Kim will be glad to freeze his weapons development program if US forces agree to an exit strategy from the peninsula.
We should take this deal and run. South Korea, for the first time, is on board with this. Let’s bring back our troops and invest in our own infrastructure here instead.
3
When the overseeing Chinese oligarch wants to sell NK, does s/he just list the whole country with Sotheby’s?
1
This is simply Part One in the stage dressing as China and most of Southeast Asia are struggling to mount a unified resistance to the unfolding private Economic War Donald Trump has personally trapped America into with the rest of the World's Economies. It is extremely taxing to see America's Emperor doing his strip tease before the inscrutable minds of the Orient who keep counting the days until the big inevitable meltdown. Even Bill Gates sees things this way! Who was the winner and who were the losers in the Great Depression that America jumpstarted with Isolationist and Self-Protectionisms that sunk us all into WW2? Military and Political alliances are once again being stretched to their breaking points... and we all know where that takes us! There isn't enough gold in all the reserves to cover the Bitcoin hedge fund Ponzi retirement schemes taking shape to shake down all the exemptions from Currencies and Industrial Investment Portfolios. Mr. Trump is dressing himself up as the World's best Business Environmentalist... because his only environment is money... everyone's money. You can't re-float a world economy with scary fairy tales.
You heard it here:
I believe that the endgame is to relax and maybe ski in the Alps or go on a Parisian vacation. Who wants to be a rogue dictator but no one was going to let Kim play until he used his nukes to get his foot in the door.
So this essentially confirm that it’s only our president who’s deranged. We are living in the twilight zone.
See, Camp 22 to discover who is the real madman.
The world is really topsy turvy when we have to acknowledge that N Korea's imperial leader has more skill than Trump.
2
DPRK was a useful nuisance in China’s territorial battles with the U.S., but it is no longer needed. Kim knows that his ‘allies’ are losing interest. He will strike a deal with the West if it works for him, say retaining control of DPRK but integrating with South Korea’s economy. Even cheaper labor to make those washing machines...
Looks like The Art of Deal Trump got outfoxed by a 34 year old with a flat top. Kim's courting SK to abandon the US and work together with NK. Kim's advocating reunification, increased trade between N and S, and lowering the heat by not firing any more rockets.
America's ill equipped president, who cannot read anything longer than a kindergarten coloring book, used his "intuition" to handle NK. But it appears that Trump's "gut instinct" has served America as well as it did when he bankrupted the casino in Atlantic City.
The only remaining question is, how much longer will America tolerate such gross incompetence in the WH? The 25th amendment was designed for a crisis just like Trump. It's time to pull the rip cord.
1
Kim must hold his course even if it means buying time. The only way to deal with a recidivistic invader is to ensure you have the means to deter them. Trump is running out of time for a preemptive strike and he knows it. The NK regime must develop an ICBM capable of carrying a miniaturised nuclear warhead which can reach the US mainland. This doesn't mean they should use it, but they must possess it if they don't want to end up like Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. The US is the leading state terrorist nation on earth and the only thing you can do in the face of such threats is ensure you can deliver a counter strike. Neither the US or the UN have the right to stop a nation from levelling the playing field for defensive purposes. The sanctions against NK are illegitmate and based on placating the US rather than delivering a safer Korean Peninsula. We also need Russia and China to step up to the plate and take the same position the US has taken in relation to Israel and Taiwan. Namely make it clear that any pre-emptive strike against NK will be treated as an act of aggression against them and responded to in kind. The aim should be to make sure that Trump the terrorist knows the consequences of any foolish actions.
1
Kim's sudden congeniality; Rex,Haley, MadDog,.and the masterful Donald just may have had something to do with it!
This is a case of dog catches car.Now what?Assuming we negotiate an end to NK nuclear weapons program do they bide their time ,rebuild their economy and then restart it in secrecy or do they modernize and join the "free" world ?I doubt the latter but what else can we do?
This is a ruse, he simply taking advantage of the naïveté of the South Korean leaders. We are tripping over themselves to meet with Kim and come to some kind, anytime, of armistice.
Yes, of course, isn't Kim's long game, he needs a little positive press to help take the sanctions that are strangling his country off for a while until he can properly complete his weapons.
Trump gets it, thank God, we have no choice, and will, go to war with North Korea within the next year.
DT, who continues to call Iraq a stupid mistake while insulting Dubya, is going to make a stupider mistake? You might just be right.
Haley's proclamations that pressure forced Kim to make concessions may or may not be true; but instead of boisterous self proclamations that are so typical of this administration why not take advantage of the overture without any guarantees for the easing of sanctions. I don't understand the reluctance to talk to adversaries. Better the devil you know than reliance on third party intermediaries.
I think that we should not judge people because of their aprenience,nor for what they are, on the contrary we should try to learn the best of the other person.
Atte this meeting held between the United States and South Korea, Korea proposed that it will no longer conduct experiments with nuclear weapons, nor will it conduct any nuclear military treatment.
North Korea is essentially a modern day slave plantation defended by nuclear weapons.
The US has taken at least a 4 year vacation from the notion of 'human rights' as a policy goal, but the world has been looking away from this humanitarian catastrophe since the cessation of the Korean war.
When the Kim regime finally collapses, as it must, the world will express shock and outrage at the inhumanity of it all. But the truth is, we already know. And we are complicit through our silence.
2
Seems I might be the only one to think that, now that he has his nuclear weapons, he does not need to posture with such aggressive words or risk an invasion. I don't think he wants to invade other places as much as just keep his own people repressed.
Given that, I'm not sure how different he is than someone like Assad.
1
Let's try to be positive. Kim has very good taste in music.
For months chroniclers and politicians have labeled Kim as being unpredictable. He’s not. It’s just that we tend to be unable to foresee the agenda of someone who at 34years old, leads the most autocratic dynasty ruling the most isolated and bedeviled country.
Let’s try to see through his own eyes and maybe we’ll end up able to predict his next moves
I'm no expert, but after Mr. Xi Jinping deployed 150,000 Chinese troops to the border with the DPRK in 2017, I think the General Secretary sent a final ultimatum to Mr. Kim after his last missile launch on November 28, 2017, which--if true--may have directly resulted in the unexpected New Year's Day "olive branch" speech, and sending his sister (as well as Kim Yong Nam) to the winter games carrying the April invitation for bilateral talks with the Supreme Leader at the DMZ. We hopefully will get to see day-long family reunions between relatives from the North and the South directly before the talks are set to begin.
This gambit is to appease first, China, and then the U.N. to ease sanctions. I can only see Mr. Kim agreeing to symbolic measures and protocols, but nothing remotely close to allowing IAEA inspectors touring his facilities and installing cameras to monitor future advances.
The fact that Mr. Kim has agreed not to react to future joint military exercises intimates he never really saw such displays as a credible threat, and just used them as an excuse to authorize last year's crash program to test his medium- and long-range missile capabilities. One can actually see Mr. Xi Jinping's invisible hand, here, and the region is all the more safer for it.
I think talking is always preferable to not talking. Unfortunately Mr. Kim's track record on keeping commitments isn't good. Also Mr. Trump really has no one available in the State Department to lead the negotiations that has the depth of knowledge and experience dealing with North Korea that would be required. We still do not have an Ambassador to South Korea. With the dysfunction here in the U.S. we aren't in a good position to try and move things forward. It's hard to see where this is going.
2
I always felt that Koreans are the most nationalistic people in Asia. I grew up in Asia during WWII era so I know little bit about Chinese, Japanese, and Korean people before they were artificially divided into two Koreas. At the time the Koreans were really resentful about this decision made by U.S. and Soviet Union. There were many Koreans lived in China during the Japanese occupation and they hated the Japanese and yet after WWII Japan continued to be an independent country even defeated by allied forces. China was not interested in seeing a divided Korea but China was a weak nation so they could not help them much. Now the Koreans n\may really feel it is time to give it a try to united as one nation. They know America is not very happy this unexpected development. But I wish Kim and Moon the best of luck to find a solution agreeable to both sides. I visited North Korea briefly from Dandong in the Chinese side in 1946. Since there was no Koran war and everything went smoothly. My cousin was the manager of Dang\dong Electric Power plant for about one year. It was long time ago. But I have been a frequent visitor in South Korea and I have many friends there. I also attended the 1987 Olympic games there.
2
Can't trust either one any further than I could throw them. Which in either case, wouldn't be too far. Unless I was very near a cliff. I'm betting on North Korea becoming the 51st state after the worst, least intellectually equipped negotiator in history works his special magic.
We already have a 51st state and most of us spend quite a lot of time there. It is the State of Confusion!
After South Korea developed into one of the leading economies in the world, this guy steals the show. Not to mention he murdered his brother and killed his uncle. I cannot believe what is going on in Korea. It appears Mr. Kim is one tough cookie. He gets my attention.
Trump is so inept that he has been political outmaneuvered by Kim. Also a reminder that North and South Korea's relationship is more important than the US - Korea relationship. Let the Korean's determine their future.
1
It's a strange world where the North Korean dictator is the "cooler head" than the U.S. president.
Yes, but unlike the Prresident, he has no checks and balances. Aren't you glad we have them?
We have checks and balances??? You've got to be kidding. With all four departments of the federal government in Republican hands we don't. We need to get back to Democratic majorities in all four. Ignoring the first part of the 2nd amendment (another criminal 5 to 4 decision written by Scalia). Also in another 5 to 4 decision absolutely converting the country from a democracy to a plutocracy. So you don't think China has done more for it's people over the last 30 tears than we have???
1
We are still in a precarious position, but I thank God for this beautiful step and hope that all willl continue to pray for a true and lasting peace in the world. Mr. Un reminds me in certain ways about our own president, Mr. Trump, an interesting mix of graciousness and sanguinity.
I despise the development of horrible weapons of death and hope that all nations will soon abandon this foolishness and stupidity. Let's please give our children a world better than the one we are living in.
Shame shame NYT.
Diplomacy? Was that before he set off a nuclear bomb or after he had his brother murdered.
Words matter, and what this guy is doing can’t be called diplomacy
1
Maybe Richardson and Trump call this 'diplomatic skill'.
I call it 'trolling for US foreign aide'.
But that is what we get with this administration, tiny economies like N Korea and weaklings like Russia, dominate the news headlines. They are just beggar clowns with nukes.
1
It is interesting to see the media, which previous offered us non-stop assurances that Kim Jong-un was a worthless idiot, now presenting him as a clever and effective young man.
I wonder if, someday in the future, the media will be talking that way about our own idiot.
1
Kim Jong-un may appear enigmatic, but he seems highly realistic and pragmatic. Trump called him "a smart cookie" in April 2017.
We should give Kim a chance and see whether he is different from his father, Kim Jong-il, who died in December 2011.
In October 2009, Kim's father expressed readiness to hold multilateral talks, depending on the outcome of the North Korea-US talks, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. It also quoted Kim Jong-il as saying about his father: "The denuclearisation of the peninsula was the behest of President Kim Il-sung."
Perhaps Kim Jong-un might want to fulfil his grandfather's death wish.
3
From the world threatening aggressive nuclear posture to now holding olive branch, the novice looking Kim Jong-un has shown his ability to engage the adversery in the game of diplomacy too if needed. The move, yet to be confirmed by the North, dictated by the pressure of the UN sanctions or taken as a part of calculated strategy, deserves cool consideration. The US and the world leadership should seize the opportunity to defuse the nuclear crisis by responding to the Kim's peace overture and help restore peace in the Korean peninsula and the East Asia.
1
Head of NK is under constant threat of death or worse by own relatives and wannabe heads of state. We are going to possibly attempt to understand his actions based on historical and familial events unique to NK. What is Trump's excuse for shredding the social safety net, pimping from the Oval Office, nepotism, deceit and general depravity? No one is going to dispatch Donald to an early grave if he shows humility, decency, compassion, allegiance to the principals of his nation's constitution. Two awful men.
4
Interesting but NYT should not put Kim on same plane as legit leaders by using language like “in office” and “policy” to describe him and his actions!!
8
I have being following kim Jong un and donald trump's ups and downs when it was started last year. it was really a very big problem comparing their age caps. here in samoa it is impolite for a young man to insult and old person so i started to hate kim and curse him of whatever haapened if usa evades his country. they reached the boiling point where the world worried and look for possible shelter to buy or build to survive. even myself and my family putting together chest freezer to duck and hide from nuclear blast.
today i was shocked when all these deadly dangerous weapons ive seen built by china, russia and north korea all came into a big lost economically to all those countries when kim said, comon man lets be together as one. oneness and togetherness aye, isnt that great???
Kim deserves to be a King and recognise his family as a royal family. yeah please give him credit and called them the royal family from asia.
President Donald Trump and King Kim Jong un, please as of today, i want you guys to be very close good friends.
God Bless you all
4
You have wisdom that isn't common in the west. Declare Kim a great King,free to travel the world; Disneyland,NBA tickets with Dennis Rodman,Broadway shows..and let the north and south quickly reconcile as Germany has.
Isn't it rather unusual to have a "king" from a Marxist country? Odd, but leaders should be respected for the inportance of their position, not because of whether we like them or not. We criticize the person, not the position. America chose NOT to have a king, but rather a "more perfect union" made up of elected representatives, thus allowing them to periodically bring their nation to greater perfection by hopefully electing if not better, than different leaders, so that presumption of power might not cloud their vision. To ensure that vision, we attempt to educate our people that they might chose wisely and we hope that citizens will continue to educate themselves that they might exercise their rights wisely.
Very difficult to be willing to be open to even the possibility of trusting Kim esp after learning he supplied Assad with chemical weapons to annihilate thousands of innocent Syrian children and civilians.
11
Donald Trump NEVER surprises.
Donald Trump makes a list of the dumbest possible things to do, and then chooses to do the dumbest thing on his list.
Kim is a "genius" compared to Trump.
15
Opportunities should be given to people if they desire to unite. If the culture of the people is the same ideology can be worked out in the governing documents.Foreign powers should stay out of such unions as was done in the unification of Germany.
5
Thank you for this fascinating reporting. It's an historic precedent to see these two leaders circling each other in a somewhat friendly manner. Of course, didn't Neville Chamberlain think Hitler was an amenable kind of guy...
7
One man supposedly trying to revive a moribund economy going tete-a-tete with one trying to stomp the living daylights out of a thriving one: The very definition of a lose/lose situation.
4
So, even Kim Jong-un has greater capacity and sagacity than Trump to adapt in service of his agenda??
Great. Just great. Trump: will leave America in a league of its own... below 19,999 others under the sea...
5
I will say give space for kim to change his government, maybe this is positive action after positive effect from south and malaysia to settle down tension between north and the US.
1
There are two people's opinion's I would really like to hear right now:
- Mr. Kim's, either personally or through an official North Korean spokesperson.
- President Jimmy Carter's.
3
Carter is a stable genius compared to Trump.
Dictator Kim needs to prove himself. Let's see some humanistic gestures bestowed on his own people before such grand gestures of world peace. Actions do speak louder than words.
2
Remember Otto Warmbier. Don’t forget that however many smiles or charming remarks this murderous thug makes, it won’t erase the pain that Mr. Warmbier suffered at the hands of this brutal regime.
2
Kim Jong-un is smarter than his counterpart. He knew that continuing his missile tests would be a suicide so he decided to stop but not before the acquisition of the necessary nuclear know-how. Now any US attack would reverse his image making him a victim of an overly aggressive America.
3
How does this guy get a free pass for being a cold-blooded murderer? Purge anyone lately? Due process?
“Kim Jong Un executed about 140 senior North Korean officials to solidify his power. Experts say the dictator is ruthless and keen to show he is a "great leader" A new report claims North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has ordered 340 people to be executed since he came to power in 2011.” Dec 29, 2016
6
No mystery. This is the man who executes by antiaircraft gun, flamethrower, decapitation: a young psychopath who had an ex girlfriend shot by firing squad, a vice premier shot for disrespect, an education minister executed for slouching at a meeting, the list goes on. Does anyone believe his overtures? Read Victor Cha's book, North Korea: the Impossible State. Excellent history of the dance of deceit.
5
One Korea. Disarmed. United on their own terms. Prosperous peaceful. Not one US weapon or soldier within a thousand miles.
Mr. Kim loses some weight which DJT can of course take credit for.
5
All of this brokered by the tooth fairy...
Endless hand wringing over North Korea's motivations, wile and guile, subterfuge etc. Why is it that some very basic and clear points the North has made are never taken seriously by supposedly informed NYTs writers? The North will denuclearize when it has guarantees for its national security. Does that sound odd, bizarre, outrageous? Of course not. Why does the U.S. insist on maintaining and revitalizing its vast nuclear program?
So, what would it take to insure North Korea's security. This is also perfectly clear in what the North has said. Normalization of relations with the U.S., the principle threat to the North's security. End the enmity, replace the Korean War armistice agreement with a peace agreement, exchange diplomats with full rights in both countries, and negotiate the need/rationale for stationing U.S. military forces on the peninsula.
At the very least, NYTs readers deserve to hear the North's message rather than to obfuscate Kim Kong Un's actions with meaningless terms like charm offensive, wedge building, disarming.
The core question is whether the U.S. can live with a peaceful Korean peninsula, reunited on whatever terms the Korean people determine for themselves, and jealous of their independence and sovereignty (no more or less than the American people) as the basis for charting their future. For whatever reason U.S. officials have not been able to do this for nearly 7 decades.
11
We've been down his road before...He has a game plan and it DOES NOT include peace breaking out in the region.
3
Kim Jong-un behaves like a man who bested every challenge the world could throw at him, overcame incredible internal and external obstacles during a long, slow path to develop and weaponize nuclear engineering, and now, in spite of America's threats, sanctions and blustering, has an atomic arsenal and delivery capability at his disposal.
Why should anyone be surprised that he's smiling when he now permits South Korea to begin negotiations?
And why would anyone credit Trump for allowing Kim his victory?
1
“even as his weapons tests have terrified the world”
Really? I am more entertained than terrified. Who knew that comedy could be so real life!
2
I'm often amazed at what people find entertaining. Realty TV. Family Guy. The possibility of nuclear annihilation.
Good fun, all!
I wonder how many of the people commenting here, or for the matter, in general, are aware that Kim had his schooling in Switzerland. So he has been abroad and lived among European people, may be in a very protected way, but he is used to seeing white people around and most likely has some understanding of how the white people think.
I don't think he is quite the village bumpkin many believe/assume him to be.
3
He (and his sister) certainly know how to play American media.
Kim Jong-un is never going to agree to completely "denuclearize" North Korea, and the United States is never going to agree to pull out of South Korea. But that doesn't mean there are not steps along the way that could reduce tensions. The first step for the U.S. has long been that North Korea should halt its testing program. In return, the U.S. could agree to modify its annual military exercises. I guess I don't see why South Korea or the U.S. would not want to explore what is possible. If no progress is achieved, the U.S. could always revert to childish name-calling and empty threats.
Well now isn't this interesting? I must say its a lot better than saber rattling. Let's take it easy at the moment, but at least a step in the right direction. Besides he definitely looks like the grown up in the room now.
Why do I have this sense that Kim Jong will somehow wind up in the Trump Administration? That shared, from the beginning of his time in power as a young, inexperienced leader who needed time and protection to mature it has appeared Kim Jong is from a new generation, pragmatic, and someone who is looking to the future. I believe this. I believed this with Rodman being invited to North Korea more than once. Dennis is not the answer, but he is a starting point for opening up more to the outside world. I mean, if you start with Dennis, you have to be open to opening up, while also protecting your your place at the top. I see the handiwork of women, two or more, also in play here. I see the hand of Rex Tillerson in back channel communications, a very good person to build bonds with because he is matter of fact and an honest broker who can be trusted with his word. This seems real to date, so we shall see what comes in the future. A unified Korea would grow into a powerful world player over time. It would be tremendous for the Korean people, who never deserved this split. They are ALL Koreans. Sometimes the stars align, let us allow those who lead to lead. Goodness knows there are enough problems in the world without sovereigns at odds. Kim Jong has an opportunity to write important history with his family, to create a Cult of the Personality for himself in his life that will live in history if he leads on peace for the peninsula and an end to the armistice.
1
Some dogs bark before they bite. Sometimes you can tell when, for a certain dog, there’s a lull in the barking that predicts a vicious bite. The lull is for prepping up it’s legs and honing it’s aim for the jugular.
Jung-Un is almost ready to launch. You can’t believe that things will change so suddenly out of nowhere, especially when there is an entire cottage industry ecosystem opposing the US and South Korea up in the North. I speculate that the reason behind his suddenly being nice could be to buy time for his bomb boys to finish up the final pieces of work, while avoiding suspicions from the US, South Korea, and perhaps a fatal preemptive strike.
2
like it or not this is a win for Trump. NK can't be trusted. The difference between this ploy and others by NK is that the sanctions are working. China being NK's biggest trade partner is under heavy scrutiny and have their own issues with Trump and Washington. The people of NK may very well be on the verge of starvation and freezing to death . Winters are not kind in that part of the world. NK has a shortage of oil and coal. Crops for food aren't easy to cultivate and grow. The current regime may be 6 to 12 months away from total collapse. Now is not the time to take the world's foot off their necks. We must continue to apply steady, firm pressure.
1
China will not allow a total collapse of NK. China is the wild card. They could unilaterally reverse the sanctions they've supported up to now. They could offer South Korea protection in exchange for dumping the US. China is right there, not 7000 miles away. All any of this would take is a trade war by Trump against China.
The army has given him the word. Change the rhetoric or face the consequences.
The real story will unfold as the underlying influence of Beijing charges to the forefront.
1
“the economy is his last challenge in quieting the people’s discontent and establishing his leadership and he knows that he cannot improve the economy without improving ties with South Korea and the United States." Prof. Yang Moo-jin, University of North Korean Studies, Seoul.
What should both encourage Kim Jong-un and discipline him is knowing the free availability of information on the post-war creation of the Japanese and other East Asian economies at the Drucker Claremont Institute and elsewhere.
For some time I had responsibility for MacArthur's Civil Communications Section (CCS) papers till I saw the Institute's able archivist take them over and establish a major collection of materials on CCS on the Web. North and South Korean scholars could well pay a joint visit!!
I knew the three extraordinary CCS engineers well and have provided advice on an exhibit at the Tokyo Science Museum.
Lies lies and more lies...both from Trump and Kim junk yuk.
3
I don't trust him Kim Jong-un. Has there been a response from our ambassador to South Korea?
15
You mean the ambassador we don’t have because Trump won’t appoint anyone
1
You do know that they never appointed an ambassador to South Korea, right? Trump never appointed one. lolol
1
The U.S. ambassador seat is empty in South Korea, and I wish Kim really means what he says.
2
"Ever since it was born, North Korea has never faithfully implemented any agreement,” said Yoo Dong-ryul, director of the Korea Institute for Liberal Democracy in Seoul. Yes, and think of all the others who never do.
4
It appears this has been North Korea's endgame all along. It has parlayed its saber-rattling, and Donald Trump's knee-jerk over the top, belligerent rhetoric in response, into legitimacy for its totalitarian regime.
Trump gets to pound his chest and declare 'Mission Accomplished.' What a tough guy!
Kim Jong-un gets to play Mr. Reasonable.
In the end, North Korea is welcomed into the company of nations, enjoys freer trade, while maintaining an iron grip on its citizens, growing its economy, and who knows, perhaps eventually dominating a unified Korea, or at least marginalizing South Korea.
Sound familiar? Does China (and Taiwan) ring a bell? Or Vietnam? Kim Jong-un may accomplish much of what Ho Chi Minh did; only rather than fighting bloody battles for decades, he may get there without firing a shot or sacrificing a single soldier.
We won't 'win' a damned thing. Authoritarianism will win. And authoritarianism, after all, is Trump's own thang.
14
So you prefer a maybe nuclear war there? the people of North Korea not the United States should determine what type of government they have. Are we so much better off here with our prisons so overcrowded, cities rotting away, endless global wars, good affordable health care only for young employed citizens and total political disunity?.
2
They are a long, long way from dominating anybody.
If Kim attacks South Korea, the US troops there or the US itself, North Korea will be obliterated. Kim knows that. All of us do. It won't happen. Let him have his nukes. They are useless.
1
No, his nukes aren't useless. We have always had the ability to "obliterate" North Korea. In fact, we came pretty close to doing exactly that during the Korean war. But now Kim has the ability to make us pay a much heavier price if we choose to exercise that power. He can promise South Korea he won't attack them because he can now reach the United States directly. He doesn't need South Korea as a hostage any more. He has shrewdly won this battle and can now afford to be magnanimous.
We have underestimated Kim. He may not be done taking advantage of that if he starts looking beyond his own neighborhood. We are worrying about South Korea and he is busy creating ties to several countries in the middle east. A nuclear armed Korea may well start constraining the United States freedom to act in a number of other areas.
4
Perhaps Kim sees in Trump what an unstable clown actually looks like on the world stage and doesn't want himself to be seen that away anymore.
5
Choe is smitten. He is crushing so bad on that dynamic young whipper snapper man of mystery Kim, Choe is breathless. It is pathetic and not reporting.
Does Choe have an editor?
7
In deed: The South Korean 'Choe', to whom you refer is Mr. Choe Sang Hun, a distinguished journalist, author, and scholar. He is the long time Seoul bureau chief for the Times and formerly with the AP. In 2000, he shared a Pulitzer prize for investigative journalism for reporting on the massacre at No Gun-ri during the Korean War. He was a fellow in Korean studies at the Walter H. Shorestein Asia-Pacific Research Center at Stanford University [2010-11]. Mr. Choe knows from whence he speaks, so whether we agree with his point-of-view or not it behooves us all to respectfully take note of his analysis and that of other knowledgeable, well-informed, and thoughtful commentators. Thank you.
Personally, I sense Kim Jong-UN's desire to emerge & hob-knob accordingly w/earnest, influential world leaders. I agree w/Mr. Koh's assessment. A host of middle-east countries are way more barbaric & conniving than Kim's capability. I'm impressed of his gentleman mannerisms he demonstrates to his wife Ri-sol-ju (unlike Don to Melania) & his woman diplomats. Perhaps giving him the benefit of the doubt will enable him to release political labor prisoners & see eye to eye with the rest of the world. I'm glad Dennis Rodman befriended him ; otherwise NK would still be a mystery.
5
What? Lucy and the football again? Anyone that paid the least attention over the last 70 years has seen this ploy before. How many years did the peace talks go on before they could settle the Korean War? How many promised did the North break in negotiations with most US Presidents? This approach by the North Koreans is such a well worn path, I thought even the Trump types would recognize it. I was wrong. Gullible.
1
North Korea is correct we have been trying for regime change there for years because we know what government other sovereign countries should have. Look what we did to Saddam Hussein and Omar Qaddafi when they obeyed us and disarmed - we attacked and destroyed them and their governments. Its the US of A that can't be trusted right?.
2
Why would Kim Jong-un give up the weapons he's worked so hard to develop?
He is now a de facto nuclear power. He says he wants assurances that he will not be threatened, but his country was never in danger of being invaded. Now he exudes confidence because he has the weapons. And he will not relinquish them. He may offer to let the world know when he will test his bombs and missiles in exchange for the lifting of some sanctions. But that is it. He's not walking back on the weapons program that his nation, with help from China and Russia, managed to put together. Even with harsher sanctions, his shadow partners will continue to assist. After all, the weapons will not be pointing to his old friends, but to us in the West, their common enemy.
4
North Korea already has their nukes. They are giving up nothing. Now it's time to work on the economy to bolster the regime.
2
No mystery at all. Despite the smiles, the DPRK is in a position of weakness, due to the UN sanctions, supported by the entire developed world. The US is but one component of those sanctions.
The DPRK is run by a feudal and cruel family, a rattlesnake regime. Not even smiles & lipstick diplomacy can mask that. The people in the countryside are in constant hunger, one of the prices paid by the DPRK's huge per capital military budget. That starvation would continue even without UN Sanctions.
All this geo-political stuff has to be balanced by the need of the RoK and the DPRK to talk to each other to keep tensions down. The leaders of the RoK are no dummies, they know exactly what kind of regime they are faced off against.
Families are still separated, and I'm willing to bet more than a doughnut that ordinary folks would love to see a peaceful re-unification.
But that will never happen until the feudal dynasty in the North collapses. That guy with the funny haircut and his generals with their weirdo hats will implode one day, even if the timing is unpredictable. Look at how fast the Berlin Wall came down.
4
All this is quite sensible given North Korea's role in China's plans to dominate the political economies throughout the region. South Korea in this sense is the jewel in the crown, being by far the world's most competitive economy ( at least up to about two years ago when I last looked at this in detail ). China needs to displace the US as its preeminent partner, and to do this they've enlisted the twin threats of conventional and nuclear annihilation.
Trump's borderline insane rhetoric about war ( a la the Nixon "Madman" strategy ) with North Korea actually serves the purposes of the DPRK, not of the USA. Any such conflict will devastate South Korea if not destroy it entirely, making direct negotiation between it and the DPRK more desirable. Cue the Olympic cooperation, and subsequent direct talks.
I think the author is right to point out the Pyrrhic nature of US negotiations, since any agreement with DPRK will only encourage it to use its potential or actual nuclear capabilities as blackmail, while disengagement leaves South Korea as the only actor to work with the North. Either way, the strength and influence of the US will be lessened, and China's will grow.
1
We’ve been down this road before. The North Korean regime has play fast and loose with three prior presidencies.
We are smart to be wary. As Zen master says, will see.
6
" Mr. Kim said he would give up his nuclear weapons only when he felt no more military threats from outside. "
That means when the US leaves. This is simply a charm campaign to win over the ROK populace and drive even more wedges between them and the US.
His offer of disarmament would be wonderful to believe, but I don't.
2
Anyone who has been to the DMZ knows how desperately South Korea wants to reconcile with North Korea. There is actually a train station in the DMZ on the South Korea side that has a train -- sitting on the tracks with its motor running -- ready to travel to Pyeongyang immediately upon reconciliation of the two countries. The train station looks just like a real train station, and you can buy a ticket (like I did) for the Pyeongyang train.
This being said, it seems to me that despite South Korea's efforts, and despite whatever Kim Jong-un may be saying, the likelihood of reconciliation seems far-fetched for two reasons. First, China wants to keep South Korea in check, and the best way to do that is to make sure it doesn't get too cozy with North Korea; a destabilized Korean Peninsula (up to a point) works in China's favor. Second, it is hard to imagine that North Korea would ever permit international inspectors to enter its country to verify that North Korea has dismantled its nuclear weapons. After all, the government of North Korea is all about secrecy and totalitarian control, whereas a nuclear treaty would necessitate openness and the surrender of control.
1
It is striking how the commenters so far unanimously demonize the leader of North Korea as a thug who cannot be trusted. Completely ignored is the history between the U.S. and North Korea, which if honestly viewed reveals that they have good reason not to trust us.
There was never a peace treaty after the fighting stopped in the Korean war, only an armistice. To this day, we have not recognized North Korea as a legitimate state. Meanwhile, we keep thousands of our own troops in South Korea and regularly hold threatening military exercises right across the border from North Korea. Why do we do this? North Korea is a relatively small, poor country that is no match for us militarily. Perhaps we should consider how our position in South Korea allows us to play with great-power politics, especially where China and Russia are concerned.
3
The Korean War started when the North invaded the South in 1950. They could do it again were our troops not there affirming our determination to protect the South.
1
Actually, things were not that cut and dried. Consider that the South Korean ruler immediately after WW II, Syngman Rhee, was personally flown to South Korea on Gen. Douglas MacArthur's personal plane. The U.S. was directly involved in the partitioning of the Korean peninsula and the establishment of an anti-communist regime in the South--sort of like what we did in Vietnam in the mid-1950's. This created a situation of mutual hostility which led to constant "border incidents" back and forth. One of those border incidents was used to start a war. Blaming it all on the North is, basically, to accept the propaganda of the time.
Reply to R.A.: "Border incidents?" The North invaded the South, perhaps emboldened by a careless remark by Secretary of State Dean Acheson to the effect that the U.S. didn't consider South Korea within its sphere of interest. At first, the U.S. thought the South could repel the invasion. When it couldn't the U.S. got the U.N. involved to protect the South. After WWII, the U.S. had no way to prevent the Soviets from insuring that the North was in the communist camp. The history of the Korean situation and the war is very complex, but the North invaded the South, period. There's no way to sugarcoat that.
1
Could it be that the shift in Kim's position had to do with being jawboned by Trump? I didn't vote for Trump, but this story seems oddly silent on that angle. Wonder why people are growing tired of "media" spin? Here's a case in point.
2
Wake up! We are getting played. But, DT thinks his hard ball approach worked. North Korea is playing to his ego. It will continue to develop its nuclear ability no matter what they say. They cheated before and it continues.
'With the United Nations banning major North Korean exports, including coal, fish and textiles, its exports to China, its sole major trading partner, have plummeted 60 percent to 80 percent in recent months, a potentially crippling blow to Mr. Kim’s ability to revive his country’s economy and keep his elites happy with bribes.'
The pressure on Kim must be sustained, notwithstanding any proffered olive leaf.
When dealing with a full blown psychopath, most of us look desperately for even a glimmer of humanity. When it appears, we seize at it pathetically. We are being played once again. Beware! Been there, done that. All it does it to give the psychopath temporary relief while he plans his next malevolent step.
Force must be met with force. The only way to stop a psychopath is to kill him.
2
Kim has well and truly punked and outplayed the feckless Trump. Kim keeps his nuclear weapons as a guarantee that Trump can't touch him. Next will be economic package with South Korea. Rocket Man had a strategy. Trump? Not so much.
3
God forbid the NYTimes or the Left contemplate the notion that Trump's tough stance towards North Korea may very well have led to Kim's abrupt change in tactics.
20
And, of course, if this turns out badly Trump supporters will happily lay the blame at Trumo's feet. Yep.
2
I may loathe this President, but am smart enough to stay open to the possibility that you may be right.
Time will tell.
1
I’m neither the NYTimes nor the Left and I’ve contemplated your suggestion. Nope, that would not be the reason. I think you’re confusing strength with a lack of diplomatic skill, and power with schoolyard bullying.
You are underestimating, and dangerously so, Kim Jong-un. And giving too much weight to the posturing of Trump.
3
Jong-Un's sister might be the real hero in this. Her diplomatic mission: to bask in the glory of the background. She's a welcome character to me and you can see her, center-right, looking smug in the photograph that accompanies the article. What happened between her and Pence, sitting a few rows down at the Olympic Games, we may never know. Her brother seems to be onto something new.
6
I think she played a vital role in this!
The only thing that changed was introduction of her into the situation.
Kim Jong-un is playing nice because Trump is so unpredictable.
Trump's "crazy man" strategy seems to be working, so give credit where it's due.
19
Actions speak louder than words. I'll give Trump's sanctions more credit than his crazy talk. Like us, the North Koreans probably roll their eyes when he talks and tweets.
2
You don't know how many democrats have expressed dismay on Kim Jung Un. It was a big letdown for them as far as to stick up to President Trump.
1
S.C., revisit this comment in a year. Remind us then that you thought this was real. Kim wants to avoid being a target for a distraction-war should indictments against Trump be issued. His charm campaign also serves to drive a wedge deeper between the South Korean people and the US government and our military stationed there.
1
@s.c:
Your comment is nonsensical. Please elaborate and clarify.
2
The answer is simple. Nobody was ever afraid of Obama. Trump, with his erratic and unpredictable moves, has Mr. Kim very scared he might become radiated toast.
16
Except that the rest of us also would be “radiated toast” as well. And a nuclear crisis doesn’t necessarily start deliberately—they can (and have) started by accident and misunderstanding. Trump is a chaos agent. He hasn’t solved anything. NK will never disarm.
1
@Jon Galt:
Yes, of course -- just what the world needs: a, wildly unpredictable, erratic world leader with assess to the nuclear launch codes, able to unleash the world's largest nuclear arsenal and consequently a nuclear winter -- essentially Armageddon.
A much wiser scenario is to have a mature, stable, intellectually astute President who is capable of both nuanced and strategic thinking, as well as possessed of emotional stability, ergo no subject to emotional overreactions.
1
Don’t get too excited about anything that comes out of his mouth.
We should know better based upon his recent hysterical antics and with our lunatic in chief that actions speak much louder than words.
12
I rather think this article's ton is more mysterious in light of North Korea's consecutive deceit to the world.
5
A delusional, narcissistic, pathological liar. The same can be said for both Kim Jong-Un and DJ Trump.
22
We should be wary of a guy who poisoned his own brother and shot his uncle.
42
@Jacquie:
That's a bit of an understatement.
(Having killed his uncle using an anti-aircraft gun battery ought to br chilling evidence of psychopathy, not a trait desirable in any world leader . . .)
News flash! The 34 year-old thug with the blood of millions on his hands knows how to act like a human being when circumstances demand!
Quick! Let us in the West fall all over ourselves with unbridled enthusiasm!
Pathetic.
27
We're all familiar with Russian roulette.
Welcome to North Korean roulette.
Enjoy.
25
He is trying to take advantage of the feelings of betrayal by Trump that South Korea must obviously feel. He is certainly smarter than his dotard counterpart in Mar-A-Lago.
98
This is spot on. Its a win for NK, SK, and China first of all. Hopefully it ends up being a win for us too but that's unclear. I bet China is excited by the possibility of widening the rift between the US and SK and surely pushed/advised Kim in this. If I was China I would be delighted. It seems obvious to me that NK has always been a proxy for China to test out hard diplomacy. Maybe I'm just imagining that but NK always seems too good to be true for China, and how else would NK make such wild technological advances in such a short time without having significant assistance?
No he's not. That's why he is slowly coming to his senses.
If I was Kim Jong-un and thinking logically -- a tall order for him I admit -- I’d be saying to myself why should I bother to attack anybody when the U.S. is busy these days destroying itself politically and socially.
All I have to do is stick around for a few more months or years until Trump finishes the job; and then do anything in Asia or with Assad I want to do.
68
I spent some time in South Korea and got an understanding of some respectful gestures not practiced in the US. When another person toasts or hands you something, each show a sign of respect by touching their the hand or arm that is toasting or serving you.
Notice the gentleman to the right of Mr. Kim initially was prepared to touch his arm but pulled back when Mr. Kim kept his arm by his side. However, Mr. Kim's wife toasted and touched her hand when she toasted a SK Official.
11
It looks to me like Mr. Kim's wife was holding her glass with two hands.
Anyway, with all the blood that Kim Jong Un has on HIS hands, he likely realizes no one will want to touch him unnecessarily.
Kim Jong-un has no intention of giving up his nukes and missiles. Ever. He is buying time and, he hopes, sympathy.
We must insist on on-site verifiable inspections of their at least initiating destruction of their most advanced weapons before relaxing any of the sanctions, and continued progress in their denuclearization to obtain additional sanction relief. Anything else is playing into his plans for unrestrained development of that weaponry.
32
how about we worry about our own nukes and our own lunatic with access to the button? Just a thought.
2
Why? Because we have more bombs? Do you really think Kim would ever actually send missiles to the USA with out us taken the first shot? I don't. I think the last thing they want is an actual war. That would be the end of them, and I don't think they are that stupid. They want to continue to oppress their own people in peace. Just like China. I am not saying that is good for the N. Koreans, but it also isn't our country. Unless they actually try to expand their borders I am inclined to leave them alone. We don't invade Myanmar when they are killing off and marginalizing the Rohingya. They don't even have nukes. We are not the world police and should stop any pretense that we should be.
1
I predict that when 'Mr Kim Comes to Washington' to meet with Donald, our so-called leader will be accompanied by Dennis Rodman. It will be a prime time televised event and the ratings will be..well, you know.
45
I say it's smart to be wary of a guy who personally oversaw the execution of his own uncle via .50 caliber anti-aircraft gun.
62
Has this insular and mischievous regime really turned over a new leaf?
12
No. It has happened over and over, this to and fro, always -always! - ending in deceit. Read Victor Cha's record on North Korea: North Korea, the Impossible State. It is not new.
@ The Buddy:
Nope. it's about as unlikely as sunbathing in the nude at the south pole in July. (Good luck with that.)
If Kim Jong-Un can just convince the South Koreans that he's a wonderfully new person -- new and improved, yay! -- then the South Koreans can ask the U.S. forces to leave the peninsula,.....and then a few months later he can "liberate" South Korea with his one-million strong army!
20
He is lying.
Which part of that sentence do you not understand?
20