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Trump welcomes back Americans freed by N Korea; thanks Kim

36 Comments
By Roberta Rampton and David Brunnstrom

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@Toasted ... There will always be people who don't like others speaking their cultural languages in the USA, just like other people don't like different religions or not having any religion at all. Some people fear differences for many reasons.

I doubt they are truly free to say what they really feel. I'm not, so why should they?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

America is multi-cultural. No official language, so people are free to speak whatever language they choose.

Good point!

I presume nobody has any problem with more than just English being spoken in the US. So these men are free (really free) to say and behave how they like.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"We have little time before the greatest braggart starts claiming greatness."

Credit where credit is due? Nah...

Oh my...

Trump: America is being respected again

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY-0hO2k54w

Three US Prisoners Released from North Korea (Trumps Reagan Moment)

Trump got a three point approval rise just from getting North Korea to agree to a summit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2bj3TWuT2I

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Bass - thanks for your reply.

Any facts to back up your point - most Chinese trade to NK is by ship?

How do you know how much aid China gives NK? I haven't heard authorative figures.

And I have heard - no proof, just heard - that the black exchange across the porous border between China & NK is huge by NK standards.

I think outside of NK & China, no-one really knows what happens re trade. World sanctions have obviously had an impact - no one can deny that, but to what extent they have forced NK to the table I'll leave up to those who definitely know.

Personally I believe NK now is softening, because it has achieved what it set out to do - become nuclear weapon capable and the Whole World is looking, listening and talking about them. Kim must be feeling pretty cocky right now. He a little rogue dictator in an obscure area has the world lapping up his every movement and word.

The Chicken is ruling the Roost.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

are you stating that all trade (they can't get anything in)  from China to NK is by ship???

No, not all, but most of it.

I believe - correct me if I'm wrong - they share a land border of about 1,500kms.

True, but we cut off a lot of aid, so what China gives them is not enough to entirely keep the country afloat. China isn’t that stupid either, there’s a difference between helping the region and monetarily supporting it fully.

Is it possible - you know, just possible, that trade may have flowed over that line? I'm not suggesting that it does - just maybe it's possible a few trucks or carriages rattle across now and then.

Oh, without a doubt, but as you’ve seen, the aggressive action the WH took to completely isolate the country has worked and remember, the preferred choice of currency for most rogue countries is the USD particularly $100 denominations, even the NK know that.

If that scenario is correct then perhaps - and I say perhaps - China had a bit of influence - you know, a bit.

A little true, that’s why, the Trump administration cut them out of most of the talks.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Once again Making America Great Again! Thank You President Trump!

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Thank you Mr. Kim for the release of American prisoners !!! In the coming days, may you have success in meetings with the American president and finally resolve your problems. The people in Okinawa, Japan will be very happy with your success so that the American military forces be no longer needed !!!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Wow reading through the comments some of the Lefty’s are actually upset that the Trump a administration got a few hostages released. Amazing...

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

I'm pretty sure the CCP got off it's butt and talked to Kim first. China doesn't want a war (especially nuclear) in it's vicinity at this moment in time.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Typical -- it was all for the purpose of creating a TV points-scoring opportunity for Trump (his emerging from the plane first, etc). The three men were used and then callously discarded. So cynical. Looked like MacArthur landing in Tokyo!

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Americans still held hostage in Iran. What's the likelihood of them ever coming home now?

Baquer and Siamak Namazi

Reza Shahini

Karan Vafadari

Xiyue Wang

Americans still held hostage in Turkey:

Andrew Brunson

Serkan Golge

I thought their names should be remembered.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Trump never misses an opportunity to pander to his base.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

I'm I the only one with this question?How come all 3 Americans can't speak English. They had to be speak through translators.

America is multi-cultural. No official language, so people are free to speak whatever language they choose. Plus, if you learn a language as an adult, but don't use it, it is easy to loose conversational abilities. Translators are easier.

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bass4funkToday 08:16 pm JSTWrong again. China was 90% of NK's total trade so them putting the squeeze on certainly had a big effect.

I never disputed that, in fact, I agree, that’s why we blocked the majority of their ships, so that they can’t get anything in.

Bass - are you stating that all trade (they can't get anything in)  from China to NK is by ship???

I believe - correct me if I'm wrong - they share a land border of about 1,500kms.

Is it possible - you know, just possible, that trade may have flowed over that line? I'm not suggesting that it does - just maybe it's possible a few trucks or carriages rattle across now and then.

If that scenario is correct then perhaps - and I say perhaps - China had a bit of influence - you know, a bit.

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just scrolled through the comments to see how libs could possibly spin this in a negative way

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But it looks like he has blown the chance to get Americans imprisoned in Iran home to the USA.

Indeed, Trump has also made things difficult for the several Britons and people of other nationalities imprisoned in Iran on spurious charges.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

I'm I the only one with this question?How come all 3 Americans can't speak English. They had to be speak through translators.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Welcome home, glad to have you back!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Liberals can’t math. If you talking North Korea only it’s:

Hostage score: Obama 10. Trump 4

but that’s only cause thanks to trump there are zero left! He rescued every one that existed and got it done for FREE.

if you talking in total trump has 14. But the whole keeping score thing is petty. as are all the negative comments here from people afraid Trump might get a kind word from the media and public for his efforts to date on this.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

Gotta get all the irrelevabt to this topic hit jobs in there. Only thing missing is Stormy, didn’t fit her in there.

“at a time when his foreign policy has come under withering criticism after he withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal. His administration is under intense scrutiny by a special investigator looking at alleged Russian interference into his 2016 presidential election and has also been under fire for a series of ethics violations and chaotic personnel turnover”

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

Wrong again. China was 90% of NK's total trade so them putting the squeeze on certainly had a big effect.

I never disputed that, in fact, I agree, that’s why we blocked the majority of their ships, so that they can’t get anything in.

Having said that, credit to Trump and Pompeo for this result. As I've mentioned before, sometimes it takes a crazier person to deal with a crazy person

Yup. I hope Iran is watching.

The sanctions and the American gun-ho Trump rattled his cage but not enough alone.

That and draining all of his financial resources and the prospect of what could happen to him like what happened to Gadaffi and Saddam.

Bolton has had also zero influence since he was only recently appointed has a security advisor. 

Not at all Bolton had a lot to do with pushing for this, this is right up his ally, it has all the trademarks of John Bolton all over it.

I think it will mostly be China and president Xi who Kim Jong-Un will look toward in the coming months.

With the strongest vision and oversight of the US, most definitely.

Way too early to call anything.

I agree.

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

making sure not a single Chinese ship gets anywhere near NK  90% of NK imports come from China and they come by rail not sea, yes thank you China, theres a reason why NK has been visiting China a lot recently and just after meetings with the US and SK. NK wont do anything without its Chinese overlords approval. thanks again China.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

bass

Wrong again. China was 90% of NK's total trade so them putting the squeeze on certainly had a big effect. Having said that, credit to Trump and Pompeo for this result. As I've mentioned before, sometimes it takes a crazier person to deal with a crazy person.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

If anybody deserves praise it's Xi for deciding to have China apply sanctions.

You are joking, right? The sanctions China has been supposedly applying to NK is not as hard hitting as the ones we imposed, draining his money that he has to live off his federal reserve, making sure not a single Chinese ship gets anywhere near NK to give them anything and lastly, keep them out of the talks with the US and NK. China was the problem, isolating them from Kim really helped turn things around. So if anyone deserves credit, it’s Mattis, Bolton and Trump for sure, but especially Bolton who knows exactly how the two countries operate and through past history, Mattis for calculating and bringing and putting a strategy into play to stop the Chinese from sneaking anything into NK and Trump for piling on and being persistent on the regime.

Followed by Moon for responding to the North's overtures regarding the Olympics and the recent summit.

That was a small opening, but not a major breakthrough, but it did somewhat soften the ice a little.

-10 ( +4 / -14 )

If anybody deserves praise it's Xi for deciding to have China apply sanctions. Followed by Moon for responding to the North's overtures regarding the Olympics and the recent summit.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Ok Trump's a dingleberry but for just one damn moment can we accept he pulled off great stunt? If it was obama he'd get a second Nobel. Jesus!!

-1 ( +8 / -9 )

It wouldnt have happened if not for Trump.

-7 ( +9 / -16 )

Welcome home, Kim Dong-chul, Tony Kim, and Kim Hak-song. I'm sorry that you were used as political pawns, rather than allowed to quietly return and begin your recovery after such a horrific ordeal, minus spotlights and cameras. And I pray that you will not continue to be used by anyone in the media or politics, regardless of political leanings.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

They were asll Kims also (as are 22% of Koreans).  Maybe that counted for something once L'il Kim realized.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

But it looks like he has blown the chance to get Americans imprisoned in Iran home to the USA.

6 ( +11 / -5 )

Not looking forward to the fishing/ begging for praise for what he did though.

We have little time before the greatest braggart starts claiming greatness.

Glad to see these people returned in one piece.

How long until another missionary or idiot gets caught there?

9 ( +11 / -2 )

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