Cozy Up to U.S., Vietnam Tells North Korea. Look What It Did for Us.

It was sad that the reporter can't find any Vietnamese from the South and asked for their perspectives. Historically, on all films and documentary about Vietnam, the voices of the South Vietnamese and of the people of the former Republic of Vietnam has been dismissed all together.

I have one question: How can there truly be peace on the Korean peninsula when North Korea operates prison camps that are reportedly similar to and just as bad as Adolf Hitler’s Nazi concentration camps? By the way, there are also many small children living in and starving in those prison camps in North Korea too.

I still think that all this is hyperbole. Mr Kim already has gotten more bang for his measly bucks than is being reported. Sanctions? I am sure the Chinese gave up on those after the first summit. Remember, the North Koreans have been bilking the media and the west for all its worth for decades. Like the Pakistanis and Afghanistan, these people are adept at parting fools from their money.

I'm excited! I think this will be a raging success and likely pave the way for peace on the peninsula. Why am I so optimistic? Because the fake news peddlers are not covering it - they must know it will be another Trump success so they celebrate it and let us know it was a success because the petulant little beggars ignore it.

Vietnam reunified first, then pursued rapprochement with the US and economic engagement with the world. It was confident it could maintain its system because economic development add to its legitimacy based on nationalism, and there was no challenger to its position as the government of the Vietnamese people. As the smaller half of a divided country, North Korea is in a fundamentally different position. It can play at the edges with economic reforms, but deep reforms reduce the differences between the economic systems in North and South and undercut its legitimacy. Unfortunately, Pyongyang's legitimacy became based on the argument that it was defending the Korean people from western capitalism and imperialism, and its nuclear program became its only serious bargaining chip. Kim JU inherited this, and probably would love to change it, but he is in a very tricky position and probably unable to move very far without long-term harm to his regime's very existence. Let's hope for the best, but don't expect too much.

The author provides a solid reintroduction to Vietnam. North Korea, though needs more clarity. We're reminded that China had presured generations of Kim dictators to stop testing nuclear weapons. Indeed the main test site closed but not to suport Kim Trump. A huge accident caused by a fission test nearly destroyed and contaminated the site. Those were secondary motivators: that nuclear bomb boo-boo sent a plume of radioactive material over Chinese territory. Closure was spun to America as a "good faith" gesture, yet Kim was summoned for an rare second meeting in China and likely told to close that facility since one more radiation leak would precipitate an immediate Chinese occupation. Given the abject suffering the North Korean people have endured over 3 generations of dictators they would likely welcome China with open arms, while the international community would have no credible moral standing to criticize. Weapon of mass destruction, assassination on foreign soil with nerve agents and nuclear waste drifting over a shared, allied border: Trump might even support it. American diplomacy for generations had yielded naught. Another lesson to embrace is that capitalism does not bring, cause, or even improve the freedom of the people. It brings more wealth to more citizens more evenly (initially). But it has not brought political, religious, or moral freedom, even safe tourism worldwide. Democracy comes in many flavors and it's not "invadable" or exportable.

I was impressed by the friendliness and complete lack of hostility of N+S Vietnamese during my recent travel. They work hard for the successes of the many small businesses. I was NOT impressed by the ugly by-products of US capitalism, such as mile-ling fences announcing luxury beach resorts, preventing Vietnamese from accessing their OWN beaches. I was NOT impressed by the foul air of millions of cheap Chinese motorbikes and gross pollution. Koreans better be careful of the ups + downs of deals with the superpowers.

Given that their antipathy to China, this is not exactly an unbiased advice. Its self-contradictory too: "Cozying up to the US" worked for them because the US was the top export destination; yet it is China that is their top destination now. North Korea should cozy up to China according to that logic. Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, or North Korea is not in a bind because they can't export to the US. It is because the sanctions and meddling by the US for decades. Cozying up to the US works not because of the access to its market, but because that will remove the "adversarial relation", as North Koreans put it, and therefore let them out of the US bullying and become free to pursue their economic agenda. Finally, it's sad to see Vietnamese reverting to the old colonial mentality after valiantly fighting off the French, Japanese and then Americans. I guess it didn't occur to Cuong that his nationalist predecessors could've cozied up to the colonial masters and become prosperous second class citizens long time ago, avoiding losing 3 million people just in the fight against Americans.

'“The success of the Vietnamese economy is due to its decision to normalize relations with the United States in 1995,” said Maj. Gen. Le Van Cuong, .... ' Vietnam was lucky - it did not have nuclear arms to give up. NK has nuclear arms and it can never give up those toys just because Trump says he has fallen in love with Kim. They might, if and only if, the US departs the Korean peninsula, lock, stock and barrel.

North Korea would be idiotic to give up their nukes. That’s the blaringly obvious lesson from US warmongering over the last few decades. And to hold Vietnam up as a lesson case is demeaning and absurd. Vietnam and Cambodia are still today dealing with large numbers of unexplored ordnance that the US dropped or buried during those horrific conflicts. There are museums to unexploded ordnance in these countries. I am happy that Vietnam now has decent relations with the US but it surprises me to no end that Vietnamese have been able in some manner to move on from the horrors of US and French-imposed massive scale violence.

Meh. We’re all being played for ratings and media coverage. Despots who travel in bullet-proof trains, or fill their “schedules” watching FOX News and playing golf with robotic stooges don’t aspire to reform for their peoples. At best, their smoke-and-mirrors meetings will prolong detente.

"HANOI, Vietnam — A country once at war with the United States cozies up to its former enemy?" No war was ever declared and the U.S. aggression was based on a lie surrounding the Gulf of Tonkin incident. In 2005, an internal National Security Agency historical study was declassified; it concluded that Maddox had engaged the North Vietnamese Navy on August 2, but that there were no North Vietnamese naval vessels present during the incident of August 4. The report stated, regarding the first incident on August 2.

And we still hear the old vietnam war "hawks" blubber about how the U.S. war with Vietnam was justified. More bomb tonnage dropped on people of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia than all tons dropped by U.S. in WWII. Tons of carcinogenic chemicals that are still killing viewnamese AND former american soldiers. MILLIONS of men, women, and children dead. Pathetic. Some people just cannot ever admit when they were wrong...

The horrible irony of NVN “cozying up” to the same culture and society that dropped napalm on their children, and killed more than a million of them in a colonial war is lost on NK, who just see the golden fatted calf dangled in front of them. In the mid-21st century, these countries will just be colonies of the international corporations based in ? UXA? China? Who knows?

Interesting article. The role of China in the region is often oversimplified. As are our relations with North Korea and South Korea. We don't know where to go or where we will end up. We have to make small moves and then, as Donald Trump always says, "see what happens".

We shouldn’t forget that the ‘peace accords’ ended with Communist Vietnamese regulars rolling tanks through Saigon. South Korea, take note.

Sure, Vietnam's made out okay But this ain't our grandfathers' USA.

Yes…look what it did. Millions of Vietnamese dead, agent orange still contaminating the jungles and rice plains, lurking bombs, deadly munitions under the foliage still killing and maiming thousands of men, women and children every year. Yes, it is wonderful, isn't it… Cosy up, don't challenge the US dollar as a medium of exchange to buy and sell resources. Don't even think about trying to set up a competing currency, except for small dealings and local exchanges. Cosy up and we'll "help" you run your country - but be sure to take out loans through the IMF and global banking cartels, and we'll leave you alone. For now. Oh. And don't, under any circumstances, try and build a nuclear weapon. Right. And never question our authority. We do, after all, know what's best for you.

Stop speculating as to what Vietnam said to DPRK. What arrogance.

Periodically I read our US Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. And, the Magna Carta, too. I am reminded and feel fortunate to win the lottery of life and was born in the USA. I welcome others who weren't so fortunate, but who wish to adapt, to adopt, and to add their contributions to our culture. Play by our rules in our homeland; I'm glad you want to join us to improve our culture. We or our ancestors were once immigrants, too. This article reminds me that our open culture UNDER LAW .... laws written, approved, and enforced with an honorable justice system "by and for the people" .... in other words widespread participation and agreement (and not by a narrow, totalitarian dictatorship) ultimately works more effectively and efficiently. Any culture on earth may modify itself and increase and improve its citizen's freedom and independence. But it is very, very hard work to overcome previous dysfunctional behaviors. My best wishes and good luck to Vietnam and the people of North Korea, I hope you may work towards a better culture for yourselves and your future generations. As a Vietnam era vet, I am sad that it took so many casualties for that beautiful land and fine people to grow but am gratified that it appears they are working in the direction of freedom and of self-confidence. Ultimately, freedom and dignity triumphs and repression and ignorance loses.

The challenge for North Korea is that it is a military state structured entirely around paranoia, the most common symptom of which is the sense that everyone is out get you. The astonishing part is that nobody is! And they unconsciously (the leaders were born this way from evolution) prioritize their irrational fears over the well-being of the people and country. Transitioning from the current structure is no easy task due to all the inherent baggage. The best action we could take is to make them feel that nobody is out to get them buy removing our nukes from the Korean peninsula, troops from the border and officially ending the war with the South. Radical? Maybe, but you just have to understand why they think the way they do. The fear-driven culture must be addressed head-on.

Careful of flattery. Vietnamese economy really only accelerated due to Chinese investments in the last ~5 years. Me thinks Vietnamese comments are more a warning of Chinese influences / ambitions in these negotiations.

Last “summit” it was a movie made for Kim to try and seduce him to capitolism’s lures, now it’s North Vietnam which is supposed to teach him the virtues of changing and opening up your country. Kim was schooled in Switzerland. He surely knows all bout the lures of tourism and money. But he was also schooled in dictatorship. He will not fall prey to Trump’s propaganda efforts. The real worry is that Kim will run rings around Trump and seduce him into giving away the store. Trump is a baby when it comes to international relations and economics. TRUMP IS MORE DANGEROUS TO US THAN Kim.

This article reeks of the typical discourse of great power rivalry. There is a need to visualise great power relations in a more pacifist manner. Improvement of the liberal world order through strengthening of ties between the superpowers and building liberal intl economic order through reforms of World bank,IMF,UN etc will ensure good global growth and sustained peace. Its time the USA sees China not as an adversary but as a partner in the global growth story this is the only way poverty can be fought.

North Korea is much closer to China, and has been much dependant on trade and aid on China. Even after Mr. Trump's first meeting, the North Korean leader has had several meetings with the Chinese leader. No one knows what those discussions were about. It is hard to make a comparison in thinking between North Korea and Vietnam. After the war, and after the American forces left Vietnam, the country has continued to have a relationship with the US in trade and foreign policy. North Korea has not had any form of relationship with the US. Instead, suspect of each other. While the US is anxious to have NK denuclearize, it is difficult to imagine why NK would want to do so. For over fifty years, the KIm family has ruled the country, with an iron fist, holding onto the nuclear plants, often threatening the neighbors and the US. Will NK be prepared to give this up? While the US is going alone to convince NK, it would have been preferable, if the US had China, Russia, South Korea and Japan at the table to address the concerns. A group effort would have a stronger message to North Korea. Until then, NK will continue to pose a threat to peace and stability in the region, and elsewhere.

having literally just landed from my fifth visit, Vietnam is one of my favorite destinations. the people there are kind, diligent, and resilient. i hope as its society continues to progress that it shall always sustain and nurture these qualities as its economy improves and living standards rise.

So Vietnam is bragging on what the US did to them ? To all the dead Vietnamese innocent ? Politicians . Sad “believe me”!( alla DJT)

There is no way that a leader who rides a bullet proof train will permit the level of freedom you need to generate a capitalists revolution in North Korea. I am not that well versed in how Vietnam's communism works, but, having traveled through the country last year, I can testify to sitting in hotels observing businessmen from all over the world, dressed in Armani suits, doing a lot of business---the irony of course, is sitting in bar watching capitalism on roids ---all happening under a communists flag---

Of all people to send to Vietnam to what, make things, honorable? Donald Trump? I have a very hard time trying to even come close to any justification of our taxpayer dollars going to Donald Trump’s follies. North Korea? Vietnam? He really knows how to pull the wool over the eyes of his supporters. Too bad we have to pay for it. As the wife of a Vietnam veteran, I see no similarities whatsoever, between my husband, these decades later, now as a senior, and Donald Trump. Maybe that they both have a lot of candles on their birthday cakes, but certainly no honorable assets or characteristics on the side from Donald Trump. And certainly no similarities in service to their country connected to Vietnam. Let us not confuse real honor with the phony stance created for and by Donald Trump for himself in his narcissism. Out of all the places in the world we could have paid for to send Trump, and for what with KimJong-un, it breaks my heart and saddens me to no limit to see Trump strutting in Vietnam.

This assumes that N Korean leaders would want to open up their society - do tyrants ? with Trump wanting to build a wall, fearing immigrants, foreign competition and the press, what model of an open society are we offering ? on the other hand, I suppose Kim sees a like-minded spirit in Trump ...

North Korea doesn't Viet Nam's long and ongoing history of animosity towards China and, as the article points out, it's government is a family-run dictatorship, whose goals are very different than those of a socialist or democratic state. It is the latter trait that interferes with Korea's willingness to accept even Chinese advice. Likewise, trump's tenuous legitimacy, unpredictability, dishonesty and egotism make him an unreliable negotiator. Viet Nam's attempts to broker a meaningful friendship with the US are hopeless.

I know the US has made many mistakes in its foreign policy over the years, but America can be proud of its ability to move on from past conflicts and embrace countries as they are today and not as they were. Contrast US relations today with former enemies Germany, Japan and Vietnam and relations between countries in the Middle East or the Balkan nations where they are still embittered over events that happened centuries ago and things never, ever change.

With all the failures of the US in the near and far east one would think Trump's agenda has nothing to lose.

After years of war and destruction by the US and winning the war could they start to recover.

If Trump can really convince N Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions and this is verifiable he will have earned international acclaim. And probably four more years. As a persistent Trump critic this is very difficult to acknowledge. But give the devil his due.

“A country once at war with the United States” ? Vietnam did not attack the US. We were the aggressors, dropping chemical weapons so destructive that the people of Vietnam are still seeing the after effects. We killed millions of men, women and children for what purpose? Over 50 thousand US soldiers, some volunteer, some drafted died for what purpose? Was it all to establish capitalism to profit from under the guise of stopping communism?

We are looking at the two most unreliably leaders in the world saying to the world, rely on us.

A popular advice and inspirational book had the title, "Why Bad Things Happen to Good People". Applying a variation of this title to this Hanoi Conference the question becomes, "Can Good Things Happen From Bad People?"

And in preparation of this summit with North Korea, Trump has been conferring with Vladimir Putin for instructions on how to proceed. And the Russian Minister is even coincidentally in Viet Nam at the same time. Trump dismisses his own Intelligence Agencies evidence of North Korea's long range missiles, "I don't care, I believe Putin." Oh, please ... when will we get the full report on the kompromat Putin is holding over Trump.

A meeting of like minds - one a dictator, the other a wannabe. Both with trails of misdeeds. The backdrop is nuclear arms, and the very real threat of catastrophe. And yet there is talk of a Peace Prize. Such is the reality-tv-turned-real world we live in.

Living in Vietnam, I feel compelled to unequivocally state, “No Comment”.

“It just proves that all dictatorships fear any forms of satire, even something as trivial as an impersonator” Lee Howard Ho Wun, an Australian impersonator of Mr. Kim, wrote in a Facebook post. Hail to the Fake-Hair-In-Chief and the Art of the Fake Deal as the American Liar and the North Korean Liar agree to each other's lies.

It is opportunity for N Korea to open up its economy with major reforms. It could do well as an outsourcing destination with low labor cost and patchy safety and environmental regulations. With the removal of sanctions foreign investment could pour in.