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N Korea casts doubt on Trump summit if U.S. insists on unilateral denuclearisation

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By Christine Kim and Josh Smith

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I advise Kim never to forget or forgive what the USA and Japan did to Korea

how they never made reparations, deny many evils they committed

cloak their despicable actions with pretend words like comfort women

and all the hundred of treaties they have broken and backstabbed everyone

do not give up all of your nukes or other weapons or you too will be betrayed

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

No surprise as it is not difficult to predict the results of a meeting between a buffoon and a boaster... Unfortunately...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The unilateral denuclearization of North Korea has been a goal of American, Japanese, and South Korean diplomacy for at least three decades. Pretending that this is a surprise to him is the North Korean dictator's way of giving the world the middle finger.

Not sure what can be done about North Korea, except more of the same, even though it may not achieve denuclearization. Especially after watching Kadafi give up his nuclear materials, and what then happened to him, why would Kim want to give up his nuclear materials?

The trouble with implementing economic blockades of dictatorships is that it is the citizenry who suffer the most from the blockades. Dictators are able to use their power to keep living in luxury, no matter how many citizens die from hunger and lack of medical care. At least a physically weak North Korea is unlikely to achieve a successful invasion of South Korea, and if he unilaterally starts a war, Kim can be assured of dying like Kadafi did - embarrassed and disgraced.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

You didn't expect these ill-mannered moronic bullies to achieve anything, did ya? Kim and Spanky Don are both obnoxious and narcisstic as they are stupid. Neither one are really trying. Reagan and Gorbachev this ain't.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Christopher Glen: "Abe will be happy. A once more belligerent North Korea means the scandals will go away"

That, and he can continue his "other nation isolation tour" and talk about how much NK is a threat, demand Constitutional change, etc.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Abe will be happy. A once more belligerent North Korea means the scandals will go away

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Ahem. Looks like I am right.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

N Korea casts doubt on Trump summit if U.S. insists on unilateral denuclearisation

Well that’s the end of that. There is no point in meeting if it’s not about Kim giving up his nukes.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

The last thing the US wants is peace in the Korean peninsula. They would lose an excuse for their military presence there.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Not according to this, lostrune2.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/960350/North-Korea-US-change-military-drill-North-Korean-threat-summit-withdrawal-south-korea

Well, it was going to include the B-52s

So following their train of thought

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Not according to this, lostrune2.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/960350/North-Korea-US-change-military-drill-North-Korean-threat-summit-withdrawal-south-korea

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So North Korea is backing out because Bolton wants to turn them into like Libya?

But they didn't say anything against the annual military exercises during the summit negotiations

Albeit this year's exercise includes nuclear-capable B-52 bombers

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Compared to Obama, Bush and Clinton, he's succeeding wildly.

How? Where's the wall? And no arrest of President Hillary.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

"Trump is failing"

Compared to Obama, Bush and Clinton, he's succeeding wildly.

Oh my...

 Trump is already winning on North Korea

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T862OcmtlFs

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Liberals are so filled with outrage

Trump is failing. Also, he allowed ZTE technology to go to NK and Iran without punishment.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

NK is only dismantling nuclear test sites because they don't need to do tests anymore. The US and NK seem to be on completely different wavelengths about what is negotiable and what isn't. The best possible outcome for the world may just be Trump and Kim smearing VX gas on each other after dinner in Singapore.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

clamenzaToday  10:53 am JST

Oh look at the happiness!

The usual suspects already declaring victory!

Nobody in this thread has declared victory. Please do not make up nonsense.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

zichi:

North Korea wants these talks to drag on for years even decades while Trump wants and needs a full resolution during his first term of office.

Would you rather a mutually satisfactory agreement be reached after 2020 or 2024?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Liberals are so filled with outrage that they see the opportunity for failed peace talks as a celebratory thing.

I don't see anyone celebrating here. Are you reading comments on a different site or something?

So what carrots are in store to keep these talks alive and stop Kim pulling out?

From the comments of Trump supporters, it would appear there is no carrot, only a stick... er rather complete and utter decimation of their with nary a tear shed by the destroyers.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Citing first vice minister of foreign affairs Kim Kye Gwan, KCNA also said the fate of the U.S.-North Korea summit, as well as bilateral relations, "would be clear" if Washington spoke of a "Libya-style" denuclearisation for the North.

Reminds me of an old Star Trek quote

Khan Noonien Singh: You are an excellent tactician, Captain. You let your second-in-command attack while you sit and watch for weakness. 

Captain James T. Kirk: You have a tendency to express ideas in military terms, Mr. Khan.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Like the Iranians, it’s plain stupid to deal with the North Koreans. They aren’t charter members of the Axis of Evil for nothing. At least Trump tricked Little Kim into releasing the three American hostages. I get the impression that Kim tried to play the bait and switch game to get aid to take the pressure off the NK economy but he misplayed his hand.

The Trump clowns hilarious that their leader has accomplished something and simultaneously sucking their thumbs for a theory that the opponent misplayed his hand :)

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Only happy about being right that the likes of you were wrong with your premature victory dance ]

I said from day 1 nothing is certain, and it still isn't. The June 12 summit is still on, much to your chagrin.

Seriously, this is incredible. Liberals are so filled with outrage that they see the opportunity for failed peace talks as a celebratory thing.

It really is a form of mental illness!

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

So what carrots are in store to keep these talks alive and stop Kim pulling out?

In return for a DPRK nuclear freeze, has Trump promised for example to move the US Embassy to Pyongyang?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I think this is just Kim saying, 'Dont take us for granted', ahead of the talks.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

News just coming in that the US has pulled the B52s from the exercise.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

And he we go again....It all seemed a bit too good to be true.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

US has extremely long history of being unreliable breaking every treaty it ever made ask any native American, middle east leaders, Ho Chi Min, extensive lists of USA betrayals, illegal wars, assassinations, overthrows of gov'ts, all available online read William Blum, John Perkins, Noam Chomsky, many others. Am surprised at this remake from you.

Thing is, the U.S was only ever going to start a war with North Korea if they sent a nuclear missile to American or allied territory. There is no other bar high enough for America that they would be willing to confront North Korea, but more importantly, China on the ground.

Somehow, and I don't know how, but any security guarantee is going to need Chinese involvement. Not easy given the tension between China and the U.S and even China and North Korea in recent times, but somehow that needs to happen.

I think one of the problems IS Xi!! China DOES NOT want peace or reuniting on the Korean peninsula as that bring the US to China's doorstep!

They want the U.S out of North Asia, but the reality is its going to take a lot of goodwill, if ever, before South Korea or Japan would trust China to the level of asking the U.S to leave. The U.S is a hedge against Chinese aggression. Its the only worthwhile hedge South Korea and Japan have. Neither is adequately capable of defending itself against China. Not even remotely. What China is doing in the SCS doesn't exactly help, especially from Japans perspective . If China can't get the U.S out, which seems unlikely for now, then the whole N.K peace process is complicated from their perspective. Still, I don't think China wants North Korea with nukes. Not a lot to gain from their perspective, its not like they need them to offset some weakness in China, and a lot to lose.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

 even the former East Germany still is having and going through a lot of cultural, social and economical hurdles that still need to be ironed out.

I knew some former East Germans around 1995. The German unification was very difficult for both sides, and there was a lot of lingering resentment, cost of supporting the unification, people raised in East Germany.

Anyway, its not likely to happen in Korea mainly because it would require the DPK government to collapse, and that government is like a vampire on its population. The population will be sucked dry before the government collapses.

Looks like Trump needs a new distraction. This one is played out.

How will Trump explain the Qatar meetings at his offices and the pay to play with Cohen (Trump's attorney), Flynn (Trump's national security coffee boy), and Bannon (Head of Trump's campaign) at the center. Flynn accepted money from Qatar during the transition period per testimony from a court filing. Everyday something foul is learned about Trump and those around them. Must be swamp gas.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Sounds reasonable.  Both sides give up all their nukes.  DPRK gets a fat wad of cash.  Everyone wins.

Not sure what having this "exercises" every year actually achieves,

0 ( +1 / -1 )

baby steps people!

How about we get the guy to the table before making demands on what we want?

Talk about scaring him off.

I happen to think there should be any more drill...(giving Kim an excuse) until the summit is over.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

remark...

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@yubaru Life doesn't stop, and Kim should remember that he and his predecessors have a long history of being unreliable. Just because you make a few goodwill gestures does not erase the history you created.

US has extremely long history of being unreliable breaking every treaty it ever made ask any native American, middle east leaders, Ho Chi Min, extensive lists of USA betrayals, illegal wars, assassinations, overthrows of gov'ts, all available online read William Blum, John Perkins, Noam Chomsky, many others. Am surprised at this remake from you.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

So are we back on course for a nuclear war in northeast Asia?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Pyongyang has been backed into the corner. Still gotta keep them on thin ice though. The US / South Korean military drills could’ve waited. Bad timing.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

What do they think denuclearization means? It means what it says on the tin. All nuclear weapons gone.

North Korea knows this full well.

Every relevant country in the region knows what it means and every country in the region has stated that is the desired outcome, including Russia and China.

This has been known for years, if not decades.

I understand North Korea wants security assurances and economic assistance and obviously that will be part of phased process to keep everyone comfortable, but in the end, North Korea must be nuclear free.

No if's, no but's, no maybe's

If North Korea is not interested in that then call it all often now.

Sanctions can remain in place forever and any thought of unification goes out the window.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Zichi

I think one of the problems IS Xi!! China DOES NOT want peace or reuniting on the Korean peninsula as that bring the US to China's doorstep!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Took a bit less time than I thought, but knew they would backtrack eventually. Okay, granted, nothing's official. But NK is right that if they have to give everything up -- something they won't do completely -- you can't well have the US and SK conducting drills against them as normal. It's a two-way street. But they WILL back out of talks; the question is just how much they will get, and how much progress will be made before they do. Hopefully more than to date, because at least then when the cycle restarts they'll have a little more to work with.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Simply amazing that no one in the Trump cabinet saw this coming... they were too scared cowering from Trumps search for the infamous McCain insult leaker, has Trump even disavowed the insult yet or is he also waiting for McCain to die!?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Not at all. This is disastrous. exactly seems the supreme deal maker isnt offering a very good deal, so NK will just keep its nukes . Trump will never be able to stomach the concessions NK will demand so the meeting if it does take place will just be for political points for Trump. Like icing over a shite cake.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Denuclearization for Kim Jong-Un and North Korea means much more that it just giving up its nukes. The US have no nuclear weapons in South Korea but probably do have at least one nuke armed sub out in the ocean.

Probably more than that.

Just when we all hoped North Korea was playing with a new playbook but suddenly we are back to the playing the old one of threatening cancelling meetings in order to try for more concessions.

Which won’t happen.

North Korea wants these talks to drag on for years even decades while Trump wants and needs a full resolution during his first term of office.

Of course he wants it done, we all due, NK have been dragging their feet for the last 25 years, so a few years longer wouldn’t bother them, but all Trump has to do is ratchet up deeper and harder hitting sanctions on the North, other than that, this President is not going to concede unless it’s unequivocal nuclear denuclearization.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

No, in the most rosiest of wishes, I want NK to go the way of East Germany.

You can forget that.

I don't care if that comes about because of Trump or not. But putting Trump on a pedestal while talks are barely starting are an absurdity that only his supporters could imagine.

Yeah, the haters would howl that. But on a serious note, the comparison to What was formerly East/West Germany the dynamics are completely different, for one thing, East Germany wasn’t AS oppressed as NK, there were No labor camps that held millions like the North does, the length of time Germany was separated was from 1949-1990, the former East Germans weren’t closed off from everything outside of the country, completely cut off from the world, they could still travel within the Soviet controlled satellite States. It just isn’t the same scenario and NK and the South are so far apart culturally, socially, it would take 50 years or even longer for the North to catch up, if they can ever do that, even the former East Germany still is having and going through a lot of cultural, social and economical hurdles that still need to be ironed out.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Awww! No summit, no peace prize. Back to Mueller, indictments, guilty pleas, taking the 5th, etc. Enjoy!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

It's official, no summit no deal if NK has to give up its nuke weapons.

And people bought NK's 'sincerity' hook line and sinker.

No Nobel prize for Trump, sorry!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/05/15/asia/north-korea-trump-talks-intl/index.html?adkey=bn

Breaking News : NK threaten to cancel the summit over demand to unilaterally abandon nukes.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Rhetoric rules, as everyone knows, and the rare and once-in-a-lifetime plant called Peace goes out the back window.

Maybe these drills are the 'routine' yearly ones, or maybe they are considerably larger, but calling them 'Max Thunder' placed the ball right in DPRK's court. Now that is the kind of language they understand and are themselves fond of using. Bombastic rhetoric? Bring it on!

Now if the US had called these drills 'Fly whisk' or 'Wet tea Leaf', perhaps they could have slipped under the radar, but no, once again the lovely cordite smell of gunboat diplomacy is in the air.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Hes not a patsy eager to please our enemies like his predecessor.

Really? Like his trade enemy China and the ZTE deal (Trump forgiving China's ZTE for selling to even more enemies like NK and Iran)? Or his immigration enemy Mexico and giving that country a free wall at American taxpayer's expense- to the tune of over 100B dollars. Looks like Trump is doing all the pleasing.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I've read several accounts of UN humanitarian workers and whatnot who've said that North Korean government officials have been downright giddy over the past few weeks at the prospect of their country opening up, liberalizing, and plain normalizing a bit.

The cat is already out of the bag for Kim. If he completely jumps ship on the talks now, I'd suspect that some sort of coup d'etat might be more likely than ever before.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Folks I smell another RAT in the kitchen & that rat is CHINA!!

China has NEVER wanted a peaceful or re-united Korean peninsula!! EVER!!

As much as I hate trump & the idiots he surrounds himself with they need to STAY the course for now.

We are a really long way from any peace Nobles, way too many permutations & combinations to this situation.

Watch China, THEY are the ones that REALLY want this to breakdown!! And Russia too for that matter

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Akle, it isn't a bad suggestion. A little grovelling by someone.

Trump sure wouldn't grovel. He litigates. He doesn't capitulate.

Hell, he wouldn't even apologize to a war hero for disparaging remarks made by his staff.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Like the Iranians, it’s plain stupid to deal with the North Koreans. They aren’t charter members of the Axis of Evil for nothing. At least Trump tricked Little Kim into releasing the three American hostages. I get the impression that Kim tried to play the bait and switch game to get aid to take the pressure off the NK economy but he misplayed his hand.

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

Crisis always brings about opportunities. Abe should immediately go to NK and ask for a meeting with Kim to irreversibly pressure him to move forward, not backward, with maximal effort. The problem is that if Abe has the wisdom and courage to do just that.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

But putting Trump on a pedestal while talks are barely starting are an absurdity that only his supporters could imagine.

That's why none of them will address this:

The question is whether his team would still figure he deserves the prize were the talks to fail.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Suspension of disbelief is about the only way to explain Trump supporters.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Oh look at the happiness!

The usual suspects already declaring victory!

Only happy about being right that the likes of you were wrong with your premature victory dance and breaking your arm to slap yourselves on the back. All of which requires your customary disregard of facts and disengagement from reality.

No, in the most rosiest of wishes, I want NK to go the way of East Germany. I don't care if that comes about because of Trump or not. But putting Trump on a pedestal while talks are barely starting are an absurdity that only his supporters could imagine.

The question is whether his team would still figure he deserves the prize were the talks to fail.

There is bound to be someone who says Trump agreeing to a meeting (and not sticking his foot in his mouth over Twitter) was enough. Hey, Trump is the next Martin Luther King and needs a national holiday for all he has done for himself.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

 The US foreign policy is to disarm all nations so there is no resistance to US bullying and domination.

Also; Elvis is alive and living in Hawaii.

I hope President Trump will leave the meeting without deal rather than a bad deal with N. Korean regime if the two leaders meeting was ever happened in the next month.

If NK misbehaves, the President WILL walk away.

Hes not a patsy eager to please our enemies like his predecessor.

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

The nuclear bomb test site was useless and N. Korean has no other choice except to destroy.

N. The Korean regime always changing the tune and not be trusted until denuclerization was completed.

I hope President Trump will leave the meeting without deal rather than a bad deal with N. Korean regime if the two leaders meeting was ever happened in the next month.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I have said on several occasions on this site that the US will NEVER allow reunification of the two Koreas and here is the proof. Just before a meeting before the two Koreas the US starts provocative war games with South Korea. The US uses the disagreements between South and North Korea as an excuse to maintain military bases in both South Korea and Japan. The US foreign policy is to disarm all nations so there is no resistance to US bullying and domination.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Oh look at the happiness!

The usual suspects already declaring victory!

-13 ( +1 / -14 )

I must have said that before only to hear confused bluster about a Trump deserving a nobel peace prize.

The question is whether his team would still figure he deserves the prize were the talks to fail.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

If the past efforts with north korea has taught us anything, you give an inch and they take a mile Stranger.

I agree, but regardless, if you want a good outcome, you need to come in good faith. I'm still skeptical about whether or not NK is serious on these talks. But now if they don't happen, NK has ammo for their propaganda machine. "The US never intended to negotiate faithfully, if they were serious they wouldn't hold war games off our coast right after we agreed to talks." And as has been proven by team red and team blue in the US over the past couple of years, there is no way to counter an 'if they...' claim, as no one can know what would have happened otherwise.

A few weeks back, some people said they thought Kim, Moon and Abe were setting up the US to take the blame if the talks went bad. And now NK will be able to blame the failed talks on the US.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Liberals happy now?

Looks like Trump is not in the driver's seat and Kim holds all the power. Trump can only fail.

I must have said that before only to hear confused bluster about a Trump deserving a nobel peace prize.

Happy to be proven correct, but not happy with the result because I do want peace on the Korean peninsula.

We have seen NK's true colors, again.

Now we will get to see Trump show his butt.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

If the past efforts with north korea has taught us anything, you give an inch and they take a mile Stranger. Admittedly it looks like two kids in a sandpit but Id be very wary thinking you can actually have a level playing field dialog with a nation that still has Gulags and where people inform on their own parents.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

if this part of the world demands that we respect and legitimise murderous animals, then thanks but no thanks.

First, a presidential meeting between the US and NK legitimizes North Korea. Trump has already agreed to meet with NK, the legitimization boat has already well sailed.

But moving past that, how would holding off drills until after the June 12th meeting 'respect and legitimize' North Korea?

8 ( +10 / -2 )

He is just doing what China demands! Blah blah

Yes, like the ZTE deal

President Xi of China, and I, are working together to give massive Chinese phone company, ZTE, a way to get back into business, fast. Too many jobs in China lost. Commerce Department has been instructed to get it done!

(Trump Tweet)

Now Trump is not only working for Russia, but also China. Trump wants to save jobs in China. But according to Hannity it's still President Hillary's fault.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Yeah this is called negotiating from a position of strength.

Maybe, maybe not, but that is impossible to know right now.

Negotiation can only be determined successful once an agreement has been reached. If no agreement is reached, there has been no successful negotiation.

This cannot be declared as 'negotiating from a position of strength' until an agreement has been reached, because if this action kills the negotiations and blows up the deal, then the action won't be 'negotiating from a position of strength', it will be 'blowing the deal'. Until there is an outcome, we won't know if this was a negotiation from a position of strength, or a blowing of the deal.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

minello7 if this part of the world demands that we respect and legitimise murderous animals, then thanks but no thanks.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

In this part of the World it's called respect. Something of which Trump knows nothing about, that is this part of Asia and respect. China was behind the change in Kim and North Korea not Trump and the US.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

Liberals happy now?

Not at all. This is disastrous.

If Trump has cancelled the drills to save the meeting, you would all be whining about that too.

No we wouldn't.

drills will continue until a successful meeting is held with the desired result obtained.

This comment makes it sound more like you're the one who would be whining if the drills were canceled.

if talks fail their nation will be eliminated from the planet and not a single person will shed a tear

I will. I can think of few outcomes that would be worse for mankind as a whole. It would set us back 100 years as a race. All the innocent deaths, people ripped apart at the cellular level by bombs, because some people couldn't effectively talk. Children bleeding on the streets, parents holding dead children, rape, murder, pillaging, all the horrors of war. Contrary to your comment, countless tears will be shed.

15 ( +16 / -1 )

Yeah this is called negotiating from a position of strength. You want the drills to stop next year, we have told you what you will be ageeing to on June 12.

-13 ( +2 / -15 )

@tokyo. This suddenly happened after trump tore up the iran deal. Maybe there is a clue there.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

NK has no grounds for complaint here, they are the provocateurs by developing nukes and sending missiles over Japan.

It is completely on them to negotiate their denuclearization, because if talks fail their nation will be eliminated from the planet and not a single person will shed a tear

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Liberals happy now?

If Trump has cancelled the drills to save the meeting, you would all be whining about that too. He’s just trying to get the Nobel Prize! Canceling the drills puts our relations with S Korea at risk! He is just doing what China demands! Blah blah

drills will continue until a successful meeting is held with the desired result obtained. Can think about to cancel next year when that happens but not until.

-21 ( +2 / -23 )

I've been skeptical from the start that the meeting would happen, or that NK has any actual intentions to come to an agreement, or is just playing a game. That said, I hope that all parties can get past this, and that the intent to come to an agreement to denuclearize is sincere and not just a game.

Continuing the drill at a tender time like this was not a good idea though. When you're teetering on the edge of a peace negotiation, you should tread as carefully as possible so as to not tip it over. For Asians, 'face' or outer appearance has a lot of importance, which is why you've seen Kim stepping over the line into SK, and the two leaders shoveling dirt. On this note, the US has missed the point on outer appearance by holding the drills in spite of everything that has gone on. This is an affront to North Korea's 'face', and anyone with a finger on the pulse in the region would have known that holding the drills under these circumstances is a bad idea, and that NK would react poorly. It was a tactical error by the US, though it could also have been someone who did it well and knowingly, in an attempt to sabotage the peace process.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert --"Kim Jong Un had said previously that he understands the need and the utility of the United States and the Republic of Korea continuing in its joint exercises," she told a briefing.

Is that right? I find it lack of delicacy in this moment when June 12 in Singapore scheduled to be the opening-summit of Peace Treaty!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

and the murderous psychopathic despot wants to be treated like a legitimate leader, and for the world to  pretend  ( like his enslaved people do )  that he deserves respect? Think again.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

In any other presidency, you would be right. But with Trump pulling the US out of every international agreement his predecessor ever touched and claiming every agreement that doesn't advantage him specifically is "unfair", Kim has credible grounds for accusing the US of being an unreliable negotiating partner.

Hogwash. The US has been undertaking these military exercises for years and you just can’t halt them on the spot, the Pentagon which you are really referring to would have their heads explode if that were to happen. Kim can’t call any shots and Kim is not in the position to demand anything, if he doesn’t want to continue the talks, then he doesn’t, but to capitulate to him would send the wrong message that they have some leverage on the US. That can’t happen.

So how's that, Trump supporters? It may be that your messiah's greatest achievement will turn out to be making North Korea's laughingstock dictator look slightly more respectable and reliable by comparison. Congratulations.

Not exactly, but I know Dems would just give Kim what he wants and just take up the pipe as usual, appeasement is their narrative.

-14 ( +5 / -19 )

NK seems to be under the illusion that setting up a meeting suddenly means we are friends now.

As far as comparing Trump to Kim, you've got to be nuts to think Kim compares favorably, even to Trump.

Trump appears to be under the same delusion. Perhaps you saw his ringing, glowing praises of Kim Jong-Un's treatment of the recently released hostages.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

And thus it begins. Let’s all watch the fat man dance to the tune of the tiny dictator.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

Spot on Kobe. One can't expect NK to bend over and touch the toes every single time. Whether some would like to accept it or not, the bulls already out of the pen. NK is a big boy now. Time for it to be treated as such. Otherwise might as well call it in and wait for the eventual escalation by the war machine in america

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Playing the devils advocate, would any nation not do the same if such drills were being conducted on their door step. The states has a history/tactic of pushing other nations to appear to be the aggressor golf of tonkin, pearl harbour etc etc

6 ( +10 / -4 )

I don't think it's alarming for the moment. Kim is certainly just showing that he's ready to walk away, and reminding every one all his concessions are not for free.

As stated at the end of the article, Xi Jinping's influence is certainly there to.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

It may be that these exercises are held routinely every year, but given that the talks represent a major opportunity to reduce diplomatic tensions with the DPRK it might have been a good idea to suspend them, just this once.

The burden is on North Korea for assuming they would have been canceled instead of bringing up the subject after the fact. If they said nothing, knowing they were happening (and they did know, the annual exercise is not a secret), the US would assume it is business as usual. It seems a little like they were looking for an excuse to be 'outraged'.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

As I said before I believe there is certainly more going on here than meets the eye. Wish I was smart enough to know what it is but there is much one could speculate about.

From a global perspective, it would look pretty bad for Kim to back out of the meeting at this point. Whether he cares or not; who knows? I wonder what was discussed during Kim's last trip to China. Would certainly be interesting to be privy to that information.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Maybe Kim has learned from Trump's strategy of saying or doing outrageous things to get leverage, then using the leverage to get a better deal.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

I don’t think KJU will cancel. He is looking to get paid.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I think north korea have succeeded your ICBM missile.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

In any other presidency, you would be right. But with Trump pulling the US out of every international agreement his predecessor ever touched and claiming every agreement that doesn't advantage him specifically is "unfair", Kim has credible grounds for accusing the US of being an unreliable negotiating partner.

So how's that, Trump supporters? It may be that your messiah's greatest achievement will turn out to be making North Korea's laughingstock dictator look slightly more respectable and reliable by comparison. Congratulations!

If Kim had used Trump backing out of the Iran deal as his reason, then I would not argue with you. However, these military exercises are held every year and have absolutely nothing to do with Trump's 'reliability'. NK seems to be under the illusion that setting up a meeting suddenly means we are friends now.

As far as comparing Trump to Kim, you've got to be nuts to think Kim compares favorably, even to Trump.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

extankerToday  06:47 am JST

Except it's the same drills we hold every year and they're playing the 'how dare you' game now. It doesn't work like that, we don't just shut down because people are talking nicely.

In any other presidency, you would be right. But with Trump pulling the US out of every international agreement his predecessor ever touched and claiming every agreement that doesn't advantage him specifically is "unfair", Kim has credible grounds for accusing the US of being an unreliable negotiating partner.

So how's that, Trump supporters? It may be that your messiah's greatest achievement will turn out to be making North Korea's laughingstock dictator look slightly more respectable and reliable by comparison. Congratulations!

4 ( +11 / -7 )

Come on...

KJU wants to paint the US as the unreasonable party. His father did he same.

Also goes straight in NK’s rhetoric that SK is a vassal state.

They should have cancelled or at least postponed the training as a sign of good will.

”Nobel prize! Novel prize! Nobel prize!”

0 ( +7 / -7 )

How much does anyone want to bet that if the summit gets called off that there will be a missile test or two that will follow shortly after!

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Any cancellation of the June 12 summit in Singapore, the first meeting between a serving U.S. president and a North Korean leader, would deal a major blow to Trump’s efforts to score the biggest diplomatic achievement of his presidency.

For decades North Korea has demanded a one-to-one meeting with the United States and we have continued to refuse over several administrations. So how is giving in to North Korea's demand an "achievement"?

Without attaining the goal of denuclearization any meeting is pointless. And it's becoming rather obvious that North Korea has no intention to give up it's weapons. Sure they'll shut down a site that's already in need of shutting down for publicity sake.

6 ( +11 / -5 )

no more mister nice chubby guy!

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

Wow, how 'shocking.'

Many of us knew that this NK regime was one never to be trusted at face value or what it says. There's a reason why negotiations with NK have failed over and over and over the past decade. Did Trump really think this time was any different?

-2 ( +8 / -10 )

Life doesn't stop, and Kim should remember that he and his predecessors have a long history of being unreliable. Just because you make a few goodwill gestures does not erase the history you created.

3 ( +10 / -7 )

Well, we can probably guess what one of North Korea’s demands will be during negotiations,

11 ( +14 / -3 )

Except it's the same drills we hold every year and they're playing the 'how dare you' game now. It doesn't work like that, we don't just shut down because people are talking nicely.

-6 ( +6 / -12 )

The KCNA report called the air drills a "provocation" that goes against the trend of warming ties.

I happen to agree for the first time with Chubs.

15 ( +22 / -7 )

Well there you go.

Until it's officially canceled with the White House, I'm going to remain optimistic, but I have that 'I told you so' in my back pocket on reserve.

11 ( +15 / -4 )

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