postponing the military exercise in Korean Peninsula while the talk is going on. Then he should withdraw the American troops and normalize the relationship in exchange for the denuclearization. The rest should be left to Korean people to determine their own fate. Remove the threat and save the money at the same time, what's there not to like? That would be a great business deal that Trump should like.
1
South Korea is a civilized nation with a democratically elected government that has every right to decide its own fate. The United States can only support the decisions made by the South Korean government. Since the South will be the first to suffer the "fire and fury" of the North's nuclear arsenal the South has every right to decide how they will interact with their Northern relatives. We can only support South Korea's decisions, we have no right to override them. Will Trump understand his role of supporter rather than blustering blabbermouth?
1
What now is called for:
1) 100% embargo on Trump's self-defeating Tweets! Zip him up! Zip him up!
2) Finding someone professional and capable from outside of the White House to negotiate.
Then maybe we all can relax.
1
Just think it's so counterproductive and even ill that our compulsive President can't stay off Twitter and just handle this professionally and even presidentially -- but such constructs are foreign to him, to the detriment of us all. Why does he even have to weigh in such an irresponsibly public way on whether it's true or false hope until he actually engages further in the process? Trump seems ever more incompetent and unhinged.
2
https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/dprkchron
Here's a list of the times N Korea said they would consider giving up nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
I gave it a brief read, and in 2000 N Korea demanded a billions dollars a year payment from USA for STOPPING ballistic missile program.
No body wants a war. Not even Kim of N. Korea. But he will not give up his nukes.
Don't get taken for a ride.
2
Indeed, but keep in mind that international politics is about managing problems. If you can cut a deal that stabilizes the situation for 20 years, and then 20 years later, you have to cut another deal to stabilize the situation--well, the situation is stabilized, and that's the goal. You can't always get everything you want: you have to manage issues, and often, assume that you will be managing them indefinitely. The notion that we could have one perfect solution that ends a problem for all times is just in itself a barrier to making a good enough deal.
Let's not call this a success on Trump's part. He may have applied sanctions (which I'm willing to bet wasn't even his idea), but we all know he will not be the one they send into the talks (bowling ball in a China shop?) and that's where the real work comes in.
1
There is a safe path forward towards stability. However, it will involve major concessions on all sides.
The US needs to realize that NK will never give up their nukes. The missiles have been the only reason NK has survived the past two decades. To see their rationale all you have to do is look at other countries that have denuclearized such as Ukraine, who has lost an incredible amount of power and territory as a result. Any agreement should focus on stopping the production in exchange for opening up diplomatic and economic relations. The demands to dismantle the existing weapons are counterproductive towards achieving peace.
1
Wait. The U.S. is leery of North Korea reneging on its promises? What exactly do we have to lose by pursuing this possible opening to a peaceful settlement? Is it that we will have sent vital food and medicine to a needy population and gotten nothing in return? Oh, such a humiliating defeat!!! (sarcasm alert) North Korea is not an existential threat to the United States, though certain warmongers and weapons manufacturers want us to believe that it is. It is, however and existential threat to everyone living on the Korean peninsula and possibly to Japan. Let us keep cool heads and try to help our adversaries make wise decisions.
Of course NK is going to talk--while they refine their weapons and get supplies of food and fuel--and gain time. They saw what happened to Iraq and Libya after they were defanged and their leaders killed. Heck, look at both countries now. Kim would be insane to trust US now.
3
It's hard to know where this will go from here, but as much as I hate to admit some credit must go to Donald Trump's un-statesman-like behavior vis-a-vis North Korea's "leader". Credit must be given where due.
4
Let’s hope that Trump is out before real discussions between the US and N.Korea take place. Trump is not capable in leading the negotiations .His bullying,arrogance and inconsistency is not a good mix for making any deals with anyone, let alone with a rogue nation.
1
All one can do here is hope for the best outcome for the Korean people.
If that involves ceding Trump a victory, then so be it.
10
Matt, better hunker down. That last sentence makes you a target for the Resistance.
4
If there's to be any progress, just keep our National Embarrassment out of the discussions.
9
He is our national embarrassment. But this is happening because he presented himself as the bigger and far more dangerous madman. Increasingly, depressingly, the world is being run by authoritarian strongmen who operate on basic human levels like ego and intimidation and fear and far less by the erudite and diplomatic statesmen that dominate geopolitics for the second half of the last century. In that context, we all have to understand that there is in some cases a usefulness to having the biggest bully on your side. What Trump did with North Korea was dangerous. No question. Reckless, some would say. And we're not out of the woods yet. But this is an indicator that his instincts, and not just his, many have called for a tougher stance on North Korea, have been proven right. Big league.
2
In reply to Liberty apples Providence
You refer of course to the Democratic Party.
1
Amen to that. This must be a conversation among grown-ups.
Basically they want the US out of there. If that happens they can be the architects of their own future. Should they decide to become communist I don’t think the west would be as concerned as it was 70 years ago.
But I don’t see the US walking away from any territories it has gained so there will be little if any success.
1
The South Koreans have a serious problem: they are in the direct path of nuclear bombs so close that they can be delivered with a medieval catapult.
They have been alarmed by Trump, whose doomsday threats, incessant lies, and outright rejection of diplomacy (especially the public humiliation of Tillerson, saying diplomacy is "a waste of time") have destroyed America's credibility as a negotiating partner. And although unrelated, Trump's steel tariffs are another poke in South Korea's eye.
Prediction: the Koreas will settle tensions between themselves, with the North keeping its nukes along with the promise not to use them for offensive purposes. Americans won't have much to say about it. Perhaps China will step in as lead arbitrator.
5
All there needs to be said........"Long live Uncle Xi"........
1
Is this more manipulation by Putin, Xi and others to make Trump look good, possibly setting him up for a run at president for life?
The US has more nukes than anyone and is the only country to actually use one. How about we worry about our own lunatic with access to the button.
21
I Smell a Dead Fish Here.. Feel the Knife in the Back.. North Korea with kim jong-un Trustable... No !!!
2
LOL! Sure. OK. NorKs are willing to SAY they'll give up their nukes. They'll even say they HAVE given up their nukes--like they've did to Clinton AND Bush. And Obama would have financed the program FOR NorK...like he did for Iran!
BUT...they won't actually give the nukes up. It will be the SAME old shell game IF inspectors are even allowed in to inspect the sham locations.
We ALL know how this negotiation will go. And it will end up with a nuclear armed North Korea. And Kim is WAY to insane and delusional to be trusted with those.
4
Ha! Liberal Democrats are having a difficult time with this one, it fun to watch the symptoms of TDS show themselves
8
If anyone believes NK will give up it's nuclear weapons program that Kim uses to scare the heck out of everyone and garner him loads of attention - I've got a bridge here I'd like to sell to you.
4
Soon we can write in our history books that for once, the United States President has out crazy-ied the leadership of North Korea. This particular ruse is 'winning'. So, winning, it might be the 45ths ONLY accomplishment.
1
False hope? Trump ought to know.
Sooo, are we ready to admit Trump knew how to handle this dictator? Or are we all still believing an appeasement policy is the best way to continue kicking that can down the road.
9
By that you mean forcing a strategic and business partner into the arms of an adversary? Sure. Masterful.
2
Not me. I give Trump full credit. Doesn't mean, however, that Kim will actually comply with whatever reductions or elimination schedule that is agreed upon. I think the odds aren't good there. But Trump did this. And, honestly, he did it the way I would have if I were president. I would have stomped my feet and puffed out my chest at North Korea and threatened to wipe them off the map. And I that in this world we live in now we better get used to assuming this posture. It's not our doing. We can't control internal politics of every country on earth and prevent autocrats from assuming power. But we can control those autocrats by speaking the only language they understand. Fear and intimidation. Certainly, I wish it were all United Nations diplomats and statesmen out there running everything. But it's not and it probably never will be. This is progress in North Korea after decades of threatening madness.
4
North Korea has played the U.S. like a fiddle before and will probably end up doing it again. Don't mistake their tuning up the violin as an indication Trump has accomplished anything.
3
Countries like NK and Russia understand and respond to one thing: strength. Trump was raked over the coals vis a vis an aggressive response to N. Korea missile testing. Maybe Twitter was/is not the place to express his opinions but clearly, his approach works. Thank God.
5
So what about Putin? Why doesn't Trump project strength against him?
1
this is a scam created by Kim and Moon. if anybody believes this, you are in la-la land. isn't US/Korea military joint exercises supposedly start in April after the postponement at the request of Moon on behalf of Kim? now, this historic meeting how conveniently supposedly to be held in April. I know what's coming next. another postponement and eventually American troops withdrawal. will Trump take the credit for this as well? let's pull all the troops abroad back to the US, new tariff to all imports and build the wall to protect 48 states(it costs too much to include 2 other states) and we will have a party.
2
Way too early to count the chickens. The fat lady is not nearly ready to sing. Trump's ego and personality will not allow Moon to get any credit and Trump still has plenty of time to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
6
I think it is wonderful that South Korea has taken its future into its own hands and diplomacy may have a chance. Compare this to "my button is bigger than your button" childish rhetoric we hear from Trump. Trump gets no credit for this if it succeeds.
3
And, let's take a stab at guessing who will go to a Trumplandia location or three, stand before a "lock her up" mob and proclaim, "only I could have done this"?
And I have some ocean front property in Nebraska for sale.
1
Without a "religious conversion" it's hard to imagine that Kim Jong Un would ever feel safe enough enough to curb his nuclear program. Surely something got lost in translation. No other nuclear power, including the USA, would likewise curb their nuclear programs. Heck, many of our own citizens don't feel sufficiently secure without guns strapped to their bodies. Also, it was previously stated, by Putin, that Kim would make his country eat grass, if sanctions led to that, rather than give up his nuclear program.
Yet, if that great achievement came to pass, I for one, don't want it to happen on this president's watch. I don't want him to have something so important to take credit for--and to crow about. He's already obnoxious enough without that enormous achievement under his belt.
1
If Dr. President pulls this off the new ranking goes like this:
1. Washington
2. god emperor
3. everyone else, doesn't matter
Offer him access to a decent barber and some American junk food and he will give up nuclear weapons.
Anyone remember the FIRST Nobel Prize winner from South Korea? Former President Kim Dae-Jung MET North Korea's leader in Pyongyang in 2000.
Yes leaders of both South and North Korea met in 2000. And Kim guaranteed that he would be personally responsible if N Korea ever got nuclear weapons. He was saying this to convince opponents who didn't South Korea to give aid to North Korea.
S. Korea ended up giving billions in aid.
Kim Dae-jung passed away years ago and N. Korea now has nukes.
Come on people. You can't see through all their fake stories?
1
If Trump pulls this off, how can Americans deny he's not our man? Despite all the other problems, this one is incredibly significant. The world can be a safer place.
5
There's an old expression about not counting one's chickens till the eggs hatch. I'm not holding my breath on this leading to an omelet anytime soon.
2
"There will be cries of PEACE, PEACE... but there will be no peace"
1
See what the Olympics can do?
Thanks to all the athletes!
Your efforts uplift our world!
No, let's be sensible. Some figure skaters are NOT going to impel an evil man into giving up his nukes.
Cutting off his oil, money, allies and access to foreign goods might do it though...
1
And it happens again, Trump's approach turns out to be correct. Unlike Obama, who made one bone-headed decision after another and was applauded for his failures by his co-conspirators, the mainstream media.
4
Just keep Trump out of the conversation. His failed brand of deal making will only lead to more blow ups, hopefully not literally.
1
Lets bring back all the failed past POTUS back, they did and said nothing
2
Do not get too optimistic--remember the past. North Korea has already agreed three times to end or shrink their nuclear program--in 2005, 2007, and 2012. Each time, they promised to shut things down in exchange for food aid, energy assistance, money, etc. After receiving the aid, they quickly resumed business as usual. There is no evidence that they will not do the same move again. Instead of prematurely celebrating, be patient. Keep the sanctions on full blast while indicating we are ready to listen--if they prove they are ready to change.
1
Thank God Kim has come to his senses!
lololololololol
Delay is the game.
He is the master.
He is OUR master.
1
The old Trump trick. Agree to do something, and do nothing.
This possibility clearly must be pursued, with cold, intelligent, rational calculation on the US and South Korean sides. As yet, we have no idea what demands will emerge from insistence on regime survival for the North.
3
Please don't send Ivanka.
7
Ivanka is going.....to sell her strumpetware to South Korea's women.... that will be manufactured in North Korean sweatshops and prison camps...it's what the Trumps consider to be a real 'win-win'.
6
Sent the president. He's who got NK to the negotiation table by speaking Jong-un's language.
1
Better than her Dad.
1
Trump succeeded where other presidents failed! Liberals, give him credit that he deserves or are you so partisan that the truth you claim Trump is incapable of uttering is also a problem for you to speak as well?
8
Trump hasn't accomplished anything yet. This is far from the first time N. Korea agreed to talks.
3
If this turns out to be another North Korean ploy, will you blame Donald Trump, or are you so partisan that the truth you claim Trump is capable of uttering is also a problem for you to speak as well?
4
Actually, most of the credit must go to the South Koreans, who are terrified that Trump might do the unthinkable. It Trump deserves credit, it is because he is impulsive, erratic bully.
1
So let them put their money where their mouth is and we will find out if they are talking out their backside or not.....Walking on that line of paranoia can wear you out......
As part of any discussions between the U.S. and North Korea, the Trump administration should encourage strongly, if not insist, that an inter-Korean dialogue go forward with the end goal of a treaty officially ending the Korean war. This would legally obligate North Korea to stay on its side of the border between the two Koreas, and also serve as a test to see how serious North Korea is about any kind of agreement. Conducting bilateral negotiations with the U.S. while leaving South Korea in the cold has long been a foreign policy goal of the North.
2
As much as I dislike Trump, if he can actually be level headed enough to pull of a peaceful and mutually beneficial co-existence with North Korea, I will gladly eat crow.
10
So will I, but I don't plan to turn on the hot plate any time soon.
We have been there before; NK is again playing all its deception when it starts feeling the pressure, to get South Korea to break from the US. Note that North Korea does not say it is willing to give up its Nuclear Weapons, but just willing TO DISCUSS, which means entering into endless talk, while sanctions are lifted. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. Unlike all previous US administrations, Trump is not looking to kick that can down the road as Obama did, and will not fall for NK trap.
3
Kim of North Korea will never give up his nukes. For all the trouble he's gone through to get it, why would he give it up now?
Here's their plan.
1. Fake giving up nukes.
2. Get South Korean population to think US army is not needed in S Korea.
3. Force US Forces in S Korea to leave.
4. Take over South Korea.
All these postures are just a way of buying his time.
Like 20 years ago, N Korea said they would give up nukes. And look where they are now.
Never trust dictators. If you don't want to believe Trump, why would you believe Kim?
6
Wait, possible peace somewhere in the world and Jared wasn’t involved? Oh, maybe Ivanka slipped a note to someone from the north at the closing ceremonies!
The people who are giving Donny credit are ignorant or naive.
NK knows it cannot win an open military conflict and it's main purpose behind having nukes is as leverage in negotiations for economic improvements.
NK got where it wanted with nuke tests and with rocket tests. So, now it's on to step #2, negotiating economic sanctions. They pulled off something analogous with Bill Clinton in the 90s.
Those who don't study history get to learn it all over again for the first time.
6
If trump just stays out of it, keeps his mouth shut and his Twitter-fingers still, there just might be progress. Why should the rest of the world even care what he says? Other presidents may have been seen as leaders of the free world, but trump is anything but! A blowhard reactionary who has no clue about anything, that is the man a minority of this country elected to the presidency. His term can't be over soon enough!
1
Am I the only person that thinks we should at least wait for a couple of news cycles before we draw any conclusions from this? People are already awarding Trump, Kim Jong-un, and Moon Jae-in the Nobel Peace Prize. It has been only a few months since Kim Jong-un planned to vaporize Guam. He changed his mind at the last minute, then started threatening a host of other targets. His father, Kim Jong-il entered into the Agreed Framework of 1994. A few years later he secretly began a parallel nuclear program. Forget about the Democrats, Republicans consider Trump to be a totally unreliable negotiator. How in the world will this happen? Trump was totally cut out of the recent budget negotiations because he repeatedly scuttled them at the last minute. Trump first ruled out gun control in response to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre. A few days later he said firearms should be confiscated from potentially dangerous people without due process. After meeting with the NRA he said his position on guns had not changed. Trump made any gun legislation impossible so Mitch McConnell just shelved the Senate gun debate. Trump has shown he has no ability to negotiate anything. He either acts unilaterally, without consulting his staff, as in imposing tariffs, or scuttles any deal he is part of negotiating. The only agreements he signs are those he has no part in negotiating. That's possible domestically, but impossible on foreign policy, where the Senate can't just ignore him.
3
Who knew all it would take would building a Trump Tower in Pyongyang and moving Ivanka's shoe sweatshops to a North Korean labor camp?
3
The recently increased sanctions are evidently taking effect and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un now calculates that at least an appearance of conciliation is warranted if he wishes to avoid further deprivation for his country. His efforts so far to solidify the nuclear deterrent he so dearly wants to deploy are causing the North Korean economy, what little there was, to further retract. Making noises now toward peace may be a delaying tactic to gain time to complete his nuclear weapons shield but in any case, the US would be wise to proceed cautiously and see where this decidedly ephemeral opportunity may lead. "Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means." --- Ronald Reagan
3
I note Trump's cagey response at this point. He's not buying it yet. That's exactly the approach to take with Kim and South Korea as well. Too heavy a hand on our part would probably backfire. But what was that the Dems were saying about Trump's hand on the nuclear button? He seems to have a little more finesse than that.
4
Reading the comments, I think Americans have to be careful not to automatically dismiss this out of hand. For once, Trump took a nuanced position and for once, we would be wise to follow his lead, so long as he remains open to talks.
My view, derived from talking with people who have actually dealt with North Korea, is that young Kim wants to be taken seriously by the U.S.. For him that means talks without preconditions, which Pence turned down in his public remarks at the Olympic, leading to tNorth Korea's cancellation of talks.
At this moment, talks for the sake of talks are a good thing because they reduce tensions and open the door to serious talks about denuclearizing the Korean peninsula. That would, I should point out, require us to abandon any plans, bruited about tin the press, to renuclearize our forces in Korea or on the high seas near the peninsula.
I believe we could have reached a deal with Kim's father. I'm skeptical we can reach one with the young ruler but we owe it to humanity to try.
1
Kim and Trump negotiating?
Sounds like we've got a war of bravado and lies to look forward to.
To anyone who believes North Korea will give up its nuclear weapons, I have a bridge in Brooklyn that I would like to offer for sale.
1
The only way this has the slimmest chance of happening is if Trump keeps his mouth shut and lets people with brains handle everything.
7
"If the statement is corroborated by North Korea, it would be the first time Mr. Kim has indicated that his government is willing to discuss giving up nuclear weapons in return for security guarantees from the United States."
Hmm - Kim Jong-un is the same man who refused to allow something as innocent as the Winter Olympic Games from being televised in North Korea. If he didn't want his own countrymen to view this two-week event, why in the world would he do something as bold as hold negotiations with President Trump? Can't help but feel this leader is as slippery and chameleon-like as our own leader.
2
This is completely fake news.
Trump can do nothing right.
The North Koreans are negotiating to get favoritism in visa treatment into the US.
Resist!
2
Key Point:
“The North Korean side clearly stated its willingness to denuclearize,” the statement said. “It made it clear that it would have no reason to keep nuclear weapons if the military threat to the North was eliminated and its security guaranteed.”
So unexpected but so welcome. I doubt N. Korea would make such an offer without being willing to carry it out, so it is up to the US and S. Korea to do everything in their power to de-escalate tensions and agree to formally ensure that the North will not be attacked. They have a right to not be threatened and to evolve their thinking on the best style of government to pursue to improve the lives of their people. Their should be a formal end to the Korean War if only as a symbol of a new beginning.
I personally think that N. Korea will move towards a more open society if we and the region engage and collaborate with them economically and culturally. They clearly have talented people. The future could be very bright with a greatly increased willingness on both sides to cooperate and engage peacefully. The last thing the world needs right now is the threat of nuclear war.
1
Around 2000, N. Korea said they would dismantle nuclear weapon program as they were trying to get aid from S Korea and US.
1
Sure, but I did not see any mention of requests for aid in the article, only a guarantee of security. People and countries evolve also. I think it is always best to encourage peaceful steps. Escalation of tensions between belligerent nuclear countries is unwise. N. Korea has a lot to gain by engaging the region economically.
1
This appears constructive. In terms of credit, President Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un deserve most of the credit- persisting in engagement in the face of a bellicose US foreign policy. The UN economic sanctions may have helped further induce North Korea. Perhaps China played a role. The US government, if it is firm and consistent- can also play a beneficial role going forward. Keep in mind that there is a difference between firm and consistent and bellicose. The difference is frequently war.
However, if the goal of Kim and Moon are a unified Korea- the United States may be an impediment. North Korea may see its ultimate security in such reunification. Most South Koreans- under the right conditions see unification as favorable. But for the US- it may be perceived as a shift in the economic and political balance of power in Asia- particularly if a united Korea is a nuclear nation.
1
"North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, has told South Korean envoys that he is willing to begin negotiations with the United States on abandoning its nuclear weapons and that it would suspend all nuclear and missile tests while engaged in such talks, South Korean officials said on Tuesday."
Yeah, I'll believe that when dogs are taken off the menu. NK will continue to develop it's nuclear capacity in secret and will ask for concession after concession after concession and if they don't get what they want they'll renig on any past agreement just like in the past.
It's too late for "irreversible dismantlement". North Korea can't un-learn how to make nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. The program could be reconstituted in short order or hidden. They should be talking about safeguarding NKs nukes and setting up communication channels to prevent accidental nuclear war.
1
NK absolutely will not keep its promises. The is no leverage to make them -- at all. China is standing by looking bemused at all of this.
The UN does not have the power to stop anything, which has been proven repeatedly in the current century. So who will stop NK from breaking its treaty?
NK will get its money in exchange for the treaty though.
I cannot help but think of the Cuba diplomatic news a few years ago. To much acclaim and endless positive news coverage and lots of politicians shaking hands. But it all went south quickly. Now Cuba is crickets on the news front.
5
My, my, my. Imagine that. Right after the International Mafia Top 1% Global Financial Elite Robber Baron/radical religion Good Old Boys' Cabal play time - the Olympics.
They love their strong men. Must have invited the "young leader" in to share in the wealth of their planned world takeover.
Italy just moved one step closer with convicted crook Silvio Berlusconi's party winning a place in government decision making.
They want WW3. Any person on the planet that doesn't had better step up and throw them out of power - starting with The Con Don in OUR United States of America.
NOW is the time. There may not be another time.
6
Here's a plot line for conspiracy aficionados: Trump gets North Korea to the table and they sign a treaty to renounce nuclear weapons, to destroy their existing supplies and it's a GOOD treaty, unlike the worst treaty ever with Iran.
By showing how tough guy tactics work in the world, Trump cites this as more evidence of his genius and is re elected.
North Korea, of course, has arranged this with Mr. Putin, who provides Kim with the protection of his nuclear powered missiles which are invulnerable to American defenses.
Syria is on line with Russia and now Russia controls all the major parts of the axis of evil and the Evil Empire (remember the "evil empire") reigns.
Now all we need is some Star Wars music and we've got a hit.
5
We've only seen animated proof of Putin's supposed invulnerable arsenal nothing more concrete than that. At least it's a start and more than Obama accomplished in 8 years.
3
Let's hope the Jedi show up before the final scene!
1
Sounds promising, but hard to believe. If Jong-un does give up his nuclear ambitions, it will be through the efforts of South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Trump has had no interest in a peaceful resolution, and Pence's rude behavior toward the North Koreans at the Olympics bordered on provocative.
5
So you're a psychic and know what's inside 45's brain. Fascinating. I don't particularly like the guy but I don't think he wants a nuclear winter.
1
Kim is biding his time for Trump to get impeached or lose the next election. Moon is also biding his time for the same reasons by demonstrating statesmanship and the value of diplomacy . Trump is getting played and neither Kim nor Moon will allow Trump to claim any victory which might prop up him up as President . Tillerson is an afterthought and not even part of the calculus.
7
Others credit or blame Trump as the primary actor. In reality it is South Korea's Moon that is responsible for diplomatic progress. In addition to negotiating an acceptable deal with the North, Moon has the difficult task of managing Trump whose actions are predictably unpredictable. Domestically, Trump first agrees to a deal and later adds deal killers. Trump cares little about the result in the Korean peninsula or the nuclear threat. He cares only about what motivates his voter base.
A denuclearization deal will not be made unless a guarantor can be found because the US is unreliable. Many arms control treaties with the defunct Soviet Union were never ratified by Congress and thus technically not binding. Cuba 1962 is the model. Kennedy agreed to not attack and the Soviets stood behind the Cubans.
5
This is a feather in the cap for South Koreans and their diplomatic skills. Watch as Trump takes credit for it all, however.
9
this can only be good news for the future of our world's citizens. twitchy thumbs could muck this up as is his style. these Korean's north and south want to thaw their border and reunify. good for them.
5
Bravo President Trump! Bravo!
6
Well, that didn't take long...
Yeah right. I have a bridge that I think the South Koreans would be interested in if they buy into this scam.
2
I'm guessing that the readers below who appear ready to give Kim Jong Un the Nobel Peace Prize are the same ones who celebrated the Iran deal but have not followed Iran's activities since.
Just as the pre-Obama sanctions forced Iran to the table, sanctions are already effective against N Korea and they haven't even really hit hard yet. The administration and Congress must continue to turn the screws hard against N Korea. Block their channels of trade, cut off their access to hard currency. Negotiate with them when they are weak. And extract a meaningful agreement with real verification, not the sham that is the Iran deal.
3
Looks like the NYT Times pick button is malfunctioning.
The rush to commend Trump and attack Obama on here is astounding, considering we're a day in, nothing has actually happened, and Trump is so uninterested that he doesn't even have an ambassador to either Korea.
Heck, not even Trump is taking credit for anything yet since he just heard about it on Fox and Friends.
So far he has only tweeted that there is "possible progress" and that our involvement is tangential, ready to spin off wherever this thing goes, which is not reassuring by any means since he says we'll "go hard in either direction," which is presumably peace or war.
"@realDonaldTrump
Possible progress being made in talks with North Korea. For the first time in many years, a serious effort is being made by all parties concerned. The World is watching and waiting! May be false hope, but the U.S. is ready to go hard in either direction!
8:11 AM · Mar 6, 2018"
4
"security guaranteed" means money, lots of money from the US to North Korea. This is bribery from NK just like Israel and Egypt. Why must we always pay other countries money not to kill each other? This may be good news to all Koreans but not for the US taxpayer.
1
This is the way it should begun, now it is not hopeless. The two adversaries talking peace without the US pulling the strings. Maybe there's a chance. Our longest war can finally be ended and our troops come home. Trump, of course, will take full credit and in a sense he is right. Both parties must be petrified by the bellicose theatrics of our President, who seems hell-bent on the Nuclear solution, leaving behind a Nuclear wasteland on the Korean Peninsula. I say, hands off now, let peace ring out!
3
Too late. All the war plans are drawn up.
1
May the best man win....China ready and prepared for counter-attack? At least that was what they promised?
If this works out history will figure out who deserves the credit, which will not be any one person. The Korean problem has been around for decades and various people and countries have contributed to its potential solution (or otherwise).
As for the Nobel Peace Prize:
(a) It seems unlikely to be awarded to someone who had threatened nuclear attack of another country, which rules out both Trump and Kim.
(b) According to a poll 71% of Norwegians view Trump as a threat to world peace.
3
It’s one last false promise to give themselves one more year while they perfect the step of nuclear warhead atmospheric reentry.
We should bomb them first to set the tone.
2
Looks like NK needs some more time to finish their latest missiles and nuclear technology.
1
It's the breathing room Kim wants for finishing the development of nuclear-tipped ICBMs. That anyone, in light of N. Korean history, could see this as anything else simply beggars belief.
4
This nothing more than a trick.....This is China and North Korea scheming together to fool south korea and The United States into ceasing Military excercises around The Korean Penninsula and The South china Sea......It's really vexing to China; who is trying to execute and carry out it's plan to control and dominate and intimidate the entire Asian region as well as the waterways, when you have practically The entire United States Seventh Fleet parked right next door,as part of our Security pact with South Korea.......No,this is not about "peace and de-nuclearization"....in fact;it's the exact opposite....It's about tricking south korea into severing it's ties with The United States,so that China can carry out it's Communist take-over of The Asian Region and North Korea can become an even stronger more intimidating malevolent Force in The Region in co-ordination with Russia and China
7
No! That will ruin the radical Republican's war plans! And it would give them nothing to keep increasing the runaway military spending! Congress might have to spend more on Social Security and medicaid- oh, this isn't good. Not good at all. Only fear of nuclear war will get the liberals to submit!
4
This is, in my opinion, a move by NK to get Trump off their backs (brilliant, really, on their part). "See, I won!" he will say and look the other way, like he did with China after they lavishly entertained him when he visited last fall. Not that he won't talk smack to them again and again -- just not do anything. Like his tariffs "against China" are really about getting out of NAFTA. What a crock!
4
In an optimistic scenario where talks happen and proceed to the point of a multi-nation agreement to end NK nuclear weapon development (verified by international inspectors) in exchange for easing of economic sanctions, I wonder if that milestone would change the president's view of, and antagonism towards, the Iran nuclear deal. Or are we forever stuck under his me-good-Obama-bad pathology?
1
A fair offer.
Naturally, it will be shunned.
Hold out for a Scion Hotel site in Pyongyang.
1
Looks like a positive development. If Trump doesn't blow it up with stupid blustering, he'll certainly take credit for anything positive that comes of it.
1
I'll believe it when I see it.
3
That's great news! However, I expect that Trump's belligerence will scotch this, as well. He wants a war. He enjoys the back and forth rhetoric with Kim. He would miss it. Thrives on battles.
1
If this is true, and who can really believe North Korea, then Trump should get the Nobel Peace Prize... hands down. I would say denuclearizing the Korean peninsula is far more than anything Obama did. We'll see how this plays out.
4
Trump sounds disappointed, he has been itching for a war.
1
It won't happen. But thanks to Donald Trump it's even open for discussion! Thank you President Trump!
3
North Korea' has repeatedly offered to freeze the North Korean missile & nuclear weapons systems if the U.S. stops the threatening military maneuvers on NK’s borders. This article doesn't give readers a clue.
"China and North Korea proposed to freeze the North Korean missile and nuclear weapons systems. And the U.S. instantly rejected it. And you can’t blame that on Trump. Obama did the same thing a couple of years ago. Same offer was presented. I think it was 2015. The Obama administration instantly rejected it.
And the reason is that it calls for a quid pro quo. It says, in return, the United States should put an end to threatening military maneuvers on North Korea’s borders, which happen to include, under Trump, sending of nuclear-capable B-52s flying right near the border" - Chomsky on North Korea & Iran: Historical Record Shows U.S. Favors Violence Over Diplomacy
1
MAGA. Can't deny that Trump's hard line has everything to do with this news.
6
And trump is pro-American instead of himself.
1
I understand why Kim wants nuclear weapons. Hussein and Gadaffi didn't have them and they're dead now. But NK has a huge amount of artillery pointed at Seoul and that's all the deterrence they need to keep the US from ever invading them. We should strike a verifiable deal and start carefully trading with them to bring them into the 21st century.
1
I am optimistic and hopeful, while my eyes and mind remain open.
2
This a welcome development especially following the Winter Olympics rapprochement (which Pence tried his best to sabotage)...The negotiations are between North and South Korea...and we ought to butt out of any talks. We have done enough damage in the 1950's when we obliterated the North for Cold War nonsense.
All the North Koreans seek is safety from the USA...and live in peace with its southern brothers. Eventually, the "walls' will fall as we've seen in Gernamy, and the peninsula will be one.
But let's get our dirty fingers out that pie.
2
The level of self-gratifying hallucination that Trump and the Trumpists are bringing to this particular table guarantees that this'll go badly.
Then--as here--they'll blame Hillary, Obama, the media (but not FOX, Rushbo, d'Souza, and the massive right-wing media that we're told isn't part of "the media," at all), the Deep State, whoever and whatever.
Oh, and by the way: when you lay a table by chopping at your own allies, their security treaties, their economy, and then go play with another greedy, loopy guy...
2
President Trump, if you actually get North Korea to denuclearize, and reduce their military primarily for their own economic advantage, use your rapport with Putin to further reduce nuclear stockpiles and stop development of more advance nuclear weapons in Russia and USA, persuade Russia to stop interfering with Ukraine and Syria, and elections in USA and Europe; take climate change and the environment seriously by replacing Ryan Zinke at Interior and Scott Pruit at EPA with qualified people who will protect and enhance the environment and our health; revise the tax plan will help all Americans not just the very rich benefit; get qualified people on your staff to tweak trade agreements so that US workers are protected, without starting trade wars; care more about the American people than the NRA by making assault weapons illegal, and coming up with tough background checks for all gun sales, including private transactions; stop interfering in the Mueller investigation; restore funding to Hudson tunnel as New York business leaders have been adamant about the project's importance, on account of the region’s economy, which provides a large chunk of the U.S.’ GDP and sends hundreds of billions of tax dollars to the federal government every year, reverse the deductability of state and local taxes, among many other issues, you will get my vote next election.
1
Cool. Now -- any idea who you will actually vote for in the real world?
Than you President Trump for taking such a hard stance against NK and making the world safer. You did what Obama failed to do and what Hillary never could do.
I'm so glad I voted for Trump and that he became our president. Looking forward to much more good things to come because of it
10
North Korea made it extremely clear that "they have no reason to build nukes IF the military threat against them is removed and the secure existence of their regime is guaranteed." The US should remove the threats against the Kim's regime and give them some assurance. We have no reason to sustain the inhumane conditions in N Korea. We should first assure their regime's security, and we should help them build economy for the sake of North Korean people. North Korea will become a good member of the international community very quickly. N Korea will be better than Russia, Turkey, etc. as the member of the world community.
Thank goodness we have a president who does not respond to Kim's overtures with gushing enthusiasm, but instead maintains the resolve to insist that any negotiations must result in the verifiable end of North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
5
What are we to read into this? Kim Jong-un isn't stupid. Given Trump's erratic behaviour and utter lack of commitment to either law (e.g. trade law) or treaties such as the deal with Iran, why would North Korea give Trump the time of day? The sanctions are surely taking a toll, and there must be some desperation for relief. But realistically he'd be nuts to give up his nukes given what happened at the hands of the US to dictators without nukes - Saddam and Khadafi for example. Or why would he believe any promise from Trump? Maybe if he licks Trumps toes well enough Trump will let him off? Worth a try considering the utter fool in the oval office.
I'm sorry. Did I forget to say that Kim Jon-Un is a murdering monster? But what is it that prevents Trump from being the same with his open affection for murdering dictators, and his history of personally cruel attacks on even his longest serving supporters such as Mr. Sessions? Thank God for the strengths of the US legal system constraining Trump. But with help from so many unprincipled Republican lawmakers on the take, Mr. Trump is avoiding excellent restraints that could be put on him if only congress had the will to rein him in preventing a trade war thoroughly alienating the US's best friends. And if you believe whatever Kim Jong-Un might promise, you might even imagine that he believes whatever Trump might promise. We need a better world.
You have to hand it to Trump, it shows that his strategy worked. You cannot not give him some credit. I had a feeling his judgment was right in the end, contrary to the mainstream liberal media.
Don't let your bias cloud your judgment.
Of course we all know that Kim and the DPRK have a long history of breaking and violating agreements, though NYT readers seem to not mind that fact and are more concerned with opposing Trump even if it's against American interests.
Likely though, nothing will end up changing, and Kim will end up tearing any agreement or promise. Even if the US sticks to its bargain as its almost always has, it's likely DPRK will continue to get nukes.
Why? DPRK needs to invade the South for its survival. Too many North Koreans realize the failure of the regime and want to overthrow Kim. Violence by North Koreans can detoxify and rid resentment against Kim and direct it against the ROK-US. I expect Kim is buying time to develop nukes for ultimate use on the peninsula. The invasion of the South has always been the ultimate goal of North Korea and is necessary for Kim's survival. He has decades of rule left after all.
4
It's hard to know what to make of this. Either Trump is getting somewhere or Trump is getting played. Time will tell.
1
If Trump can pull this off, I think he would deserve the Nobel Peace Prize.
7
North Korea gave up it's nuclear weapons program by negotiations with the Clinton Administration. But the world has changed.
Faced with America's continuing military presence in South Korea, Japan and off the Korean peninsula as an existential regime change threat Kim Jong-Un reasonably and rationally wants to remain in power by any means necessary. Mr. Kim fears ending up like Moammar Qaddafi and Saddam Hussein after they gave up their nukes. While the world tolerates rogue nukes in Israel, India and Pakistan.
North Korea has the 4th largest military on Earth with the highest per capita number of it's citizens in uniform. Mr. Kim has more governing political experience running a nation state than Donald John Trump and his White House staff and Cabinet combined. There is only one ethnic sectarian historical Korea divided by socioeconomic political diplomatic military civil war backed up by foreign powers.
2
If this works out then when will I see the Editorial Board
of the New York Times give credit where credit is due.
Meanwhile all those who denounced Trump, but never Kim,
can form a line to the right
and sign the apology book.
5
I must have missed something. A few months ago(?) we were expecting the
possible obliteration of North Korea . Then we get the Olympics and now
N. Korea is ready to give up their nuclear weapons? For some reason extreme
positions, or stories, or anything strike me as either untrustworthy or worthy of
ignoring as a way of resolving anything.
Over 50 years of talks and agreements with NK have been dismal FAILURES!
NK only want to talk when the need aid or more time to develop a weapon!
THEY ARE NOT TO BE TRUSTED!
1
Imagine a world where North Korea isn't ready to bomb everyone. The world would be much better off for everyone involved.
1
Another stunning victory for Trump.
4
To add to . . . putting Gorsuch in Merrick Garland's seat?
Signing whatever is put in front of him?
Reading from a teleprompter?
And there is no "victory" here as Trump himself is tweeting.
This is kind of odd and out-of-the-blue... maybe China finally stepped in and asserted some influence...
Anybody who believes this, please contact me, immediately, regarding some beautiful beach front property I hold in Oklahoma.
2
For whatever strategic reasons If the North/South Koreas agree on defusing the nuclear crisis and resuming talks even by involving the US, why shouldn't it be welcomed by the world?
This is good news. But why does Kim have to "negotiate" with the United States? We're on the other side of the world, we're war-like and are always looking for an excuse to launch an invasion. Why not just deal with Moon, his next-door neighbor? Why not just de-nuclearize because it's the right thing to do , the two Koreas can be friendly and North Korea's people can get a decent meal.
9
It is not just a matter of the two Koreas. It has not been once. Korea was divided because of the power game between China and the US. Stil it is so. If you draw a boundary line between China and the US, it will be on the 38th parallel. Now what's happening here is that South Korea is trying to widen the gray zone between them.
Whether it's one nuclear missile or 10,000 conventional ones aimed at Seoul, it's always worth a try. Kim knows America hates Trump, letting him succeed where others have failed may be an easier way to stick it to us than with a rocket.
4
If America hates Trump, it has an odd way of demonstrating it. He was elected a President, in case you missed it. You’re confusing America with the press; the two grow more different every day.
4
America does not hate Trump. The small contingent of post-modern Americans hate Trump. Hard concept, I know.
2
Skepticism indeed. If I were Kim, I'd use the Olympic thawing moment as a pretext to claw back whatever economic concessions the US is willing to provide. When the right incident comes along, blame the US and start firing missiles again. Hopefully, the timing works out near an election. Rinse and repeat. These moments are more about embarrassing the President, doesn't which one, at some point in the future. This feels like a windup.
Kim can't go to war with the US so he periodically needs to pull us closer just so he can push us away. Without a military option, there's no other way for Kim to "stand up" to western democracy or perpetuate the false narrative of imminent North Korean destruction at the hands of western allies. Despite public statements to the contrary, the entire Korean diplomatic community is doing one big collective eye roll right now. This again?
Maybe something will be different this time but I'll believe it when I see it.
1
Maybe they have come to realize they are in conflict with the same antagonist and want to move forward together.
Could it be that the recent Olympic experience was the real catalyst to the start of sane negotiations on nuclear weapons? After all, many North Korean dignitaries attended the games and had a first hand seat in seeing how their neighbors are genuine in wanting peace, and who knows, possible unification. Could it be that they recognize that life in the south is far better than what they experience in the north?
4
And they say elections don't have consequences. Even if things don't work out, this is a clear political win for Pres. Trump.
It's time to let our President go so he can achieve the political objectives Americans voted him into office to achieve.
5
I take it that you've already forgotten Trump's "political objectives," for southeast Asia were to walk away from Korea and Japan, let everybody just build nukes, and dump the TPP that China gleefully grabbed on to, and that he's now pushing for tariffs against South Korea.
South Korea's on our side, dude.
1
That’s a bridge way too far.
So, when this amounts to nothing you'll be the first to blame Trump for getting nothing done, right?
But I do agree with you that "It's time to let our President go."
1
Believe it when you see it. His word is a good as Trump's.
3
Well, if there's anyone who know how to create "false hope," it's our Dear Leader. I'm sure he must be disappointed. He was SO hoping to start a war. I imagine he'll figure out a way. Mueller looms closer and closer. Trump will soon be in need of "A Great Distraction." It'll be yuge.
2
Suggested negotiational goals
1. North Korea apologises for its belligerent speeches and stops all nuclear and missile development. This is strictly monitored under international control.
2. The United States apologises for its half-century of aggressive and unilateral wars and stops all nuclear and missile development, including its announced ten-year programs for updating and diversifying its arsenals. This is strictly monitored under international control.
3. Russia, China, and other nuclear powers follow suit.
4. Military forces are reassigned to public works and infrastructure improvement, etc.
5.The released capital is used for the well-being of the populations concerned.
I mention this possibility just to remind you all of how far this current "discussion" is from either an honest view of the present situation or a sane appreciation of what is needed for a solution.
3
If peace with N.Korea can be pulled off it would be a huge victory for the USA and president Trump. So much so that the media doesn't know quite how to handle this. They definitely don't want Trump to get any credit for any victories, but on the other hand this may be too big to hide or minimize. Trump has gotten basically zero credit from the mainstream media for the steps he took by, executive orders, to make it easy for American companies to stay in America and create jobs. They quickly covered and got off the tax bill he passed....all because they don't want him to be successful. Their revenge against him when he called them out during the campaign for false narratives, in front of millions, that their arrogance simply won't let him get away with it. And it was the media who started the attacks because they had Hillary lined up to win the election! So put all this together, we can only hope that the peace process works this time, and maybe even the media will give credit to Trump and start to think what's best for America rather than how to get revenge against Trump.
3
Apparently I am the only person not born yesterday.
Every time North Korea needs food subsidies to feed their starving population, or maybe a new power plant built, they dangle the denuclearization carrot and the misty-eyed fools agree. After a few years, it is revealed they did nothing they promised, and their nuclear program has continued on schedule.
This cycle has been happening my entire adult life. There really is a sucker born every minute.
12
"All we are saying, is give peace a chance". Who cares who gets the credit.
2
As the article states, North Korea is only willing to consider get rid of it's nukes if the US withdraws it's troops from South Korea, which is not going to happen. Still, it is more promising than anything we've seen in a long time.
1
This triangulation seems fascinating and colonial. South Korea, who has more skins in the game, is more eager to reach detente with the North than Uncle Sam. After all, any US/North Korean military conflict would cause tremendous collateral damage in South Korea. We might lose Guam. If and as South and North Korea are sovereign nations, one might imagine they would be capable of resolving their own border, economic, or ideological issues. Surely, the United Nations could be an agent of mediation. It’s not certain the United States can speak in the best interests of South Korea (certainly not through Trump’s mouth). South Korea is either a client state of America or a puppet colony. Perhaps Korean reunification is the more compelling and important discussion between the two. After all it seems to be working for Germany and Vietnam. Removing external ideological intervention from a nation allows for its more natural evolution and development. Besides, if nuclear disarmament is good for one, why is it not best for all? The best news is that the Koreas are initiating their own dialogue. The hope is that the US will stay out of the way. Fat chance of that!
1
And the sun will never set on the British empire either, right?
This is a positive development. I cannot say that Donald Trump helped it along. My instinct is that bluster has little effect on people like Kim Jong Un, but whatever the source we should be delighted that talks seem to be starting.
Unfortunately, Donald Trump many other foreign policy mistakes are not doing so well. I think both parties should be looking for new candidates in 2020.
The Democrats would seem to have the easier task.
But they need to listen to the poor who voted for Trump, and in so doing voted for chaotic policies that have not benefited them so far,
Trump campaigned as a populist. He said he would redesign health care.
But the redesign that is needed is movement toward universal health care and cutting costs by making insurance simpler and less necessary.
It would be hard for him to turn against the heath insurance companies that make profits by denying health care to the sick.
On the other front, stopping illegal immigration, Trump has so far done nothing.
And it here that Democrats face their greatest challenge.
They have got to stop telling the little white lie: Resources are unlimited.
The US population grew by 85 million since the Immigration Reform of 1986.
That is a disaster and it is partially responsible for despair and hopelessness among the Americans left behind.
We need to recognize limits to growth.
To that we need not just policies which end illegal immigration completely. But also a one-child policy for the US.
1
Give Trump credit for this? Really? Trump wanted no part in South Korea talking to the North. He threatens nuclear war, which only provoked the North into more rocket launches. Cooler heads in the South prevailed and they conducted themselves as professional politicians should. Hopefully, this country can now get along with itself.
12
I'm so skeptical that the US wants peace. Trump likes the idea of selling weapons and the USA is the largest arms dealer in the world. Where is the money if there is peace? So I wonder if this will end in peace. Trump is also known as a liar and a cheater (at least on his wives) so I do wonder if he is sincere about talking to N. Korea.
3
Before folks begin to open the champagne, throw high-fives and hats into the air, and slap Donald Trump on the back with a plethora of congratulations, there is a HUGE difference between a willingness "to begin negotiations with the United States" and those negotiations ever occurring. I think there is a greater percentage of our side mucking things up than their side actually coming to the table to talk.
3
And we know this as fact because Mr. Kim said it?
Similarly, we know what the policy of our country is because Mr. Trump said it?
When will we learn that what is said means little; it’s what an autocrat does that should be assessed.
2
The fact is we are driven from relief to anger, rage, fear and despair on a weekly basis - all due to a handful of leaders - Kim, Putin, Trump, Assad - now the life long leader in China - all who want power rather than to serve their countries with a sense of decency. This rollercoaster ride is exhausting, absolutely exhausting. How everyone gets up and faces work every day is amazing. When are we going to start voting in leaders who are decent, not perfect, but decent and in it for their country rather than themselves? I am tired of the drama. I want stability and yes, while this may be a plus, these guys are all still in power, destabilizing the world.
4
If this works that would be just great. But I have to say I fear that the lesson learned for Trump will be to be aggressive, threaten nuclear war and take preliminary measures in that direction to get a state to comply. Just because it works once, doesn't mean it will work every time.
And anyway, this will just be a temporary bandage on a permanent wound.
3
Lest we not forget that this welcome gesture of possible peace negotiations was made between South Korea and North Korea and not the US and North Korea. The Olympics opened a small symbolic gesture between the two nations. Mike Pence would not even acknowledge Kim's sister feet away from him. And Rex Tillerson gutted the State Department which for decades has been a front line of diplomacy. Bravo to the South Koreans for opening the door to peace negotiations!
4
Don't look a nuclear gift-horse in the north. North Korea wants a formal peace treaty with South Korea; denied for all these years. The US can play a pivotal role or shy away in favor of the US war-lobby. One Vietnam is enough? The US should appreciate China has been working very hard at this breakthrough pushing North Korea. China getting tired of being accused by US of playing dumb without any results. Any US war with North Korea would involve China and Russia; that seems overlooked by some Americans.
North Korea offered the card that U.S. can not and should not ignore, I think. It is imperative that U.S. should make peace treaty with N. Korea to solve the nuclear standoff in Korean Peninsular.
1
If a Nobel Peace Prize were to be awarded, it should go to the Winter Olympic Games for it was this event which brought the North and South together in the first place.
4
As Mueller closes in on our crooked president, Trump will consider increasingly reckless ways to distract and divert the nation's attention. A war against North Korea would accomplish that. Kim Jong-un is attempting to prevent that.
2
So several commenters are calling this a great victory for Trump’s bellicose “strategy”. Seriously? Do amyone seriously think that North Korea’s end goal was to be able to go toe-to-toe with the US in a nuclear exchange?! Or, could it be that the North’s strategic goal is and always has been to get the US off the peninsula?
Just wait for the conditions
5
Wouldn’t it be great to have a little hope? Can’t we have a second where life isn’t overanalyzed and we can read about the world getting better?
3
To be sure, this is good for the international community.
Alas, this is bad for America, since Trump will surely get (or take) credit.
2
I hope the US comes to the table saying "You won" and let's N. Korea save face.
End the war (that still hasn't ended) and bring N. Korea into some semblance of being a normal nation.
Reunification, if it occurs, can occur down the road.
I see that many Trump fans are celebrating this victory. The truth is, we have been here before and nothing became of it. So, before holding a peace parade, you should wait until something actually happens. As stated in the article, we have been here before under the Clinton administration. Don't count your chickens before the launch.
5
Trump doesn’t seem enthusiastic about the recent development on the Korean Peninsula. Instead of supporting a rapprochement between the two Koreas, his response has been: “We will see what happens!” Perhaps it frustrates him that he no longer can call the shots or post bellicose tweets. The show in the second half of 2017 had distracted him and the public from new revelations emerging from Robert Mueller’s ongoing investigations.
To give the new relationship a possible good start, the US and North Korea should sign a peace treaty. The 1950-1953 Korean War ended in an armistice. The truce is all that technically prevents North Korea and the US - along with its ally, South Korea – from resuming fighting. Both North and South Koreas regularly accuse each other of violating the agreement.
If Kim Jong-un is as smart as Trump sees, he will be able to write history, while ensuring his own political survival.
3
So how will Obama get all the credit in this? Pretty sure there are teams of journalists trying to come up with a good story to make that happen
45
Obama does not need to take credit for anything. Trump is the one who craves attention and credit for everything.
11
Sad, get over it, it isn't about Obama. And by the looks of it, it was not about Trump either.
5
Right, the credit goes to Moon Jae-in
3
Human rights violations under the leadership of Kim Jong-il were condemned by the UN General Assembly. The 2013 report on the situation of human rights in North Korea by United Nations Special Rapporteur Marzuki Darusman proposed a United Nations commission of inquiry to document the accountability of Kim Jong-un and other individuals in the North Korean government for alleged crimes against humanity. The report of the commission of inquiry was published in February 2014 and recommends making him accountable for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court.
In July 2016, the United States Department of the Treasury imposed personal sanctions on Kim. Although his involvement in human rights abuses was cited as the reason, officials said the sanctions target the country's nuclear and missile programs.
Kim Jong-un, he is the most vicious dictator on earth.
7
What is most significant about this development is that it has occurred during the Trump Administration. This not a result of any Obama policies; in fact Obama’s policy toward North Korea “strategic patience,” a do nothing and hope for the best approach, did nothing, except encourage them. During Obama’s time in office, North Korea made its greatest advances in nuclear weapon development and missile technology. As far as I am concerned Obama encouraged these developments by dismissing American exceptionalism. He did not believe America was the most exceptional nation on earth, he believed it was no better than the worst nation. Under Obama, North Korea deserved to have nuclear weapons as much as the USA, Russia, UK, or France. Well under Trump that defeatism is gone, and America is once again respected; it is no longer a weak liberal nation. I support the President. I support Trump. He will triumph triumphantly. Thank you.
29
North Korea hasn't done anything yet, nor will it. This is all a game. They will never give up their nukes. I seriously doubt they will let impartial observers into any of their nuclear facilities. They bluffed Obama and they will bluff Trump. We are between a rock and a hard place. There is no easy way to make this problem go away.
7
It is not about Trump, he had little to do with it. If anything, all he did was accelerate N. Korea's program.
All the credit goes to South Korea, who understands that diplomacy wins. But knowing the situation, I'm sure this is all a rouse anyway.
4
Glad to hear it. So Trump was also responsible for the Florida school massacre, the big California wildfires, and the utter devastation of Puerto Rico by hurricane too, right? They happened on his watch right?
2
Looks like Trump and team has done more in the first year that Obama and Hillary accomplished in two terms.
21
I'm not sure trump deserves any credit with all the swagger and name calling which is right out of the bully's school yard handbook and may I remind you that this is crack in the door and not a treaty. So as they say in the south " Don't count your chickens before they hatch".
3
I you mean chaos, corruption and ineptitude, then yeah.
3
Really? Best check again. Nothing has been done. Lots of talk, all nonsense.
2
I'm sorry but between trump, putin and North Korea I'm having trouble keeping tract of who the bigger liar is.
16
Most people who comment here seem so quick to believe KJU's declaration. If history is any indication, KJU is just another Trump with more hair. He would come out and lies to steal the headlines. Before you finished your breakfast, he would not remember what he said. Sorry, seen that before.
22
Yep. So all of those conservatives on their high horses need to settle down.
1
If during the Trump presidency North Korea disarms its nukes and gun control measures are actually put in place, then he should be reelected (pundits will say its dumb luck of course, and they may be right). But, then again, after the war was won Churchill was defeated 6 months later, so who knows.
7
In that event I'd go with the pundits. If any thing positive on earth happens during Trump's presidency it will be by coincidence, because of many other factors and forces in play, not an argument for his reelection. Please no.
1
I have my doubts about the likelihood of honest negotiation with the Kim regime. The key is to keep tough and increasing sanctions in place until there is a strong and verifiable agreement in place. Something much stronger than the Iran deal.
There is no substance yet, but even this concession is more than the US has achieved in the past.
10
Perhaps an Iran type agreement including all Pacific nations as well as Russia and the U.S.
"Trust but verify" is still a good principle!
1
It’s disheartening when people call for doing the same thing we’ve been doing since the Korean War, only double Dow and make it worse. One of the definitions of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, with a different spearhead person from time t time, and expecting a different outcome is truly insane. Let’s watch and hope and pray this is a turning point of real possibility. This wouldn’t be the first one in the last little over a year and it won’t be any easier than any of the other things that are moving along with plenty of rough road involved and plenty of determined people to keep trying for the good of all.
1
Trying as always the first step in achieving something. This is a very good deed for both Koreas to help end their hatred. This can also benefit the U.S because we can stop being rivals when it comes to nuclear warfare. Nuclear warfare chills never be the result of a war because when it’s used it’s never thought through when used. We never think about the civilians that will lose their homes or even their lives. But in my opinion, this is one of the first steps to world peace.
6
The U.S. needs rivals. It's how we keep the fiction alive that our taxpayers have to subsidize a ridiculously expensive, muscle-bound military.
1
This is the best news to come out of NKorea in years. Lets be happy. Lets not use this as yet another opportunity to bad mouth our President. Respect the office. Respect that he was willing to expose himself to the criticism. He is not doing it for the money. He is not doing it to improve his brand. No one I mean no one would do this unless he really cared for the American people. POTUS is not the road to riches. The man is a billionaire. He is actually pretty selfless to do what he is doing.
11
No one is bad mouthing don but I am afraid the credit belongs to the south Korean President for this diplomacy which don went out of his way to rattle our sabers.
1
That’s pretty funny
1
There is a way to go yet, but this is a huge step forward. Most NYT readers will hate this, but Trump with his "fire and fury" threat deserves substantial credit for this advance. His aggressive strategy has focused the attention of all parties in the region on the stark realities of the situation, things are turning around, solutions are emerging. I preferred Obama over Trump in many ways, but could he have achieved this? I doubt it. Would he handle it better going forward than Trump will? Perhaps, but I am not so sure.
16
We used to be the country that the free world looked to for guidance, we were not only a superpower with influence, but with great international respect, but not anymore.
Donald Trump has done to this great country with his incompetence and the help of this submissive Republican Congress a great deal of potential long-term damage, Trump has diminished our countries sphere of influence and credibility like never seen in our lifetime, and at the same time has turned our Presidency into the same type of Mom & Pop Shop, that was indicative of Donald Trump's third rate real estate business.
2
Many months ago amid the wild and dangerously unrestrained public back and forth between the United States and North Korea, a "high level" North Korean official was quoted in the Times as saying that the North wanted a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. The United States has been a threat to the national security of the North since 1953. North Korea, half the size of California and a poor nation made poorer by sanctions has watched various US administrations drop two A bombs on Japan, wage a murderous and gratuitous ten year war on Vietnam and became an existential, "regime change" threat to the North Korean regime that has lasted for 66 years. It is the South Koreans who must decide if the North is a national security threat to their country. They have seem to come to the conclusion that a agreement can be worked out with their country men and women from the North. It is hard to believe that North Korea wants to continue a public confrontation with the mightiest nation the world has ever seen particularly given its successful political struggle and nuclear development to avert a military and political disaster. It takes a lifetime to understand just one country but the belief here is that the North, now having its nuclear weapons, and if given the US standing down and providing security guarantees to the North Korean regime can lead to the stabilization of the Korean peninsula and remove a dangerous and unnecessary flash point.
2
Well done Mr. Moon and team of 10 negotiators. Trump’s intentions seem to be to escalate the situation to provoke a war as both a distraction from the investigation and a rationale to increase and consolidate his authoritarian power.
6
On the contrary. President Trump is the reason that the North is finally ready to deescalate.
2
Wow Stephanie. That's a stretch to think Trump isn't the ONLY reason this tuce thing might happen
Democrats should consider giving credit where credit is due. This is an impressive foreign policy breakthrough for the Trump administration. President Trump is learning “on the job” “, as it were, and rapid progress is being made in the field of international relations. It is conceivable now that the Korean War can be ended and a peace treaty signed. Indeed, the possibility of the reunification of the two Koreas lies ahead.
10
Ever heard the expression "Don't count your chickens before they hatch"? Ever paid attention to North Korean politics?
3
Middle East next up!
In reply to expat japan
There are no politics in North Korea. It is a dictatorship. You need an opposition to have politics.
Perhaps "Little Rocket Man" is clever enough to realize that Trump represents his best opportunity to get the most in exchange for giving up, or at least promising to give up, his nuclear program. The ego boost Trump would get from saying he alone was able to solve North Korea would lead him to give up almost anything. Better get crackin' there Kim as Trump might not be president for that much longer.
10
Trump has already tweeted that he has no idea what is really happening on the Korean peninsula.
He basically knows as much as Fox and Friends would tell him.
1
I see many negative and skeptical comments about this already. I am skeptical as well but in my 74 years and any information concerning N. K. Since the Korean War, there has never been anything close to this. I don’t think we could be expected to believe this will march on quickly to a great resolution but it looks like a very hopeful development. It will take steps to convince the Hermit Kingdom they can come out and join the rest of the world and prosper doing so. They have a lot of people who are starving and there will be many challenging steps along the way, but let’s hope and pray this is a sincere turning point that will head to a better day for that part of the world and for the rest of us. The North Koreans have suffered long enough for no good reason.
10
"The North Koreans have suffered long enough for no good reason." - They can put that blame SQUARELY on their own regime, who started the Korean War in 1950. No tears here.
What does North Korea really want? I am thinking that they have given up any hope of spreading their brand of communism around the world. They have the illegitimate, unelected Chinese dictatorship for that.
Probably they just want money. I would pay them in exchange for an agreement to give up their nukes and ICBMs, kind of like with their cohorts Iran but this time we would really mean it.
It's cheaper to pay them than fight wars and lose lives.
1
In reply to Mike NYC
North Korea wants to be like South Korea, a peaceful prosperous nation.
As a South Korean who has lived in this country for fifty years, I just intutively and instantly feel that this deal has a grave meaning and is pretty credible and will have a significant repercussions over the world.
Wheather Americans like Mr. Trump or not, the president's crazyman strategy (along with his seemingly reckless intimidations) has greatly worked on a real crazy man who could pose a real harm to both South Koreans and Americans.
The point is that we, South Koreans as well as Americans, need to capitalize on this opportunity, not to blow it, to ultimately liberate the people of North Korea. Once the North puts a bit of its skin in the game (engagement) with the South, it may open the door to the course of transformation for the reclusive state.
If it ever adopts just a bit of capitalistic principle, that will give the US a tremendous leverage in dealing with China in the future.
9
Could be they, North Korea are following the Trump lead by saying one thing then actually doing the opposite like he(#45) did with DACA and the High School kids from Parkland Florida. The words these two speak are never very credible. Time will tell.
5
The US has been down this road before and its taken us to where we are now. The inhuman dictatorship needs to go and the North freed. Only then will there be peace.
2
I hope we prove to be a strong enough country to work towards talks with Kim. It would be an opportunity lost if Trump tries to be too "cute". It takes more strength, and character, to accomplish peace rather than war.
1
Funny how this is almost completely overlooked. That is because democrats can't lie about the fact President Trump was able to get this to happen. They can't lie, but as usual they will obfuscate and never speak of the fact this is something that has not occurred in over 60 years.
4
Nothing has actually happened, yet, has it?
1
Admiral Ackbar: "It's a trap!"
How could this not unfold without serious catches? Trump may be correct to be skeptical, but do we really think he can be the one to make a real deal that works out of this development?
Rest In Peace, Admiral.
2
A great opportunity for our nation and our beloved President.
I mean think about it…
What better person in this world to shepherd a sensitive, nuanced, diplomatic process, requiring great knowledge of the history and issues of the region and past efforts at peace…
What better person to summon just the right intellect, grace, human qualities and deft statesman-like personal touch in moving the process forward…
What better person to exhibit cool, knowing self-control and independent mastery of thought and action…
Than…
LOL!!!!!
Sorry, I think I faded into semi-consciousness there for moment.
17
Sorry, but it's not a joking matter or a talking point. Too much is at stake. Too many have suffered and paid the price. Maybe now it will not have been in vain.
Never would have happened without the Olympics, and competitive sports in general. Recognition of their value as a proxy for war is, and always has been, sorely lacking.
4
There is no rational basis for this sudden turn around, which makes it very dangerous. Rational actors, whether their behavior is bellicose or peaceful, have one thing in common --- consistency. It is the sudden, unexpected pivot away from this consistent behavior that should always raise a red flag.
Of course, nothing would be better than engaging North Korea in negotiations that would lead to a stable relationship with the U.S., but believing that Trump's "bigger button" posturing has worked magic on Kim where decades of genuine diplomatic efforts have failed would be very foolish.
Approaching this particular olive branch with anything less than skepticism born of 50+ years of hostile behavior would be ill advised. Theodore Roosevelt's admonition has never been more pertinent... walk softly, but carry a big stick.
4
I agree 100%. There is much not to trust about Mr. Kim. This smells like a trap to me.
Look for a response from the Trump administration filled with massive and well-deserved skepticism. It's more likely that North Korea is feeling the bite of economic sanctions and reverting to its old tactic of negotiate, buy time, get aid from soft enemies, then betray their promises.
3
Yes, of course, "North Korea is willing to discuss giving up nuclear weapons". But the operative word here is "discuss". As they have said many times, they will not abandon their nuclear program, for they do not trust the US. They see how the US has gone about implementing its "nuclear agreements" with other countries.
In the case of Libya, the US, with its allies, helped a rebellion to start, sent their troops, bombed Libyan cities, and finally killed Gaddafi, the leader of that country. In the case of Iran, they promised integration of that country's economy into the international community, and removing economic barriers and Western embargo on that country. Not only none of that has happened, but new economic sanctions are imposed on the country and Mr. Trump is constantly threatening that he will "tear up the agreement". Moreover, now that Iran has dismantle its nuclear program, the US military is poised to attack Iranian forces in Syria.
I am not hopeful that North Korea will take US proposals seriously. They will pursue a strategy of having close ties with the South and creating friction between the US and the South. But, signing a peace treaty with the US and giving up its nuclear weapons are hard to imagine.
3
Although I am hopeful that cooler heads prevail in this situation, are we really willing to allow an authoritarian government like N. Korea's continue to oppress its people? I don't know what the answer is, but I fear the idea of peace at any price.
2
If true, this is encouraging news. However, the news is probably part of a longer term strategy to have the west dial down the rhetoric and sanctions, come to the bargaining table, while continuing to develop its arsenal. I wish this was not true but I suspect it is.
President Trump gave North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un the attention he was seeking by acknowledging North Korea's missile program vs ignoring it's leader and dismissing it's missile program, which has been the strategy of past administration. The two leaders engaged in tweets -- often like two boys with war toys, but nevertheless, they opened communications. The move by South Korean President Moon Jae-in to use the Olympics to demonstrate the idea of inclusiveness was brilliant. The invitation by Kim Jong-un's sister to bring the two Korean leaders together, and also to bring the head of the United Nations (Antonio Guterres of Portugal) to such a meeting is an appropriate path towards uniting the two Korea's. The USA does not need to broker every deal... in fact, it would be better if the USA, Russia and China were only brought into this after a plan was worked out between the two Korea's with the assistance of the United Nations.
3
This news of NKorea's willingness to consider giving up nuclear weapons via diplomatic negotiations seems like a great breakthrough. This apparent concession has been accomplished by direct negotiation with SKorea. There could be some complex diplomatic strategy here by the North Koreans since they are cleverly seeking to keep the US out or at least sidetrack the US which has been a long term guarantor of peace in the Korean Peninsula. The US role is limited to denuclearisation talks. Important as that is, that leaves the two Koreas to bilaterally proceed towards the long awaited reunification process. If reunification does proceed it finally brings closure to the last relic of the Cold War. It also ends any effective US role in that region except perhaps to guarantee the security of Japan and the Pacific Rim from a newly assertive and expansionist China.
2
A lot of people in the comments are giving Trump a lot of credit for this. It is possible they are right, but the other explanation is that this happened despite Trump. I know it is hard for some people in this country to believe, but some things happen overseas without being caused by us. It is more likely to me this happened because:
a) South Korean leadership went behind Trumps back and worked incredibly hard towards this, and deserve much more credit than people in these comments are giving them.
b) The Olympics provided a much needed thaw in North and South Korean relations.
C) The North Koreans always intended to negotiate, they just wanted to wait until they could claim they have made nukes that can (supposedly) reach the USA so that they could be in a stronger position to negotiate.
and/or D) NK is lying about wanting to dismantle their nuclear program. As the article says, they've actually said stuff like before and we've been in a similar situation, but NK ended up not being serious. Hopefully this time is different.
I just hope the Trump administration doesn't mess this up. Even though I think he has become our worst president ever who has already committed multiple offenses that he should be removed from office for, we should all be rooting for his success here. War with NK would be horrific for everyone.
2
And if it backfires, you'd be the first to blame him, wouldn't you?
umm, what?
If it this fails because of something Trump does, then yes I will blame him.
If he tries to negotiate in good faith and with skill to get NK to get rid of their nukes, but it doesn't happen because something happens outside of Trump's control then I will not blame him.
I think that is fair.
I'm expecting the first to happen, but hoping the second will... and of course I'm rooting for the unlikely scenario that NK is serious and NK, SK, and the US actually come to some sort of agreement!
Judging from Mike Pence's ignominious behavior at the recent Olympics, I suspect such a rapprochement between the two Koreas is the last thing Trump wants. How can he bully Kim if Kim is just ignoring him?
Almost certainly a trick, but still, a sign that Trump is doing dramatically better than other recent administrations in the area of foreign policy. I don't suggest he has a better team; rather it is he personally who is fumigating out the rats and the lice from the US/global foreign policy establishment. So far, Trump has not made war. Hillary is a war criminal. Right now, Hillary would be killing women and kids. Her long track record of war was terrifyingly, violently clear. Many excused her right-of-Romney antics solely because she is a woman. I don't care if Trump is a woman or a man. It is completely irrelevant. The only reason North Korea is a nuclear power today is because prior administrations decided to let it happen - and moreover, fully justify it happening. HRC in particular fully justified North Korea's defensive arms with her unilateral war actions as Democratic (!) Senator and Secretary of State. Trump is making the most of the weak set of cards we have, due to North Korea's superior strategy and moral high ground. They have thoroughly out-witted us.
3
I think we have seen and heard this before.
North Korea is right now out-boxed by the whole world. Even the Chinese have turned their backs on them. The financial sources of survival are drying up faster. Given these circumstances, North Korea has decided to use the strategy to talk to its adversaries. Do not forget that they have the nuclear weapons as a bargaining chip and they have used this before. They wont be bludgeoned into signing agreements that do not suit their interests and do not forget, they will put a condition of payment as precondition of giving up nuclear weapons. The good thing so far is that the world can now draw a sigh of relief. But that will be until someone tweets in the middle of the night - sigh!
So a country with newly acquired nuclear capability will just give it up for the good of mankind? So NK's Kim is suddenly a man to trust? Looking at the pro-trump comments here assuming that this is some kind of victory, it's no wonder we're in the mess we're in.
3
The North wants security guarntees? As I recall, it was the North Koreans who invaded South Korea back in 1950, thus creating the military stand-off that has existed ever since. Now they threaten the South with nuclear weapons. I think it is South Korea that should be asking for "security guarantees."
Here is an even more frightening thought. Kim Jong-un, Moon Jae-in and Donald Trump all win the Nobel peace prize for negotiating a nuclear disarmament of the Korean Peninsula. Trump at his acceptance speech says, "Obama got a peace prize for doing nothing. I negotiated a nuclear disarmament. I am the man!"
Really, nothing surprises me anymore.
North Korea already had security guarantees in the past in writing from the US under President Clinton. Even the provision of food etc. from the US was never adequate. Trump is being played. North Korea now looks like the grown up in the room. Talks may never begin. If they do they will fall apart. Likely because of Trump opening his mouth. The international community will then blame Trump openly or behind closed doors even if it isn't his fault which is easy to do since Trump has no credibility on the world stage. As a result, China, Russia, South Korea, and others in the region will lift sanctions on North Korea in return for its assurance that it will not attack the south. Kim will keep his nukes and eventually join the international community. Brilliant on Kim's part.
2
The North recognizes that negotiating with Trump will get them far more than if they had work with a real US administration.
1
Its funny: we think NK is crazy. Yet, if you look at the history, in terms of this issue and relations with the US, when we talk and stop threatening, they calm down. All is possible. When we saber-rattle, they hurl another missile into the drink. For decades.
Worst regime on earth. So? When it comes to this issue, they seem to me to be trying to train us to simply give up our self-appointed right to decapitate that worst regime on earth. We are hard to train, apparently.
Will be interesting to see how not only the administration but various parts of the commentariat and political leaders in both parties react to this.
The sane reaction, of course, is to welcome this with open arms and start talking. Theyve called our bluff, entirely.
Is there a human still alive who refuses to attribute this ENORMOUS good news to Donald John Trumps willingness to speak bluntly, pulling no punches (in his ham-handed way, I'll grant you) yet, at the same time, holding no animus and desiring improved relations and opportunities with countries across the globe? I for one believe Trump has revealed the systemic "arthritis" in the "been here a thousand years" crowd. They get nothing done, take years to do it, and spend money like it's a sinecure. Go Trump!
1
Before Trump gets all excited and hurts his arm while patting his own back, North Korea did the same thing in the past but ultimately made such huge demands such as pulling out all American troops and never holding war games again. I know Trump will claim victory but remain silent once the Koreas end negotiations.
He actually just tweeted about this in fact.
Skepticism aside, The sad situation in the United States today is that Trump has so heavily destroyed the integrity of government that we as citizens dare not believe anything this (mis)administration says.
If USA and Nato powers agreed to unilaterally destroy all of their nuclear arsenals, they would then have a moral case against N Korea. Why is it wrong for N Korea to wish for armaments which other countries possess?
3
We're talking about nuclear weapons - the potential ability to destroy humanity. In the face of a problem of that magnitude, being fair is of little concern. I'd really prefer not to let unstable dictators have nukes, I don't know about you... As for why other countries get to have them, because we already do. It's too late. What do you think will happen if western countries gave up nukes? We'd be handing the world over to Russia, or whoever else can amass an arsenal.
Why is it wrong for N Korea to wish for armaments which other countries possess? For the same reason it’s wrong for every country in the world to possess nuclear weapons - it multiplies the chance of a catastrophic miscalculation.
We had been making progress. In Clinton’s Megatons to Megawatts program (1993-2013), Russia sold the equivalent of 20,008 warheads of highly-enriched uranium - nuclear weapon fuel - in downblended form to the U.S. to generate clean electricity in nuclear plants.
Those concerned about “proliferation” have it exactly backwards - nuclear energy, historically, has only reduced the risk of nuclear war.
1
Because the US and Nato do not threaten to destroy other countries over trade sanctions; because the US and NATO do not run slave camps for millions of their own citizens, because the US and NATO do not run crushing dictatorships, because in the US and NATO newspapers exist that do not kowtow to the Party line and comments (even uninformed ones) do not result in the commentator (and extended family) being sent to prison for life or being tortured and killed outright. Etc.
That's why.
Don't underestimate the fear of Nuclear destruction..
Don't underestimate Kim, Moon or Trump..
Don't underestimate the fear of national bankruptcy (NK)
I see a nobel peace prize in Trump's future..
36
Bill Clinton got a lot further with NK, but as it turns out NK lied. So, yea, don't underestimate NK.
New World, if you were a fortune teller, you would be a bust.
1
If the NPB goes to the King of Tangerine, then he will proudly join the ranks of Yassir Arafat and Aung San Suu Kyi. The real, still-living humanitarians will most likely mail theirs back, express.
Kim sees Mueller closing in. Knows Trump will do something crazy to divert attention. Wants to insure the diversion is not a "bloody nose" for North Korea. Has now solved the problem. Will revert to the prior game plan the day Pence is sworn in as president.
7
Kim's only aim is to drive a wedge between South Korea, the US and China. Nothing more. Kim's nuclear capability is his shield and he will never negotiate it away. This is a dance designed to undermine the US position, ease the sanctions especially on trade with China that are really beginning to bite, make him look like a peacemaker at home and lull the South Koreans into postponing or cancelling joint war games. We can start a dialogue with NK but I have no confidence in our "deal maker in Chief" not to get outmaneuvered from Day 1. He already has. Expect nothing from this except for the US to wind up in a weaker position.
3
Any position is better than what Hillary/Kerry/Obama left us in.
You can almost hear the collective 'DARN !' from the war-mongers who work for the Arms Industries. And we were all set for a good old fashioned war.
Back to the merchants-of-fear drawing board. How about an 'incident' at sea?
6
By the "war mongers" you mean Hillary and her state department (swamp).
You presume this offer is genuine.
1
Trump threatens tariffs and the Chinese immediately tell the North Koreans to start negotiating.
11
Really?
The US owes 1.7 trillion dollars to China. The US cannot manufacture ... almost everything nowadays. Wanna bet that if China were to .... hold back ... strategic commodities and manufacturing the US would be up the proverbial creek with no paddle?
Sure China would have a lot of paper worth not a lot but would still be able to manufacture everything. The Chinese would give up luxuries but US would be unable to make a car or a light bulb, aspirin or vaccines or a band-aid. Did you even look to see where your phone (or its components) is manufactured?
Not to mention that China can block trade in the South China Sea if they want to (remember those artificial islands with missile and fighter planes on them?).
I would not treat them so lightly. The US gave them advanced technology, educated their scientists and sold them the farm for cheap.
1
That would actually be tremendously beneficial to the United States and American workers. China desperately needs production to happen in China, if they chose to halt Western investment then that money will simply be used to finance the construction of factories in the West. Cell phones and other goods will be more expensive, but as long as there is demand (and there still would be) they will be built. China would lose, not the U.S. Frankly, it is probably time that everyone - America, Europe, Japan, and Russia all stopped doing business with China.
We've seen this before. North Korea agrees to disarm, driving a wedge between South Korea and the U.S., enjoys the fruits of its deception, then cheats and the whole circus repeats itself.
5
Could be. But it is worth trying because Trump's reputation is to do as he says...and expect others to do as they say. A new paradigm, perhaps. I hope. This would be a boon to the world.
Two masters of chaos and the biggest liars on planet earth. Does anyone really believe the N. Koreans will denuke because of anything trump has said or done?
4
There are 2 faces KJU has to deal with - Trump and the US in any proposed negotiations. I think, KJU has got his calculus done up and he will go with Trump.
I disagree with many comments contrasting Trump’s “instransigence” with Moon’s “rationality” or portraiting this as “Kim outmaneuvering Trump.” What I see is Trump and Moon successfully working together. Trump has applied maximum pressure that North Korea can hardly bear, so Kim looked for the chance to justify and dignify his capitulation, which is olympic. And Moon seized the opportunity, granting Kim a decent face-saving. This is a huge succeess for Trump and Moon.
As a South Korean, I know I’m not in a position to ask you Americans not to criticize him, especially with all the pains that Trump brings to Americans-disregard for women rights, global warming, gun control, to name only few. So I can only ask- if there is a success that he made, let’s call it a success anyways. That doesn’t mean you’re completely forgiving him, does it?
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Trump could rise to the occasion and be the best President ever, and people will still hate him. He is not a politician. He is however an actor. He plays the part of the character on the Apprentice. For anyone outside of his family and close work associates, no one can say that they know who Trump is or what he is about. Trump is actually much closer to the liberals than they know.
1
Most on the left would claim Trump can't swim if they saw him walk on water. And that is even factoring in that some of your claims against him regarding women rights, global warming, gun control, are just really talking points and not based on any substance against him
2
I'll call it a success when it reaps a reward. For now, it's mostly speculation.
5
They are finally coming around because they are terrified of Donald Trump. What else can you say?
8
The Norh gives up its nuclear weapons save millions, the US brings home its military from Korea and saves billions of tax payer dollars. Samsung moves its headquarters to Pyongyang. Korea reunifies and everyone is happy.
57
Ahhh... if only. But that would mean Kim would relinquish his power and Trump would keep his mouth shut. Neither is possible.
3
A bit optimistic don't you think? Reunification is not on the table at these talks.
On a tour of tne DMZ our South Korean guide remarked that reunification will happen. Mr. Kim is a brilliant leader who knows how to manipulate the South Korean media and people. He will come out on top and extract the money he demands from the South. It worked throughout their history.
What no clicking heels about what could well be the most positive development in dismantling the nuclear weapons of a megalomaniac?
Perhaps, the apoplectic haters of all-things-Trump are mute for fear any victory of his administration -- no matter how beneficial --must be opposed.
This lop-sided thinking is a fine example of how the Russians are winning.
5
This is a valid statement. The liberals and the lovers of life and prosperity should be dancing in the isles. But because its Trump the must oppose. Must resist.
5
How many times have we been through this before? How many times has NK come to the table, got aid, then reneged. I'd like for there to be de-eacalation, but it hasn't happened yet, and past experiences make me wary.
Do you mean that we are dismantling our nuclear armament???
Oh, wait. You mean THEIR megalomaniac.
I guess that one out of two ain't bad.
And yes, I will give tRump the win if this happens, however dangerous his "negotiations" were.
1
This seems like a positive development for which President Moon deserves much credit. It's a shame that it's happening while we are operating with a crippled state department and an inept administration.
5
Watch any peace deals implode when Trump gets involved and starts insulting people and lying.
7
Ya ya ya. Its Trump, so if it fails it must be because of him and not an insane fanatical leader of a dictatorial country. Gotta fail because of Trump.
5
that's right
I don’t know why the United States must be involved. It seems South & North Korea have settled their differences.President Moon deserves the Nobel peace prize.
118
You don't think the US is involved? Who's been keeping the peace for the past seventy years? And, if we still weren't protecting South Korea, do you honestly believe it would still exist and not be taken over by North Korea? That's what the Korean War was about, you know. That's why so many of our men died there. One way or the other reunification will occur, but because of Trump's strong hand, it will be on terms favorable to our own national interests. We've given so much blood, sweat, and tears. It's not up to you and the Trump haters to just write it off as if our great national sacrifice was nothing.
1
Because the United States is the master of the solar system that's why!
1
Moon just stepped in at the right time. What a tragic figure Park is...
Trust but verify - if they would even let inspectors into the country!! I have been reading words like this from the Peoples Democratic Republic of Korea for many decades. It just buys them breathing space until they can snooker us again. Still, who knows?
34
Looks promising, but....
We'll see what the two military parades are like next month. North Korea celebrates the finding of the military and Kim Il-Song's birthday, in April. and these parades give great clues, and insights, into North Korean intentions. Also, next month, the US and South Korea are planning war games, which certainly will cause a great deal of strain.
Though, this breakthrough is quite promising. Too bad we have the worse possible choice, as president, to be involved in the negotiations. Like him, or not, this breakthrough would have been better if it occurred, before President Obama left office.
4
Obama never had the intelligence to be able to negotiate with any rouge country. Obama's answer was the same as Clinton's which was throw money at them and talk tough on TV to make Americans think the problem was being handled. Of course, after the confetti and smoke cleared and the parade was over, we still had the problem only worse. Trump didn't look to use nice words but spoke like any working American would and told Kim the end was near unless he was willing to stop his nuclear program. For every comment Trump countered and din't back down. Trump is the only President not to use nice words and beg because he's the real deal.
1
A positive development is just that --- a (potentially?) positive development.
In spite of the "too bad" fact that this positive promise (outcome?) was not achieved by a President Metrowsky likes.
1
Interesting developments... Hope our ambassador to South Korea and the State Department gives them a thorough analysis.... WAIT! We have no ambassador to South Korea and the State Department is gutted. Nevermind....
401
It appears that not having an ambassador to puff up in front of made them sweat enough to come to the table and talk.
Trump wins again.
Sure beats having a state dept that basically incinerated West Asia and fostered the growth of Daesh under Obama or kicked the NK nuclear "can" down the road like Clinton and Bush.
4
Yeah, it's amazing how quickly these regional disputes can be resolved without State Department control freaks constantly trying to reshape the world in favor of their own interests.
3
Well, in that case, we should not have an ambassador or embassy, neither in Israel, nor Jerusalem! MiddleEast peace in a jiffy, who would have thought.....
The week, leftist South Korean leader makes the North believe he can trick countries into bribing Kim with billions of $s in subsidies to denuclearize. Just like in the past and with Iran, the bribes from Clinton, Bush and Obama were taken and used to build MORE nuclear weapons while his subjects starved.
The only path that will work is an agreement to full denuclearization, while the South keeps their weapons, in exchange for allowing trade between North Korea and other countries. No more bribes for Rocket Man!
1
It took an egomaniacal bully to get another egomaniacal bully to make concessions.
Does Trump get credit for this? In a way, yes.
He forced a door to open. Korea did the rest.
As much as I loathe Trump,I think we have to admit the obvious: Simply by being the worst and most dangerous version of himself, Trump made a breakthrough.
NOW is anyone put there qualified to bring this home?
65
What proof do you have for this explanation? Another hypothesis would be that SK, seeing that the US was led by a fool and having, oh, some more skin in the game, took matters into its own hands, as promised by the now leader and party when it was running for office. Hoping, btw, that the US wont screw it all up.
7
It became clear to the two Korean leaders that involving the dotard would derail the process. Having observed the dotard's acumen in dealing with DACA and the gun issue who could blame them. So the premise in your post is somewhat right. The petulance and ignorance exhibited by him forced them to the decision that if something was going to ge going , it would be up to them to make it happen. Most of the prais eshould go President Moon's way.
1
Finally, an intellectually honest liberal. I respect your right to dislike Trump and admire your ability to give credit where credit is due.
1
When Kim Jung In is more like a statesman than the (illegitimate) POTUS we are in a sad state of affairs.
4
Trump will put an end to this with another Twitter rant in five ... four ... three ...
76
Don't trust, and REALLY verify. Also, how much ???? Mere Billions, or a Trillion ???? Maybe Mexico will pay for it. Right, Donald???
6
Believe the little dictator in North Korea, and you will probably also choose to believe the radical Islamic mullahs who hoodwinked Obama with a one sided nuclear deal. These people take gullible U.S. politicians to the cleaners every time, and we keep falling for it.
7
Now, readers, let's start listing all the ways Trump could screw these talks up...I'll start...ask both leaders if Ivanka could have a few minutes to discuss her new clothing line with the goal of opening factory in North Korea.
3
It true, for God’s sake and that of the U.S. and the world…………..President Trump must not attend the negotiations, he will surely screw everything up.
7
I was about to say exactly that.
If Trump ever has a summit, I suspect the North Korean cheerleader squad will make an appearance.
9
I would think long and hard before buying into this. Mr. Kim has shown himslef to be too similar to DT in his approach to governing. I am doubtful that his promises hold any water. Let's see what happens.
16
"Mr. Kim has shown himself to be too similar to DT in his approach to governing."
Are you mad??? Kim is a ruthless dictator who has his dissenters murdered or thrown in concentration camps to starve. Say what you will about Trump, but he is nothing like Kim.
2
This is great news but will not likely go anywhere with our current administration. It wouldn't take a very smart world leader to recognize that the current US administration is incapable of reasonable negotiation. Negotiation requires compromise on both sides but our current spoiled billionaire president believes negotiating means WINNING, total victory.
This is clear to the whole world, and North Korea's leader wouldn't need to be a master at chess to recognize that making overtures to the US, which will go nowhere for the above reasons, will make North Korea look good internationally. The intractable US administration will then be the bad guy, North Korea will be able to keep their nuclear deterrent and appear to be willing to compromise, and as a result sanctions will become less onerous.
18
Why doesn't the U.S. start selling pieces of SK to the Chinese? Kim's not giving up his shiny toy. It is his crowning achievement. He is not going to threaten Chinese interests with artillery fire. Perhaps China can stop him from selling banned weapons technology to the mid-east.
In the meantime, the U.S. can try some medical and nutritional diplomacy and send some supplies via SK for children and pregnant mothers. Verify the programs work, and there would be some shuttle diplomacy because we are asking NK what they need. Perhaps some supplies will not end up with NK's military.
"Selling" SK to the Chinese will not protect Japan or U.S. possessions from being held hostage by NK's nuclear sabre-rattling. But neither will U.S. "tried and false" strategy of giving NK more of the same, which is plenty of Nothing.
Just end the war in NK. As long as the U.S. continues to enrich the South right in the North's face, the North will want to take what they don't have and do a little "regime change" of their own. However, China has no pragmatic interest in butchering the present regime in SK, but they might be interested in SK assets.
So what if SK has a great economy. The U.S. props it up and it drains our treasury through military colonialism. 50 years of propping up and only progress towards war. Not peace. Just great.
Let China be the one to Make South Korea Great Again.
1
You have some good points here, but your main premise, that we "sell pieces of SK to the Chinese"... what??? Can you elaborate, because it sounds like you think the US owns SK and that it's somehow for sale, and I'm really confused by what you mean.
3
I don't think the US owns SK any more than the Chinese own Manhattan but the Chinese have assets in Manh. sold to them by US owners. So, for example, if the Chrysler Building was in Seoul let the Chinese buy it. (I forget if the Chrysler deal - a real thing - actually went through here but it was on the table.) Just tip the balance towards encouraging Chinese investments there by any means feasible. Thanks for the question, I hope that answers it.
How do the world's two greatest pathological liars and self-obsessed leaders even sit down -- or their representatives sit down -- to negotiate in good faith? Neither party is normal and acts according to accepted standards of behavior.
Trump has shown he can't negotiate with his own party or honor his own creditors, let alone deal with a leader and country as devious as North Korea.
In the end, I fear, this will just give NK cover to say, "You see, we tried, but you can't negotiate with an madman like Trump."
Which will be quickly followed by another missile test.
188
And..................... Hillary would send food and oil as a token of good faith !
3
No, the missile test will occur in April during or shortly after the joint SK/USA military exercises that are scheduled, just to remind all that two of the three countries involved in the region are led by infants.
2
You may be right. But as long as SK and NK are talking, DT's hands are tied. For the sake of avoiding a nuclear crisis leading, perhaps, to hostilities, I hope the talks, if not successful, at least continue long enough to run the clock out until DT is out of office. Like the Paris peace talks to end Vietnam War. Lots of time-consuming posturing.
1
This makes no sense unless NK is playing long con with Russia or Iran in the corridors. NK just showcased their massive nuclear missile that can hit the US. A few months later they are willing to give this power up? Or sell it to its shadow allies, and continue the make missiles in secret? Maybe I’ve seen too much Games of Throne, but doesn’t it smell of the makings of a coup? NK uses chemical weapons, even in your face. Careful Moon.
2
Does anyone else think Mr. Kim might just be manipulating markets?
1
I hope I'm wrong, but I really don't trust a violently oppressive dictator who executes his own family members in horrific ways to negotiate in good faith. I think it's far more likely this is a ploy to try and legitimize his regime. How about we start by getting Kim to release the scores of his own citizens working in slave camps for not clapping loud enough at his parades?
150
well said Thad. Utterly needed to be said.
1
Scores of thousands, you mean.
Both the US (not just Trump) and North Korea (not just Kim) are at the present time untrustworthy partners.
Given recent American willingness to go to war against against a weaker opponent, freely inventing false provocation, NK and the entire world should never doubt that given a chance, the US will dethrone the Kim family. But for NK's nuclear weapons, Trump would long ago have ordered Kim's removal. No American promise not to pursue regime change should be believed by any weaker opponent.
Given Kim's determination to keep his family in power for ever, and his clear eyed and completely correct grasp that only nuclear deterrence (and a huge army able to destroy SK) will prevent regime change by the US, it would be suicidal for him to disarm. And Kim is not suicidal.
Therefore, what is going on here is simply that NK is perfectly content to pause its big-bang phase of nuclear development for a period of less visible development, or perhaps a period to multiply its weapons.
Trust among individuals and nations can only be earned by acting in a trustworthy fashion. The ease with which international commitments are always subject to American domestic politics frightens both America's enemies and allies. For instance, Trump clearly is itching to scrap the nuclear deal with Iran, despite overwhelming evidence that Iran is complying and the other signatories agree. For instance, the cavalier attitude Trump has towards NATO and NAFTA signal the same thing.
Standard judo move: Bend backwards when opponent pushes forward until he overtops himself. Kim probably understands that the US, under Trump, will probably give him everything he wants in exchange for promises he can renege on fairly quickly.
7
If anything, consistency on the North' part should be noted.
They stated repeatedly, over and over again, that their entire missile development and nuclear program is of defensive nature and its sole role is to thwart any attack by the United States.
They are now at the stage, where they can actually do harm to the continental US, so this is why they are ready for substantive talks about a non-aggression pact, which would benefit all.
Will the US go along?
39
Donald Trump likes winning, but his version of winning requires everyone else to lose, and for Trump himself to get all the credit. If it looks like this problem is about to get solved without his involvement, he will try to scuttle the deal.
9
Oh ,please.
Haven't we all heard this before?
Does anyone really believe that this will happen? The fact that they are "willing" to "discuss" nuclear disarmament does not mean it will happen.
And what about the "negotiations"?
What will be offered? What will be asked for?
North Korea is willing to suspend all nuclear missile tests while it is engaged in talks- that's all.
57
Because the USA is so willing to talk about it's nuclear disarmament right?
We've seen this movie before. Obviously Mr Kim is not going to actually disarm. It's not hard to imagine this is being orchestrated by Mr. Putin to give his puppet a needed boost on the polls.
3
I have strong doubts that this is anything more than a ploy to extract financial aid and relaxation of sanctions in return for a temporary and rather meaningless promise to freeze nuclear and missile tests, which can be quickly overturned in the future, after NK has received the handouts.
Notice that a promise to freeze nuclear and missile tests during negotiations does not stop NK from advancing its nuclear program in other important ways: continuing uranium enrichment, building more missiles, making progress on warhead design and engineering, conducting computer simulations, etc. Once NK has extracted sufficient aid to gain breathing space, it can "up the ante" and demand yet more handouts and/or relaxation of sanctions, or threaten to resume testing, albeit in a stronger overall position.
Negotiations are going to take many months, indeed years. During that time, it is imperative for the UN to be allowed to conduct intrusive, snap inspections, and maintain inspectors and monitors in NK. Otherwise, NK can and will continue its nuclear program surreptitiously, even while temporarily freezing its testing. NK is very unlikely to agree to an effective inspections regime.
As for "security guarantees", these sound like a great idea, but are very difficult to implement. Also, NK would demand a full withdrawal of all US forces from the Korean Peninsula, termination of the US/SK defense treaty, lifting of most sanctions, and massive "financial aid."
I have strong doubts.
5
By all accounts, this is a preliminary diplomatic victory for Trump that will go unadorned by his critics.
This will be Trump's 'Berlin Wall' moment
47
That's OK if he goes "unadorned", that's why he has his Cabinet and his family, there to throw him roses for accomplishments others have done.
President Moon Jae-in deserves all the credit for keeping his ethics and staying on point while battered on both sides by children comparing their 'buttons'.
2
If anything good comes of this, the last person I will attribute it to is Donald Trump. Who knows what’s in the Hermt King’s head but I have never seen NK agree to stop while negotiations were going on. Let’s keep watching warily and encouraging any steps that could benefit the world here.
4
It is possible you are right, but the other explanation is that this happened despite Trump, not because of him. I know it is hard for some people in this country to believe, but some things happen overseas without being caused by us. It is more likely to me this happened because:
a) South Korean leadership went behind Trumps back and worked incredibly hard towards this, and deserve much more credit than people in these comments are giving them.
b) The Olympics provided a much needed thaw in North and South Korean relations.
C) The North Koreans always intended to negotiate, they just wanted to wait until they could claim they have made nukes that can (supposedly) reach the USA so that they could be in a stronger position to negotiate.
and/or D) NK is lying about wanting to dismantle their nuclear program. As the article says, they've actually said stuff like before and we've been in a similar situation, but NK ended up not being serious. Hopefully this time is different.
I just hope the Trump administration doesn't mess this up. Even though I think he has become our worst president ever who has already committed multiple offenses that he should be removed from office for, I'm rooting for his success here. We all should be, war with NK would be horrific for everyone.
6
Thank you President Trump for making the world a safer place. You have have obviously commanded the respect of North Korea, which was unattainable by Mr. Obama.
You are truly Making America Great Again.
30
Respect from a homicidal dictator who kills his own people without hesitation is not something we need nor should want.
1
How about we confirm Kim even said it first?
1
This is a view from an alternate reality.
2
For those who are truly enemies of the United States -- and we should certainly count the Kim regime among them -- there may be a perverse incentive to seemingly hand Trump a win now and then. Every day with Trump as president is another day of America being divided rather than united, another day of steady undermining of democratic institutions and weakening of American ability to work together to take necessary steps toward strength and security. Our enemies play the long game: make Trump look successful enough, just once in a while, that he might have a shot of staying in power long enough to do more lasting damage.
124
America has been HEAVILY divided since 2000, through the Bush, Obama, and now Trump presidencies.
2
Does this mean that Trump will now formally offer a cabinet position to Dennis Rodman? If so, Rodman ironically would be a more sane and effective member than the likes of Scott Pruitt, Betsy DeVos, and Ben Carson.
37
As much as your readers don't want to give Trump any credit, for anything - he did it! He did more to bring NK to the table than any president before him. His actions may seem strange to folks that personal hate his guts, but his actions get results - and that's what makes the world go round - not talk, talk and more talk. Democratic leaders take note!
14
Really? We haven't seen the last page of this debacle yet. Brinkmanship is a foolish game and should be punished whatever happens to the NC issue.
1
He did it? As in "mission accomplished"?
2
Sure, and he saved Puerto Rico too. Five days after the hurricane!
2
Seems like we have walked this road before. They have them. It is too late.
4
Thank you President Trump. Art of the Deal Chapter 7. Intimidate first and then negotiate sternly. This is leadership.This is skill. This is why he was elected. He commands respect on the World stage. Unlike Obama and Clinton who cowered in their safe spaces.
51
The only world leaders who respect Trump are despots. Europe and Canada are laughing at him, while Africa and Latin America are furious because all he does is insult them
9
Yes, they hid under the desk, I believe. Not sure if GWB was under there as well, looks like you skipped him.
3
How quaint. I have never heard the words skill, leadership nor respect by any serious source connected to Donald Trump. If this proceeds to a successful outcome, Trump will be the last person responsible for anything good that comes of it.
5
Let's hope it happens. Of course there will be no credit given to the first US president that makes it happen here.
9
Even a broken clock is right twice a day. So far Trump is still trying living up to that standard.
I think that is difficult to believe in North Korea, but it can be the first step.
4
Kim Jong-un is obviously desperate. He wants his NetFlix back.
3
One of two things will happen. 1. Trump will take 100% credit for anything and everything positive. 2. Trump will screw this up so badly, nothing will happen but more nonsense spewing about his button being bigger. Now, he can be creative and have North Korea pay for the Wall since Mexico isn't paying for it and get a deal done that way. North Korea will ask China for the money to pay for it.
1
Korea's home grown problems only remedy,is home grown solutions.Charity begins at home.
The North Koreans may be serious—I have strong doubts—but Donald Trump is the huge obstacle. He has no State Department to speak of and even less interest in dialing down tensions with this off-the-rails regime. And with Trump, it’s all about winning, not consensus. He would feel belittled and cheapened by anything less than Kim Jong-un’s complete and total capitulation. That’s not happening. If Trump had a superstar SecState he might have a chance to make history. He’ll find a way to mess it up. Rex Tillerson is in over his head.
87
Nonsense. Spoken as someone who has not step foot in the State Department and knows nothing about the institution, other than what he reads in the press.
This is not good news for the profiteers behind our ever-increasing military spending and wars. We'll need some provocation soon to get things back on track.
3
And, once again, his precondition to the talks will be the same as always: before the talks begin, you must supply North Korea with 100 million ton of rice. And once that is delivered the talks will go nowhere. So the North will have enough rice to feed their people and they can spend all of their money on the military and weapons development.
48
Can any liberal now argue that negotiating from a position of strength is always the best policy? Kim has two choices: give up his nuclear arsenal or die. Trump has made that very clear.
5
Kim Jong Un gives a speech and--shizzam! Problem solved! And all the right-wing fanatics rush in to proclaim IT MUST BE TRUE!!!!
1
No. he has made it clear that his button is bigger, that's all.
That's today. Kim is like Trump. Wait till tomorrow.
Bottom line, join with other like minded countries in boxing Kim in. Put pressure on China by supporting military buildup Korea and Japan but bottom line Japan and Korea must do the heavy lifting.
Only get involved in a military way if the day comes when Kim is truly threatening the US with an attack and not faking it.
17
I am SO proud of our president!! In just one year, President Trump has managed to destabilize the Korean peninsula and negotiotiate Rocket Man into giving up his nuclear weapons. This is truly a historic moment.
Congratulations, President Trump.
8
Funny the comments here seem to imply that if this is successful, it's in spite of Trump.
Maybe his "carry a bigger stick" policy is working in this case?
9
could it be they never wanted the nuclear weapons? could it be they were just making it for Iran?
Bravo, Mr. President! Only one year in and North Korea's caving after building continuously under Obama. Isis is decimated. Trade deals are being made again ergo American jobs being restored. Keep this up and you're guaranteed re-election!
10
The effort to reunify the country is their main goal. With atomic weapons off the table they could very well get us in a regular ground war like the places we are stuck in all over the mid-east.
2
The approach the South Korean president takes make much more sense the President Trump.
Lets wish them luck in the new negotiations.
6
Donald Trump’s “I’ve got a bigger button” strategy worked. The Obama administration appeasement did not. There is no other explanation.
68
I will go with sanctions maybe working. bigger button?
2
Before Trump is done, he'll have Korea unified and threatening the US with nuclear war.
2
it is possible your right, but the other explanation is that this happened despite Trump. It is more likely this happened because:
a) South Korean leadership went behind Trumps back and worked incredibly hard towards this, and deserve much more credit than people in this comment section are giving them.
b) The Olympics provided a much needed thaw in North and South Korean relations.
C) The North Koreans always intended to negotiate, they just wanted to wait until they could claim they have made nukes that can (supposedly) reach the USA so that they be in a stronger position to negotiate.
and/or D) NK is lying about wanting to negotiate. As the article states, they've actually said before and we've been in similar situation, but NK ended up not being serious.
3
Kim and Trump are two of a feather. (Twins separated at birth.) Suggest one thing, and do something else. Waffle and only create chaos.
2
Now can we cancel that military parade?
6
Trump is a buffoon and totally unqualified to be president but, believe it or not, he's put together some significant achievements:
1. Massive tax cut for over 80% of the American people
2. Record low unemployment for African Americans
3. Lowest overall unemployment rate in 18 years
4. Biggest year over year drop in illegal immigration on record
5. Confirmation of a supreme court justice that even Democrats begrudgingly admit has impeccable credentials
6. The near total destruction of ISIS
7. Corporations giving bonuses and raises and CEO's directly attributing these actions to the corporate tax cut.
8. And now we have North Korea (the issue Obama told Trump would be the most vexing) coming to the negotiating table to talk about giving up their weapons program.
If you set aside the insane tweets and boorish behaviour his first 13 months in office can be stacked up favourably again many of his predecessors.
25
We need more over-achieving buffoons. Ever hear of "crazy like a fox?:
4
I have a 4 year college degree and work in a low paid job that requires it and:
1. Massive tax cut for over 80% of the American people
The "massive" tax cut for me and most of my co-workers comes to around $600 this year. The men, all higher paid, are getting a little more.
2. Record low unemployment for African Americans
This trend started before Trump took office.
3. Lowest overall unemployment rate in 18 years
This trend started before Trump took office.
4. Biggest year over year drop in illegal immigration on record
This trend started before Trump took office.
5. Confirmation of a supreme court justice that even Democrats begrudgingly admit has impeccable credentials
Republicans begrudgingly admitted that Obama's nominee had great credentials as well but continued with their usual obstruction. I'm wondering if they knew the election was going to be stolen thus giving them a chance to nominate someone.
6. The near total destruction of ISIS
They'll be back, under another name perhaps. They'll be someone fighting as long as the U.S. is in the Middle East.
7. Corporations giving bonuses and raises and CEO's directly attributing these actions to the corporate tax cut.
The only raises went to the CEOs and those directly beneath them. All most of us got was a paltry bonus.
8. And now we have North Korea coming to the negotiating table to talk about giving up their weapons program.
I think South Korea deserves a lot of the credit for this.
1
Luciano, you overstate your case.
- on #1, most of the tax cuts went to the wealthy
- on #2, 3, and 6, Obama’s deserves 90% of the credit, maybe more. Btw I am not a fan of Obama.
- on #8, we’ve been here before. Why should we expect Kim to be any different from his predecessors? Trump is as much of a pathological liar as Kim is, probably more so: isn’t it that much more likely that these negotiations reach the same dead end?
1
Only the most blinkered Trump hater would fail to admit that Trump's bellicose rhetoric and successful tightening of sanctions is the reason for Kim's sudden 180
81
Or maybe 20 years of sanctions have finally sapped the will and ability of the North Korean populace
2
Or, more likely a cause, was the efforts of President Moon Jae-in to be the adult in the room, recognizing the instability present from both the North and from Washington.
For Mr Moon and for South Korea, continuing to press for negotiations was an act of self preservation
5
sanctions, yes. Now if only he would enforce the Congress approved sanctions against Russia. or give the signal to the NSA to spend some of the 120 million to fight back on cyber warfare.
2
OMG, I was right AGAIN! The "NK crisis" was totally created by the "establishment". The bottom-line is this. Why in the world would Mr. Kim gave up all the privileges and commit a suicidal mission against the only superpower?! He might be reckless but he is not stupid. As I said, the calculation was so missing the point. In fact, under Trump's America first, Mr. Kim really wants to (1) give up his nuclear ambitions (2) invite Trump to visit NK (3) throw a BIG, HUGE military parade to honor Trump. Afterwards, NK crisis? What crisis! These two will become best friends before you know. And Noble Peace Prize might be the next.
Am I the only person seeing the light?
1
LOL!
Kim is said to be willing to talk. Tne U.S is willing to talk... under certain condtions. What are those conditions? That N. Korea give up its nuclear weapons. "So," says N. Korea, "we're willing to TALK ABOUT giving up our weapons". Ploy #1.
Ploy #2: "We'll give up our nuclear weapons if you give us full diplomatic recognition, allow us entry into every trans-Pacific trade agreement you have (and we wish to join), verifiably guarantee that not only will you not attack us, but will come to our aid if we are attacked by a third nation. You will provide N. Korea with food, fuel and technology so that we can compete with the rest of the world. At the same time, you will neither challenge nor criticize my rule nor my personal affairs, nor raise the issue of my treatment of the people of North Korea. And you agree to not send inspectors here to verify our compliance with any of the above."
Trump's alleged expertise in negotiating only has value when the other side wants something more than he does. Trump is in the weak position here. Trump is no match for Kim. Kim has outmanuevered him at every step. Trump is playing checkers while Kim is playing chess.
I would love to be proven wrong.
And I wonder how long it will take Trump to start insulting Kim again.
1
Checkers is actually harder to master than Chess is.
Tell me how has Kim outplayed Trump.
Kim outplayed Clinton Bush and Obama.
There is no evidence he has done the same to Trump.
Why shouldn't Trump insult Kim.
Kim has done many things that justify the insults Trump has used.
Don't you realize how demented Kim is,
He killed his own brother.
Civilized people do not do things like that no matter how evil they are.
How this came to be after the way Trump handled Kim Jung-un is beyond comprehension. But now the important thing is to FORBID Trump to say, tweet, or act in any way to screw it up. It's far too important and dangerous.
Don't be too excited. Donald Trump regularly ' snatches defeat from the jaws of victory'. He will find some way to destroy any peace talks anywhere in the world.
Oh, and then blame President Obama.
154
Trust but verify. But trust first.
Look out, Batman! It's a trap!
6
North Korea is, of course, lying. They have no intention of giving up their nuclear weapons.
5
I hate Donald Trump with my whole being and soul, but he deserves credit for this. This is YUGE. Nice work, Comrade Trump :-)
10
If they insist on having Kushner as a counter party, well, brace yourselves.
They may unify.... against us.
3
I have thought this. The North convinces the South that they should be dependent on no one for their defense, and that China and Japan, their long term enemy, are potential threats. Korean animosity toward Japan was evident at the Olympics.
As a result, they unify, keep their weapons, and toss the US forces out of South Korea.
2
May it be so. It would be ironic if Korean reunification happened under the shared threat of the maniac occupying the White House. His beligerance may have pushed these siblings closer together. But good results may yet occur. I for one am beyond ready for a bit of sunshine.
3
There has been lots of sunshine.... Unless you listen to the lamestream media. Personally, I've never seen a President keep or even attempt to keep as many promises as Trump. Trump wasn't my first choice but he does appear to be doing a great job. It's only been a year and he has accomplished so much. Would be great to see how much he would accomplish without all this fake news and attempts to delegitamize him and his administration.
Will Trump find a way to ruin it?
4
I am sceptical. The U.S. also gave assurances to Qaddafi in return for nuclear disarmament. Kim is not that stupid.
2
That was Hillary and Obama who double crossed Ghaddafi. And left Libya ripe for terrorist chaos and Isis.
4
No, RM, don't blame the double-cross of Qaddafi on Hillary/Obama. Were Hillary/Obama also responsible for the double-cross on Saddam Hussein?
This was predicted. He's got his nuke and ICBM so he can now negotiate.
3
You really think Trump would just give him money and not ensure that he can't just gather more later. Sorry but he isn't Obama.
NK holds all the aces here. They kept up their program long enough to complete it. Now he has no reason not to negotiate.
As for Iran, it was actually Iran's money we were holding so they didn't get anything that wasn't theirs. All the western world except US Republicans and right-wing Israelis believe this was a good deal.
Hope the Trump minders in DC will carefully insulate him to a sufficient degree that an impetuous burst of adolescent idiocy from him does not sabotage these efforts.
11
Although I will not defend the multitude of stupid comments made by Pres. Trump, I do wonder if his bombastic rhetoric and unpredictability is the reason North Korea is talking about giving up nuclear weapons. The reality is, North Korea will only forfeit such weapons if they believe America has a president they perceive as bold, if not reckless, and willing to engage militarily to prevent further development of nuclear capabilities.
4
have you ever read the art of war? when you enemy is stronger you move back and fight another day! with 2 carrier groups looking at him out his window and with trump who does not bow was serious. it is better to stall than fight a war he can't win! first off we would do what schwarkoff did in 91! take out his air fields his missle launch sites and pound him for days! you can be sure that is in kims little mind! the devastation one carrier group can do is incredible but with 2 wave the white flag! we have had diplomacy since the 90's when clinton allowed this to start you show strength they fold! when zi of china abandoned him he knew the jig was up! but like cockroaches you drop your spray can they come back!
2
Schwarzkoff (geez, at least spell his name right - especially if you are going to get the analogy wrong) got totally snookered by Sadam on the fixed wing aircraft ban after Op Desert Storm - that is the more apt analogy. Just as Kim will play Trump: (My God, do you think I’m easier to manipulate than a pipe? You can push my buttons, but you can’t play me for a fool. Hamlet Act3 Scene 2). And just as the Kurds (again, the poor Kurds - our allies!) paid the price for our arrogance back in 91 - were mowed down while we looked on after egging them on to rebel - the South Koreans and Americans! in Seoul - approx. 30,0000, will get annihilated in the first moments of your fantasy - before the first sorties from the carriers even reach Pyongyang.
Early yet...Bu seems like another victory for Trump...Wonder how the far left MSM will turn this into yet another anti-Trump story!
10
He has absolutely nothing to do with it.
9
You're funny, dude. What role did Trump play in this at all? Oh, none. That's right, this is happening in spite of his idiocy, not because of it.
4
Give it up, please! He did what his predecessor couldn't.
5
If Trump can keep his mouth shut and let this thing play out, this could be a very big deal.
200
I would say the chances of that are roughly equal to safely landing a spaceship on the sun.
5
Tom M - it was President Trump’s “I’ve got a bigger button” strategy that brought North Korea finally to the table.
4
Tom M: Yes, the shut mouth is important, but don't forget keeping those little fingers off the Tweeter!
So you're suggesting we believe North Korea, just as Clinton and Obama did when the North foreswore nuclear weapons?
"... a dog returns to his vomit,
and a pig returns to her mire,
and the burnt Fool's bandaged finger,
goes wobbling back to the fire..."
Kim Jong Un is out of his mind if he gives up his nukes. That's the quickest way to be yet another victim of American imperialist aggression. Just look at what Uncle Sam does to his own people when they give up their arms!
1
That everyone in the Middle East (except, of course, Israel, with their shiny new US-sanctioned capital, Jerusalem) hates the US hasn't, unfortunately, made them like one another better, and that's a shame. But if North and South Korea are able to bond over the common ground of the US President being a Big Idiot and the leader of a country you can't really rely on, then I'd call that a foreign policy coup for all concerned. Strong work, you Big idiot. Try not to drop a bomb on them in the meantime.
16
The world is fortunate to have the focused, level-headed Mr. Moon at the helm in South Korea at this dangerous moment.
89
Everyone giving credit to Trump is ignoring Moon in all of this. If this comes to fruition (big if), I think it will have more to do with Moon's conciliatory stance than Trump's posturing.
2
Come on, it's the same old song and dance. Trump was on the verge of solving this, so the International Leftists have to get in the way and make sure the problem doesn't get resolved. They fall for this same old predictable tactic even as literally millions sweat their lives away in Kim's hopeless gulags and work camps.
15
How exactly was he about to solve it? Genuine question. Seems a bit silly to equate all diplomacy with "leftism", whatever that's supposed to mean.
By his idiotic tweeting? Sure thing.
2
This sounds promising. The problem is TRUMP. He has shown himself to be erratic and untrustworthy in negotiations, and of poor temperament. If he brags on this too soon, or has to take all the credit or in the wrong way, OR...the list goes on....forget it.
50
You're out of your mind. President Trump has been absolutely rock solid and completely trustworthy in his negotiations with foreign countries. He tolerates the leftist media constantly bashing him in the USA, but has fulfilled 70% of his campaign promises in his first year, and when he travels to foreign countries on state visits he is treated to a level of pomp and ceremony that no US president has ever enjoyed. Not one single foreign country that Trump has negotiated with has accused him of being untrustworthy. Mexico sometimes accuses him of being too tough and unfair, and the Euros don't like his immigration stance, but President Trump is greatly admired on the international stage because of his temperament and trustworthiness.
2
Fortunately (and sad that it became necessary), it was OFFICIALLY proclaimed at last month's Munich conference, that world leaders should take statements from the US president with a grain of salt :
"Top U.S. officials tell the world to ignore Trump’s tweets"
5
So, Munich suddenly speaks for all the rest of the world's leaders? When did that happen? Oh, and isn't Munich in Germany, the most socialist country in Europe who has a society that is collapsing under the weight of suicidal immigration policy. Every been to Munich? People are absolutely miserable there. It is one of the worst cities in Europe. Its easy enough to just pull up video of all of Trump's international visits and witness how he is received, but I guess its even easier to pull up biased comments, then copy and paste them into a forum section without having to do any thinking for yourself. Cool.
I have considerable doubt that this will happen. The North Koreans are not stupid and they have a genuine fear for their own survival as a regime. They see that the US invaded Libya once it gave up its nuclear program; they know that they US launched an unprovoked war on Iraq, given the opportunity. They can see now that the US is trying to undermine its own negotiated deal with Iran. Any regime in the world, no matter how deluded or despicable, is going to look at those historical precedents and understand that American promises and commitments are not worth the paper they are printed on. Under such circumstances, the North will have to keep some kind of nuclear deterrent; it would be incredibly foolish if it did not. After all, it understands that the Americans' long game is to overthrown the DPRK regime. It knows how much easier that becomes once the nukes are out of the way.
5
Five, nay, even two years ago I'd agree with you, but things have gotten really really bad in North Korea. China has pulled most of their support away, and has even sanctioned North Korea as well as required all North Korean businesses in China to close their doors. They could hold onto their nukes and let their country starve to the point of armed rebellion, or they can open their doors to the west and lose some of their stranglehold on power. Seems that Un has smartened up at this point, but I suppose time will tell.
2
If it happens, it is a good thing and Trump can claim another victory. In any case he should not cut a deal like the Iran deal that gave away so much to Mullahs just for postponing nuclear development for 10 to 15 years.
20
Wanna bet trump screws it up?
1
Mr Kim is practicing the ago old dictum ,One step back ,
Two steps forward.
3
Uh... Right... In exchange for several trillion dollars of foreign aid NK will make a big show of dismantling one of the nuclear weapons producing facilities the West already knows about, while opening several other new ones in secret locations and they will milk the West's naivete for a few years for all it's worth until they're discovered. They they'll do a song and dance about independence and sovereignty and flip the bird at those who will be asking for their permission to inspect the secret facilities. How does that go “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Are we in the West that gullible?
61
My mantra, as a child of the '60s, is always to "give peace a chance." The U.S. has been down this road with North Korea before, but, if the Trump administration can actually engage in serious diplomatic negotiations rather than taunts by tweet, there may be a deal. But, ultimately any deal will have to include China and probably Russia as guarantors of North Korea's political integrity. So, let's for once hope this is actually real, good news.
20
Yes, as far as I know, this is the very first time any Korean leader has even been willing to even officially "consider full North Korean denuclearization." Let us see what kind of "credible guarantee" for his country's security Mr. Kim would require, before imagining that we already know what the outcome of Mr Kim's proposed talks might be.
1
And who in the Trump administration can partake in "serious diplomatic negotiations"? The professional diplomats in the State Department are gone.
North Korea sees an unstable President
A weak and feeble man as White House resident
So, an opportunity to lift sanctions it seizes
Perhaps a lie to Trump it appeases
Our nuclear weapons we will surrender
Throw bad fruit into Donald's mind blender
But while Kim plays a game of high-stakes chess
Trump tweets about "Alex" Baldwin, but I digress
24
Right. Sure they will. Just as they have done for decades.
They got food and oil and god knows what else to stop their nuclear program and ... they still have a program - a much more advanced one that enables them to threaten to blow up Guam along with their braggadocio about being able to strike anywhere in the world with nuclear missiles.
Of course they will "discuss" it. They will never give up their program but they are certainly willing to "discuss it" with the West.
18
Last week, on Staurday, March 3 this paper printed: “North Korea has used past negotiations to win economic concessions while continuing to advance its nuclear weapons program.”
Kim Jong-un has long history of grandstanding. North Korea will never give up its weapons. Such an act would be considered be a national embarrassment.
4
Hard to believe. What is his motivation? He doesn't care about his people, so why would he give up his favorite hobby, war games? Keep an eye on him.
1
Because he's literally starved his own people to the point of rebellion.
If true, this is the best piece of news we have had for a long, long time.
1
Trump will take credit if it comes to pass. He will blame Obama if he fails. 2018 elections can't get here fast enough.
5
Neither did Bush or Clinton, because it's a Gordian knot. No previous President has wanted to risk Seoul. But Trump isn't like our previous presidents; he couldn't point to Seoul on a map, much less care about the 10 million civilians there, so he's happy to engage in blind brinkmanship. It's always easier to when you have no morals or concern for the people who get hurt
1
Because there IS NO problem, just like there's no "American carnage."
Outside of his borders, Kim Jong-un only has the power Trump gives him by building him up.
Trump fell on his face, and Kim gained face.
Trump's a fraud.
1
I believe the North and South have concluded that Trump, with his threats and bluster, is unstable, and they need to start to come together with diplomacy and take measures to protect themselves from "Armageddon".
However, Kim is a sociopath, as a sociopath is smart enough to know, he can make himself " come out like a rose", if he can cover for himself by bringing peace and while tapping into the South's economy. Just saying.
1
Did South Korea agree to suspend the joint military exercises that they hold jointly with the U.S.?
I am one of those people who loathe Donald Trump. But, if this is the start of a breakthrough in relations between the North, South and the US, how does Trump not get credit for it? We all know he will immediately start boasting of
how he got Kim Jong-un to cooperate with his Tough talk.
1
Brilliant strategy on the part of Kim Jong Un. First: pretend to soften your stance on South Korea. Give the impression you want to form some kind of truce. Second: sprinkle the notion that nukes may be on the table now that North and South are in friendly talks. Third: Kim Jong Un knows Trump will spend days convincing the world he has solved the North Korea dilemma where EVERY other administration has failed. Fourth: once Trump is completely blinded by his ego..........BOOM!
2
And we’re really supposed to believe that Kim Jong-un is willing to give up nukes and act rationally?
Haven’t we already learned from our lying president that you can trust much of anything he says?
1
I find it hard to believe Kim Jong-un would simply give them up. He already has the technology.
1
There is reason to be cautious and skeptical. However, let this be the first of many steps to resolving issues on the Korean peninsula and with the US.
Number one on the list ought to be signing a peace treaty to finally end the Korean war. Then disarm the DMZ. We have to change the status quo. Isolating any country doesn't work. Look at the failure of the 50 year embargo against the Cuban people. Our treatment of NK has also failed.
The biggest obstacle may well be Trump himself along with Republicans and conservatives. If Trump can keep his mouth shut and cease the tweets, we have a shot at this one. We need to listen more than bark.
An unseen, unplanned for, unprecedented opportunity just arose in the Korean peninsula. It will require diplomacy, finesse, keen use of psychology, appreciation of motive, and a willingness to explore new definitions of security - to say nothing of energy, endurance and self-discipline - for this unexpected opportunity to turn into a much-needed reality.
Thank goodness we have such a mature, focused, professional, trusted, calm, superbly organized White House up to the task.
4
What are "the right conditions" the president wants to sit down with Kim Jong-un to discuss nuclear disarmament? And did the pageantry of Winter Olympics factor into the North Korean leaders's rather sudden change from warmonger to peace advocate?
Now is the time for the president to show a level of diplomacy heretofore not seen by the American people or world leaders. Kim has made the first step forward.
No doubt your President will dismiss this news with a furious tweet. Let's hope the two Koreas pave the way to a decent issue to this dangerous mess.
1
Apparently, the north Koreans have been frightened into making nice, after they stole and read our wartime OPLAN for dealing with the north militarily, according to the following article: https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htintel/articles/20180223.aspx
This is certainly encouraging; inviting the North to take part in the Olympics was a masterstroke of diplomacy — but I’m sure the White House will issue a statement some time today in an effort to kill this overture. The Koreas and the world should ignore it.
Everyone, be it a person or a country — wants to be respected, and will act out in unacceptable ways if it’s sensed that the respect isn’t being shown. So it has been with Kim and North Korea. Here’s a novel idea — let’s offer a seat at the table and talk for a change. That doesn’t mean we’re legitimizing Kim and his regime. No minds were ever changed by bellicosity, but they might be changed by dialogue.
Let’s deal in good faith here and see what happens. As pie-in-the-sky as it may sound, Lennon had good advice: Give peace a chance — especially because war and its nuclear weapons are too readily available, and they aren’t going away anytime soon.
Until we begin seeing truce and peace as possibilities rather than naive dreams, nothing on this planet will ever change.
North Korea will never denuclearize, especially not with Trump in office. North Korea perceives nukes as their best defense, and it's more important than ever to them with an unpredictable and unstable POTUS to contend with. If anything, this is a ploy on their part.
It's as if Trump is running 28 simultaneous chess games with each nation around the world, and one by one, each is making a move that will put Trump on the defensive, and perhaps cost him a Queen, if not Bishop or Rook against them.
Let's see some small but significant steps before we cheer.
As it is now, the Kim regime has thousands of artillery pieces targeted on Soul, threatening to wipe out millions of their fellow Koreans if the US or anyone else initiates action that threatens the Kim family's reign of terror.
Not even during the worst days of the Cold War did the Soviets threaten to kill their own people in retaliation to any move by the NATO.
Instead of de-nuclearization promises --- which are eminently false --- the ROK should insist on doable and verifyable action on the part of the Kim gang.
3
To this time, our well-publicized military plans have treated South Korea as expendable. Now, my fingers are crossed, and my toes and my eyes. I hope South Korea isn't double crossed.
1
I don't believe what Kim says any more than I believe anything Trump says. They are both liars and manipulators. Believe it when it happens- Dreamers, gun control, tariffs -- the list goes on and on. There is no reason for No Korea to "give up" it's nuclear weapons. None, whatsoever. They might stop testing and threatening, but give them up? Why? What's in it for Kim? A promise from Trump?
1
Appeasement has never been the answer.
2
Who'd have thought that Kim Jong-Un would look more like a leader than our own here in the US? I don't necessarily believe him, but there's always trust but verify.
Yeah, like that's worked out so well the last six times we 'negotiated' with N. Korea...
2
As much as I dislike Trump, if this were to genuinely lead to a genuine defusing of the North Korea situation, he would have succeeded where at least 3 presidents have failed.
A long road ahead, and I’ll believe it when I see it, but let’s keep an open mind.
6
I welcome this news and can only hope that his realization that his bombastic words can no longer scare the US into giving him food. I don't believe that he means this for a second and anyone that thinks he is being serious is completely lost.
1
As suspected, this indicates that Kim sought nukes as a deterrent from being "Gaddafied."
And this makes it clear that all Trump's macho saber rattling only sped up Kim's drive.
So, when do the Republican Congressional investigations begin to hold the inept Commander in Chief accountable for the deaths of all the sailors killed in foolish maneuvers?
There were more than twice as many deaths as in Benghazi, and the killers there were terrorists.
Or do Navymen not hold the same value?
1
I'll believe it when I see it. If I recall my history correctly japan's foreign minsters were in the US to discuss peace agreements the day before Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. Kim Jong-un has shown that he cannot be trusted and there has to be something big in it for him to even discuss giving up his unclear weapons.
1
Claim a WIN, and talk, they blinked! Anything is better than a preemptive nuclear strike. Moon is going to claim credit, Don, trash talk him on your tweet!
It would seem that S. Korea was HIGHLY motivated to make some connection with the North. Given their proximity, Trump's reckless bluster and cage rattling put them more and more at risk. But of course, Trump will say that was his strategy all along (though he wouldn't know what a strategy was if he tripped over one) and take the credit.
3
The endgame of any rapprochement in Korea and perhaps reunification is going to run into a huge problem--Kim Jong Un & Co. will demand immunity from prosecution for crimes against humanity and so forth in exchange for giving up power. Kim wants what every dictator facing a loss of power wants--to live in a luxurious seaside villa with champagne and caviar and multiple mistresses by his side. The man's gluttony, crassness, licentiousness, and love of expensive items are well known.
It's a sickening thought to imagine Kim living in such a manner until the age of 70 or 80, knowing what monstrous and horrible crimes his regime and the regimes of his father and grandfather have presided over. But it's a virtual certainty Kim & Co. will demand such a lifestyle as a price to be paid for their stepping down.
2
Are you talking about Donald Trump or Kim Jong Un?!?!
1
Um, you seem to be way ahead of what's going on. Kim's regime has only indicated a willingness to discuss denuclearization, not stepping down or reunification. There is no point in worrying now about what to do with Kim after any hypothetical stepping down.
2
This won't perhaps be such an issue as there's no discussion that I've heard of concerning Kim stepping down. Abdication of power is not on the table. In fact, the US has already publicly said that it will not forcibly remove Kim from power if he gives up his nuclear arms. This stage of discussion is solely about the removal of those arms and the cessation of nuclear development activities. A second stage of later talks would conceivably involve moves to enhance the normal economic situation of the NK people in exchange for the verified ending of illicit chemical weapons production and other activities.
This is not an endorsement but Kim has outmaneuver Trump at every turn
143
I'm the first to blast Trump for being counterproductive but I don't see it here. Sanctions have driven them to desperation and China isn't even backing them for of what the US may do. Now they want to open talks to give in and denuclearize, and Trump is being outmaneuvered? Don't let your hatred blind you to what's happening... that's how we got him in the first place. Unbelievable.
9
This proves again and again that; anyone can outmaneuver Trump who has no brain, heart and soul.
Yes because Kim Jong-un and his father spent billions and faced down the West building nukes just to give them all up? This was good cop (South Korea) bad cop (USA). Trump says, "We don't care about your country we will kill every single one of you with a fiery blast". North Korea goes to South Korea and says, "this guys crazy, I can't deal with him what do I do?" South Korea goes, "We don't know he's crazy you better give him something or he'll kill you all he's the crazy one." North Korea, "okay, okay we'll talk"
3
It looks like the "good cop - bad cop" strategy is working.
60
I have a bridge in Brooklyn I am willing to let you have for cheap. Just a few million as down payment, the balance over 20 years. You can put toll booths on it to make a lot of money.
2
Trump may screw it up with a tweet.
1
Ed, Hillary would have bombed them long ago, and ISIS terrorists would be moving in to fill the vacuum.
4