Trump Steps Over The Line
President Trump took historic steps into North Korean territory alongside Kim Jong Un and later announced talks are back on.
President Trump took historic steps into North Korean territory alongside Kim Jong Un and later announced talks are back on.
After a year and a half without any major North Korean missile launches, Kim Jong Un’s regime has now fired three missiles with over-the-horizon range in the space of a week. These newest tests came right before the U.S. government’s disclosure that it has taken the unprecedented step of seizing a North Korean ship over sanctions violations for the first time ever, and has been holding the ship for more than a month now, something that is almost certain to prompt a response from North Korea, if Pyongyang hasn’t started to do so already.
It’s good that Trump finally realized that Pyongyang isn’t ready to give up its nukes, but it’s ridiculous it’s taken this long for him to see that.
After five months of clumsy diplomacy, North Korea is using its position in the driver’s seat to move away from U.S. engagement.
Canceling exercises could help negotiations with the North moving forward, but also could hurt the readiness of US and South Korean forces.
North and South Korea’s new declaration hints at acceptance of North Korea as a nuclear power and might reduce the U.S. role in future negotiations.
Trump set unrealistic expectations for the summit to begin with, but pulling out first is a grave diplomatic and strategic miscalculation.
The regime in Pyongyang has already canceled a meeting with South Korean officials over the issue and appears to be look for more concessions.
Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae In both made grand gestures and rare public pronouncements, promising to officially end the Korean War and more.
There is no way North Korea is giving up its nuclear arsenal, but a deal could be had if the White House gets realistic.