Trump says he is prepared to meet N Korea's Kim

This is great news. Good luck, President Trump. Well played getting to this stage.

Yep, it's what I've been hoping for all along - dialogue!

A lot better than launching missiles at each other.

Great news for once! Good on President Trump and President Moon!

I'm skeptical. I want to hear it from Trump first. If it's true, it's a good thing.

But according to so many right-wingers, Moon was being suckered by N. Korea by agreeing to have talks with them. Any of those people care to comment if Trump is also a sucker if he does so?

Can't believe I'm saying this, but good for Trump.

Like I touched upon before, this leaves Japan the odd man out of the ridiculous 'alliance' of the U.S., South Korea, and Japan against North Korea.

South Korea couldn't care less about Japan, and would never side with them against their northern brothers. Trump couldn't care less about Japan also, and now he's going to the table with the dear leader.

Japan now must do the same. There is definitely a reason why Kim is so open to dialogue now, the sanctions against North Korea have been crippling them. Abe must learn to bite his tongue and disregard the 'alliance,' and open dialogue with Kim himself.

Good on Trump.

Good, I guess ? But I'm also sure that Kim has something in mind.

This looks like a ruse, to trick Pres. Trump into NK. China and NK must be plotting something,and I fear for President. I really hope he refuses to go.

Terrible when things don't pan out the way one expected them to.

It'll be fine. Only bots and those with vested interests are unhappy about this. The fact is, this is the best news to come out of the Korean peninsula and Washington for a long, long time.

Incredible news! This proves that the unilateral sanctions have worked perfectly against NK and they have reached breaking point. This is an incredible precedent as well as it shows strong and heavily enforced sanctions can force a rogue power to the negotiating table.

Now the ball is in NK's court; if they derail these talks, their state will come to an end through force

I think the doomsday clock just went back a minute or so.

Gotta give a hand to both Kim and Donny for even suggesting that this is on the table.

I don't care what political affiliation you have, everyone should be in support of peace and denuclearization of an unstable nation. Hopefully this will lead to better future for all involved, no more NK nukes, reunification of both Korea's, elimination of the gulags in NK, and formal ties between US, Japan, and North Korea.

Don't get excited, if the talks happen it doesn't mean anything will be achieved. Remember Chamberlain and 'Peace in our time"?

I can imagine the MIC hedgomons pounding their heads on their Itialian marble "war room" tables.

Thanks Donald. Never had any doubts. Now, get them out of Syria too.

Don't get excited, if the talks happen it doesn't mean anything will be achieved

Peace will be achieved at least for the duration of the talks. That’s huge in and of itself.

I support this meeting as well, but North Korea needs to give up the nukes. They've threatened Japan with nuclear destruction many times before.

The blackmail tactic by North Korea is working far better than expected. But if you guys believe NK is going to give up nuclear arsenals then you guys were naive!

Abe had the chance to have direct talks with Kim several months ago but opted to put American interests firsts ahead of Japan's so Tokyo is now awkwardly stranded alone .

Shinzo had the chance to rise as a great world statesman and lift Nippon back to the top of the world stage but instead acted like a puppy on a leash.

It would have been a good feeling to have a headline then that said ' Abe in direct talks with Kim and announced that the Gangnam fan agrees to have talks with President Trump'.

Watch out for dodgy gases and faulty hand shakes trumpy. No! on second thoughts go all the way, give the man a hug, a tender kiss on the lips for Mrs Kim. That should go down well, shows intent don't you think.

Stunning to say the least. A sitting U.S. president has never met with a N. Korean leader before, let alone in a discussion focused on nuclear weapons.

The only question now is what is the quid pro quo? Would a nuclear freeze be enough to cut it? It seems unlikely that N. Korea will completely give up its nuclear program at this stage after everything they've invested in it.

Still, it's better that the N. Koreans are talking instead of testing nuclear devices and ICBM missiles.

@stormcrow

what is the quid pro quo? 

Kim Jong Un promised to scrap ICBMs first.

That alone guarantees that the US mainland won't be nuked.

This is good news for South Koreans and Japanese who will be wiped out. But I think his true intentions Iran

Please, please don't screw this up, Trump.

I think it’s a good thing, they should talk, better than the alternative, but the President should be optimistically cautious, but I agree, it’s great news if they North Koreans are serious, we can all benefit from this meeting.

Please, please don't screw this up, Trump.

That’s the worrying part of this. Why couldn’t it have been any other president?

@Goodlucktoyou

This is good news for South Koreans and Japanese who will be wiped out.

This is why the ROK is building the world's densest missile defense network in the world, along with thousands of ballistic and cruise missiles to destroy most of NK launchers ASAP.

The Japanese missile defense is lagging by comparison.

@Samit Basu

I hope you're right and that Un carries out that promise.

However, for now, seeing is believing.

First... this world is but one "globe" where all is "connected" and "related" physically.

Second... we humans are all "animals" and to survive means to "live" in this physical environment.

Third... to live, one cannot "destroy" the world; the globe and its resources.

Fourth... today, no realistic leader aware of those 3 realities can expect his nation to survive by actions that will destroy the world. (Sadly, there are certain peoples - we call fanatics and zealots - that are dreaming in la-la land or "life" beyond what we know as "physical reality".)

Kim is a "realist" and not a fanatic.

He is a "strategist" and needed someone like Trump (a master communicator) to "recognize" the true meaning behind his actions and rhetoric. And.., both played meaningful roles (acting) to bring this about.

Kim can now "negotiate" on fairly "equal" stance with the US, satisfying his people. That was something which was denied by every other nation in the world since WWII. And something that was hindered by the still resolved "peace treaty" with S Korea.

Trump can now "negotiate" as one having "influenced" is not caused, by using S Korea and Japan and to a limited extent the UN... to get to this point.

So all sides "saves" face...

A good environment for this to happen...

Good on Trump for this if it goes ahead.

That’s the worrying part of this. Why couldn’t it have been any other president?

Because only this President could make it happen in the first place.

Because only this President could make it happen in the first place.

North and South Korea made this happen.

Good but the risk now is that Trump, the world's worst negotiator, will just agree to whatever Kim suggests.

Because only this President could make it happen in the first place.

Yeah, Moon is pretty amazing.

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/01/09/asia/south-korea-north-korea-talks-moon-intl/index.html

South Korea's Moon credits Trump with 'huge' contribution to North Korea talks 

Well done to Japan and America for keeping the pressure and sanctions on North Korea that has now forced them to negotiate!

Because only this President could make it happen in the first place.

So very true. As Pres. Trump talks about in his book "The Art of The Deal", to achieve success, you have to always "Think Big" in all situations. Previous Presidents did not "Think Big", which is why NK was left unchecked to build up incredibly powerful military and nuclear weapons.Pres. Obama was not a "Big Thinker" and would never have met with NK Leader. Just sitting and talking to media and making prepared speeches.

I was skeptical at first, but if anyone could achieve this peace in our lifetimes, it would be Pres. Trump and his famous ability to "make a deal".

North and South Korea made this happen.

So NK and SK made it happen that Kim wants to talk with.... Trump not Moon? Interesting....

Yep, it's what I've been hoping for all along - dialogue!

A lot better than launching missiles at each other.

Most things are better than war. Give credit where it's due.

I think it’s a good thing, they should talk, better than the alternative, but the President should be optimistically cautious, but I agree, it’s great news if they North Koreans are serious, we can all benefit from this meeting.

Spot on.

Incredible. Trump the deal maker at work. All those years of concessions, empty and broken promises and it takes a guy like Trump calling this lunatic muderous dictator out for what he is to get them to talk. Amazing. Go Trump!

That’s the worrying part of this. Why couldn’t it have been any other president?

NK aren't stupid enough to meet with a President with working brain cells.

One thing : Kim said he would agree to denuclearization if the US/South Korea joint military drills stopped.

The north korean regime being what it is, and Trump having a history of stopping any plan where he has to concede something, it's better not to be too optimistic.

It's great that this happens, but I would trust neither Kim nor Trump to resolve anything.

Hopeful news! My Roppongi Hills pied-a-terre is available if they need a neutral place to meet.

Trump will never negotiate with Iran, Cuba or Venezuela for whatsoever things even humanitarian terms because they have NO nuclear arsenal card in hands. For North Korea this is their victory for their blackmail businesss.For Mr.Abe this is an insult, Japan is stabbed in the back by her boss!

Incredible. Trump the deal maker at work. All those years of concessions, empty and broken promises and it takes a guy like Trump calling this lunatic muderous dictator out for what he is to get them to talk. Amazing. Go Trump!

Not quite accurate and a bit over the top.

I don’t know if this will end up good or bad but I do remember the Republicans going crazy at the thought of Obama or Hillary would meet unilaterally with North Korea without major concessions from North Korea. Why is everything such a disgusting double standard with them?

We don't even have an ambassador in Seoul. Our chief negotiator just resigned. We have no agreed-upon strategy, no game plan, no tactics, no backup experts.

Lil' Donnie clearly thinks he can do it all. Who needs experts, people with brains?

The Art of the Deal: A book written by Tony Schwartz.

Kim is a "realist" and not a fanatic.

He is also a merciless despot leading a merciless despotic regime. There is no possible way for the two countries to merge with Kim in power.

Also, even if external threats removed, Kim must worry even more now about internal threats, which likely means even greater human rights abuses, though perhaps economic opening will turn NK into Moscow on the Yalu.

Phew for dodging armageddon (at least for the moment). The bite is we've still got Kim.

Two bad haircuts, lots of cheese burgers! All is well in the world now.

The world’s two most unpopular leaders having a meeting? Awesome! Maybe we can get Putin to join them for a threesome.

Remember Trump is  businessman and he is a native born businessman. This guy can do whatever to make a fortune! If you see his own TV show'The Apprentice' you understood how he does business: Danger! He makes business in a very danger way and he dont care others at all! Dont be surprise if Trump set foot on Pyongyang like Dennis Rodman does,I believe Trump has consulted Dennis Rodman about Kim's behaviour and his real thought!

Kim is not going to hire a life coach to figure out something positive to do with his life. He knows what happened to Saddam Hussein and he's not going to let it happen to him. As long as Kim is dictator, he will keep his nukes. Period.

Trump doesn't need to prepare in order to impress his supporters with how tough he is. That's all he cares about. He won't try to solve the problem.

The USA and world will pay for a very long time for the election of Donald J. Trump. May God have mercy on us all.

I don’t know if this will end up good or bad but I do remember the Republicans going crazy at the thought of Obama or Hillary would meet unilaterally with North Korea without major concessions from North Korea.

Yeah remember how they freaked when Obama went to Cuba, and when the US negotiated an agreement to denuclearize Iran?

Suddenly they are screaming Trump's praise for being willing to do so.

And to be clear, I think Trump meeting with Un is a good thing. I'm just pointing out hypocrisy on the right.

Hypocracy abounds.

North and South Korea made this happen.

Still in denial mode.

I realize that facts are unwelcome here at Japan Today. But, the reality is that Tony Schwartz wrote Art Of The Deal, Since someone quoted a passage from the book it's quite relevant to point out who the actual author was.

Well, so much for the political elite fixing the 30 year stalemate with the North. Funny how a NON politician has the keys to peace and stability in the region. At least the two are speaking their real mind to each other.

Trump to meet N Korean leader Kim

Interesting, but not optimistically excited.

Don't expect miracles or agreements yet.  Except maybe agreements for more "talks and more talks".

First, Kim and Trump will be sizing each other up, observe and test each other for weaknesses, etc.  (Wonder how Kim will react to Trump's infamous power handshake.)

Kim isn't going agree to give away anything without exacting heavy concessions from SK and U.S. first.

But there's going to be heavy pressure from Leftists/liberals to demand Trump to agree to anything to get "PEACE".....even if it means making hasty concessions like agreeing to withdraw U.S. military out of the peninsula, agreeing to DEMILITARIZATION of the DMZ, agreeing to talks for a Peace Treaty that guarantees Unification under DPRK regime. 

But concessions like that isn't going to guarantee Kim will follow through with his "promises."

there's going to be heavy pressure from Leftists/liberals to demand Trump to agree to anything to get "PEACE"....

No there isn't. The US doesn't have to give up anything. Neither does NK. They can talk in circles for years, and that will be a success. Every day there is no war, is a good day. Every day there is war, is a bad day.

Trump has managed over a year of good days in regards to NK so far. Let's hope he can manage a full presidency of good days, even if that means the talks go on his entire presidency.

SoKo security adviser Chung Eui-Yong: "I explained to @POTUS that his leadership and his maximum pressure policy together with international solidarity brought us to this juncture."

Smart guy - knows how to play trump by kissing his ass.

Yeah remember how they freaked when Obama went to Cuba, and when the US negotiated an agreement to denuclearize Iran?

yes I remember when Obama’s celebrity buddies Beyoncé and ex drug dealer Jay-Z wanted to vacation in Cuba and he approved it.

Then followed up by going himself and watching a baseball game with a brutal dictator right after a terrorist attack in Brussels. THAT is what the “freaking out” was about.

I also remember pallets of cash on a plane to Iran. Why would anyone support either of these thing?

I just hope they get a chance to talk before Kim's head explodes. Reminds me of that guy who blew himself up from Big Trouble In Little China.

Credit goes to people who do things intentionally. Any good thing that winds up happening due to Trumps impulsive and unplanned flailing should be chalked up to nothing but good luck for the US. It's too bad that most of his stupid actions can and do hurt us.

As a strictly domestic political move, you can rest assured that anything positive that comes from this announcement or subsequent negotiations will last all of 8 hours.

Until North Korea is 100% denuclearized, I have no confidence whatsoever in these talks. North Korea has tried this same tactic for the past 30 years, so there is little chance that all of a sudden they are now willing to completely give up their nukes unless they receive something quite substantial in return, such as unification with Korea under the DPRK

Trump is ending the liberal media. I got 11 downvotes for posting a link and the headline of a CNN article with no comments of my own.

Trump is actually getting liberals to hate their own media. Classic.

But what about Abe's boogeyman?

Can’t wait until Trump and Kim sit down to a feast of Hot Dogs, freedom fries and well done steak with ketchup before their talks.

What will these two zeros be talking about? Are they going to acting like the bully brats that they are?

Trump will not last until May -- he is on his way OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE! The Richard M. Nixon memorial helicopter ride awaits! Wonder if it will be the same helicopter??

Brilliantly done by our best President ever, the one and only President Trump. No other “president” managed what our wonderful president has.

if they derail these talks, their state will come to an end through force

It's a pity that even with this good news, there are some who still advocate violence.

Trump is ending the liberal media.

Is he? That's unfortunate for democracy. Almost like something that a dictator would do.

Now fingers crossed that both players can display diplomacy and decorum.

Trump supporters must be full on schizophrenic by now

Weird picture of Trump by the way. He is almost unrecognisable with a smile on his face instead of the usual scowl or sneer.

Yes they should meet up in adjacent chairs in a barbershop somewhere...

Hmmm. When you think about it; both men are from wealthy and powerful families. Both inherited their father's empires (despite not being first born), both were educated in posh Western schools. Trump's probably got more in common with Kim than the average American does.

They also don't tolerate people saying "no" to them, which could be a wee problem. Otherwise, they seem well suited to each other.

As I said, diplomacy and decorum. These should be paramount in the talks.

If Obama had done this, his sycophants would be gushing for not only a Nobel, but Sainthood

Trump supporters must be full on schizophrenic by now

By yet another win??

a pig in a poke.

prob is which pig and which poke

If Obama had done this, his sycophants would be gushing for not only a Nobel, but Sainthood

Obama has nothing to do with today's development. Most people here welcome the move, your comment is mere speculation.

By yet another win??

This is not about Trump "winning" it's about the future of the region.

Funny that a certain few posters here were begging for talks just a few days ago.

Now that Trump has Kim crawling to the table, he’s suddenly “being played”

but thats par for the course. Flip-flopping on every issue depending on where Trump is.

Funny that a certain few posters here were begging for talks just a few days ago.

Now that Trump has Kim crawling to the table, he’s suddenly “being played”

Please be specific - which posters are you referring to?

Do you welcome the talks?

If Obama had done this, his sycophants would be gushing for not only a Nobel, but Sainthood

Uh ... done what? Kim has desired a meeting with an American president since he's assumed power - it's simply that the Bush and Obama refused unless concrete steps at denuclearization were taken.

Now that Trump has Kim crawling to the table

You don't seem to understand. Kim is crowing as his nuclear strategy has finally bought him a meeting with a US president, indicating parity in status.

From what I've heard, Trump came running into the Press Room unannounced and excitedly made the announcement. This indicates Trump's decision was not thoroughly vetted by whatever experts remain in the administration.

In fact, I doubt the meeting will ever happen, unless over Skype.

NK wins again, while Trump loses yet again. It was amusing to watch Trumpers scream during the election that electing Hillary would "lead to war", when wars started after Trump came in, and never before had things gotten as bad as they did with NK. They chortled and patted each other on the bad when Trump "drew a line in the sand that Obama was too weak to do" with the "fire and fury" crap, then patted themselves on the back again when NK crossed that line (continued testing) and Trump had nothing to say. Now Moon and Kim have managed to make things better, with no help from the US, Japan, or others, and the Trumpers are once again trying to take credit when in fact Pence and others only a few weeks ago were coming out with more bombast and threats than ever, with NK winning on that one, too.

And now suddenly there's no more "fatty" remarks or "little Rocket Man", it's back to the "gentleman from North Korea" after NK asks the White House back to the table. Haha.

Well, let’s see what the dawn brings but... If they both think they are going to win then we are all going to lose.

OMG! This is TERRIBLE news for CNN and MSNBC. They'll be up all night trying to figure out how to paint this as negative toward Trump.

Disgusting to see some here praise North Korea for all this, as if they haven't been threatening nuclear destruction and sending missiles over Japan and as if this wasn't blackmail in its purest form. Some seem to be more enamored with the despicable and subhuman North Korea than America or Japan..

And I believe Obama’s disgusting deal with Iran is relevant to mention here.

It might be on a thread about Iran.

Back to the other question you've not replied to - given that such huge and important deals require compromise on both "sides" - do you see Trump compromising on the US military in the region?

Darmstadt: I don't think so. People are more concerned with pointing out how incorrect those that assert that Trump knows what he is doing and this is because of him are. Pointing out how easily NK has played the current WH does not equal praise, same as pointing out how Putin has control over Trump doesn't mean a person is praising or likes him in the least. In fact, equating the facts with "it means you're praising NK" arguments harkens back to the "with us or against us" misdirected anger comments that some have used to defend the indefensible.

Wait, why are there even talks with North Korea in the first place? I thought a hostile North Korea was just a propaganda piece created by Abe to drum up support for revising the military or whatever?

... and the Nobel Peace Prize winners are !

Abe and Obama!

Salute to Trump for being so practical despite being POTUS!

Time Man of the year for sure!

Hands down for da-kine Peace Prize too!

Disgusting to see some here praise North Korea for all this, as if they haven't been threatening nuclear destruction and sending missiles over Japan and as if this wasn't blackmail in its purest form. Some seem to be more enamored with the despicable and subhuman North Korea than America or Japan..

Exactly. Such is their incomparable hatred for President Trump, they would actually rather see armed conflict in the region than a peaceful summit if it shows the President in a positive light.

Its a level of anger and hatred I, thankfully, can only imagine.

North and South Korea made this happen.

To a point at the very end, but all the rhetoric from Trump, not blinking and hitting them with the heaviest sanctions, the country is broke, more than it was during the famine, meaning, the government itself is on the verge of financial collapse and you can only contain the people’s loyalty for so long and he knows it. Now the question is, will they denuclearize or not. If they do, then we know they are very serious about peace, will they grant inspectors full and unfettered access to every nuclear site? I believe if they do that, the US will through the effort to fully accept a stable and denuclearized NK and that should not come with any kind of concessions on the US part because we have been through that so many times and each time they lied, every single time. So under any circumstances should the Trump administration give concessions unless they completely abandon their Nukes. Either way, if this does work out in the way the administration and SK hope, the President was as instrumental in starting this the way Reagan did with the former Soviet Union. I hope for the best, but I’m optimistically cautious.

Exactly. Such is their incomparable hatred for President Trump, they would actually rather see armed conflict in the region than a peaceful summit if it shows the President in a positive light.

Who wants to see armed conflict? Most here are welcoming of the forthcoming talks. It's certainly something I've always hoped for and in no way do I think either leader is being "played".

Back to the other question you've not replied to - given that such huge and important deals require compromise on both "sides" - do you see Trump compromising on the US military in the region?

President Trump has a sterling track record of supporting the military and Americans. Unlike Obama, who ordered the DEA and CIA to stand down in their operations against Hezbollah so he could have his "legacy" deal with Iran. Unfortunately It will go down as a legacy of failure and betrayal.

President Trump would never let that happen.

President Trump has a sterling track record of supporting the military and Americans. Unlike Obama, who ordered the DEA and CIA to stand down in their operations against Hezbollah so he could have his "legacy" deal with Iran. Unfortunately It will go down as a legacy of failure and betrayal.

President Trump would never let that happen.

So, there will be no compromise on Trump's part, whatsoever? What are the incentives for the regime in the DPRK, should the two participants meet?

So, there will be no compromise on Trump's part, whatsoever? What are the incentives for the regime in the DPRK, should the two participants meet?

Easy, Tiger! He simply said he would grant Kim a meeting. Nothing more, nothing less. He's a master negotiator and won't fold like a cheap suit like the last charlatan.

He simply said he would grant Kim a meeting. Nothing more, nothing less. He's a master negotiator and won't fold like a cheap suit like the last charlatan.

Obama has zero to do with this forthcoming meeting. When you go into important, ground breaking talks like this you tend to bring something to the table. Which, to me, would mean Trump exploring the realms of scaling back military presence in the peninsula and/or putting a hold on joint operations with the ROK.

There has to be something in it, otherwise the DPRK would not be even entertaining the idea of such a meeting.

Which, to me, would mean Trump exploring the realms of scaling back military presence in the peninsula and/or putting a hold on joint operations with the ROK. 

There has to be something in it, otherwise the DPRK would not be even entertaining the idea of such a meeting.

Like I said, he won't fold like a cheap suit. Wait and see.

Be happy.

He's a master negotiator

I had to unplug Alexa when I read this out loud, such was the mirth. Trump's gonna need a really big cue card for that meeting.

It is good to see Trump following the Obama doctrine of diplomacy rather than useless tweets. Republicans rarely come around to the right policy. In this case Trump is so unstable and random he has simply accidentally done the right thing. NK is playing him like the stooge that he is. The winner, NK and second is SK. The rube is Trump. That is how it will all play out in May for sure.

But the news here in Japan is how the Abe fake news NHK NK daily propaganda effort is now totally destroyed. If Trump is going to meet the pudgy dictator doom and gloom is not on the doorstep. Abe used NK as a prop like he used the NK hostage issue to become PM the first failed time. It is totally cynical and unfortunately works pretty well to distract people from his only real concern, that is to change the constitution so grandpa will be proud of him.

Like I said, he won't fold like a cheap suit. Wait and see.

That actually doesn't mean anything. If you know that he's not one for folding (although evidence shows otherwise but that's off topic) you must have some idea of the incentives, no?

Be happy.

I'll be even happier when the talks go ahead and some progress is made, so the rest of us are not at the mercy of the whims from these two leaders.

Japan needs more than just platitudes, promises and weasel words ...

Been here before...

Bill Clinton on Virtues of North Korean Nuclear Deal - History Repeats Itself.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TcbU5jAavw

Bill Clinton Touts North Korea Deal in 1994..........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC4MHbbVaCg

clamenza: "President Trump has a sterling track record of supporting the military and Americans."

deferment, deferment, deferment, deferment, bone spurs. Then later sending them off to die in Nigeria in an uncleared mission. Yep, pretty sterling.

"I think you know. 'Nuff said."

So, you can't back up your statements with proof. Got it.

smithinjapan - you're all over the map. Bone spurs and Nigeria in the same sentence is not a good sign.

As for my exposing the flip-floppers. They know who they are and thats good enough

Supposedly there are fears in the State Dept and the Pentagon that once in NK, Trump may be held hostage for an exorbitant ransom. Apparently Tillerson has stated that the US will pay whatever the demands are so long as NK gives an iron-clad guarantee that they'll keep Trump...

clamenza: "As for my exposing the flip-floppers. They know who they are and thats good enough"

You cannot back up your wild accusations, plain and simple.

Trump has turned into a Left winger this year. First it was amnesty for illegals, then raising gas taxes, gun control, anti-free trade and now appeasement for a communist dictator. This is why I’ve always felt that Trump was not worth voting for. He has no core beliefs. He certainly has no grounding in Americanism and American governing traditions.

Pulling this Neville Chamberlain act with the Kim regime is a huge mistake. I remember when Obama said that he was open to meeting with the leaders of Iran and North Korea. It was a stupid idea then and it still is today. History shows that Kim is going to get an economic benefit from this and cheat on his obligations.

An absolutely GREAT day for the entire world. Not just freezing but denuclearizing North Korea.

Loved also how our president let the South Koreans announce this! That is class. That is diplomacy! That is leadership!

WINNING. . . .

The US Secret Service had better frisk Kim before the meeting. Even though I've commented before that Trump was going the right way about dealing with NK (i.e. crazier Trump dealing with crazy Kim), something doesn't seem quite right about how quickly this meeting has been arranged and how NK is suddenly willing to talk.

Trump has turned into a Left winger this year.

Trump was a a lifelong Democrat until a few years ago and he's not a Republican in the true sense of the word, he's most definitely a Populist.

Loved also how our president let the South Koreans announce this! That is class. That is diplomacy! That is leadership! 

WINNING. . . .

If this should work, he most definitely should get the Nobel Peace Prize.

"The only place they could meet is on the border."

I think Kim will insist on Disneyland.

President Trump agrees to historic meeting with North Korea

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu261maN_64

Kim looks happy in this photo. Then again, he looks happy in almost all his photos...

History shows that Kim is going to get an economic benefit from this and cheat on his obligations.

Very possibly but it’s still worth a crack.

This meeting will definitely take place whether Japan and any other nations may like it or not. (In reality, China and Russia are "sweating" and do not want that to happen.)

N Korea has never been a real threat for the US as much as for S Korea and Japan.

And... now can be a real threat for China and Russia. They both "played" and used N Korea for their ends at the expense of N Korea's place in the world community. US also needed N Korea as a "constant" and "consistent" reminder as a foe to keep S Korea and Japan as allies to prevent China and Russia from expanding into the Pacific after WWII and the Korean war.

Now, US needs N & S Korea to "unite" as a "powerful" (nuclear capable) ally to "face-off" China and Russia, especially China in Asia.

By Xi taking full power, and with Putin being all powerful, Asia's stability is at risk. US and S Korea cannot "afford" to have N Korea take side with either China or Russia. US cannot afford to be "arrogant" and "self-righteous".

On land, China is using the railway to connect Asian countries to Peking, in the pretext of economic aid for a greater Asia, while requiring those countries to use primarily Chinese workers to build the system who then remain at the location as maintenance and support personnel, literally "occupying" each country, and controlling their transportation system. And transportation is the key to controlling any economy and the population.

So Trump must talk with Kim even fs there is opposition domestically and internationally.

Kim looks happy in this photo. Then again, he looks happy in almost all his photos...

Right, Serrano. Y'know every time he doesn't look happy, someone is about to be taken behind the shed and shot.

The unsubtle Donald has been lusting after this deal from day one, and his flirty signaling to "Rocket Boy" has been obvious to everyone except the "experts" who are, as usual, unable to think "outside the box" (where Trump is always to be found "at home"). He had the same plan to make deals with the Kremlin, too, but came off the blocks too quickly (before his inauguration) and so became entangled in half-baked, backdoor negotiations and is now mired in a Grand Jury investigation that threatens to make his first term nasty, foolish and short. Even if he manages to weather the sudden Stormy scandal with the help of Christian conservatives, the menace of Melania may be another reason Trump wants split from the White House ASAP and buzz off to North Korea to placate her with a Nobel Peace Prize in his pocket.

Now, US needs N & S Korea to "unite" as a "powerful" (nuclear capable) ally to "face-off" China and Russia, especially China in Asia.

The US wants exactly the opposite. It would not be in the interest of the US to have a United Korea, not especially one with nuclear weapons and ICBMs. The best the US can do is keep South Korea and Japan as allies. One rung down would be Japan only.

Hey, maybe Kim just go tired of the whole "Dr. Evil" gig and decided his destiny was in being the Kim that opened the DPRK to the world. All this time he has been expected to run the family business just like his old man and gramps did; but where did that get him? He's a tin pot dictator of an impoverished, back water dead end of a country. He's surrounded by a bunch of old fart, weasley suck ups and programed sycophants, and for sure that has got to get stale after a while. Right now he's at the top of his heap, but it's a pretty small heap and shabby at that. On top of that, it's not like Kim gets a lot of opportunities to mingle with the rest of the world community and that must be kind of lonely sometimes. Just think of the splash Kim would make if he threw off the hermit cowl and joined the party.

Alas, I knew it was all too good to be true. Apparently the Trump administration is now trying to work out of this North Korea meeting. Supposedly Trump agreeing to meet Kim was a spontaneous reaction without any thought process, as Trump is prone to do. Now the White House is saying no meeting with NK without concessions.

The only thing more ridiculous than Abe is Trump, but we all knew that and should have known better to get upbeat so quickly.

Maybe Trump should sen first the porn star Stormy Daniels as an ambasador to Kim and after she works him over he may be more open to agree with Dotard.

No one expected Nixon would meet with Mao in 1972, but it happened. Sometimes it’s the people we expect the least of that astound us the most.

I don't agree with everything, or a lot, that Trump says and does.

But I am not going to be bigoted, this is a good thing. If Trump and Kim can come to any agreement, that would not only Boost Trump at home, it would keep Seoul safe. And I think the majority of us here on JT loves the average South Korean.

This has failed in the past, but I have a slight optimism given that Jong-Un spent parts of his childhood in Switzerland, and seems eager to at least, to a degree, modernize his country.

I wouldn't brush everything he's done under a comb before private talks, as I know there are some seriously powerful old-school generals in Pyongyang that holds tremendous power over their military that might have persuaded Kim to some of the actions that he's made.

Crippling sanctions at work.

Talking about coming to the table and starting dialog. Good. No meet set yet. No locations set yet.

Everyone calm down. Will wait to see what happens with some optimisms.

Should talks occur. I want see Mattis in the mix. Leave Rex behind.

 "I’m going to plead with you, do not cross us. Because if you do, the survivors will write about what we do here for 10,000 years."- Gen. Mattis

Something the DPRK should keep in mind when negotiating with current administration.