The statement tonight by South Korean National Security Adviser Chung Eui-yong is so jaw-dropping in significance it has left the professional diplomatic apparatus stunned.
A year of targeted and strategic geopolitical policy execution by President Trump, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley has resulted in North Korean leader Kim Jong-un accepting denuclearization and requesting a meeting with President Trump to achieve terms therein.
Yeah, HO-LEE-CATS is an understatement. The possibility of a willingly denuclearized Korean peninsular is such an astounding policy victory; it is difficult to conceptualize. Here’s the statement from South Korea’s Chung Eui-yong:
“Good evening, today I had the privilege of briefing President Trump on my recent visit to Pyongyang, North Korea. I’d like to thank President Trump, the vice-president and his wonderful national security team, including my close friend General McMaster.”
“I thanked President Trump that his leadership, and his maximum pressure policy together with international solidarity, brought us to this juncture. I expressed President Moon Jae-in’s personal gratitude for President Trump’s leadership.”
“I told President Trump that in our meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he is committed to denuclearization. Kim pledged that North Korea will refrain from any further nuclear or missile tests; he understands that the routine joint military exercises between the Republic of Korea and the United States must continue. And he expressed his eagerness to meet President Trump as soon as possible.”
“President Trump appreciated the briefing and said he would meet Kim Jong-un by May to achieve permanent denuclearization.”
“The Republic of Korea along with the United States, Japan and our many partners around the world, remain fully and resolutely committed to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsular.”
“Along with President Trump we are optimistic about continuing a diplomatic process to test the possibility of a peaceful resolution. The Republic of Korea, The United States and our partners stand together in insisting that we not repeat the mistakes of the past; and that the pressure will continue until North Korea matches it’s words with concrete actions. Thank You.” (link)
Korea Times – North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has expressed willingness to meet U.S. President Donald Trump for talks over denuclearization, South Korean officials visiting Washington said, Friday.
In response, Trump said he would like to meet him by May, they said.
National Security Office chief Chung Eui-yong, one of President Moon Jae-in’s envoys to Pyongyang who is now visiting Washington, said in a press briefing at the White House that he delivered such messages of Kim to Trump.
Kim also said he was “committed to denuclearization” and would “refrain from any further nuclear or missile tests,” Chung said. (link)
“Complicated business folks,… Complicated business”When it comes to the use of economic leverage to create U.S. national security outcomes, well, we are learning at the knee of an economic master player. {Deep Dive}
I could have sworn I heard somewhere that Trump’s idiotic, dunder-headed, incompetent approach to N. Korea was going to result in a nuclear war. I wonder where I might have heard such a wrong, failed analysis? Who would have been saying such dumb things?
The Un regime is looking for a payday, sword rattling and threats didn’t work. Trump may be smart enough to see this. No more trust but verify, verify then be sceptical. This guy took food from the poor and fed his army.
@kitt: If military action is ever to be taken, the President must pursue all avenues to have tried to avoid it. I have no delusions that Un suddenly changed his mind and is going to give up his nuclear weapons at this meeting.
Of course, moronic crybaby liberals like Raving Madcow, who just a few months ago was criticizing Trump as a warmonger are not criticizing him for wanting to pursue a diplomatic result. Thus, they remove all questions as to whether or not they are just whiny, spoiled little sore loser turds.
@Bill… Deplorable Me: Fire and fury taking out his military bases, launch facilities in centralized strikes, and minimizing any civilian deaths, within days Un would be over. We dont need any more countries in turmoil.
I would like to believe this is a breakthrough, but my suspicion is that this is Kim Jong-un shifting international perception of the situation. They’ve been hellbent on developing nuclear warheads and a delivery system for decades, and have clearly been making their final big push for success over the last couple of years. Their progress has rapidly accelerated. My assumption is that they either have reached their goal and believe they now have a workable prototype system that they want to build on, or think they are very close to that point. It’s possible—if not probable—that the shift in diplomatic posture is a calculated move to buy time for that to happen.
What’s the likelihood that they have come all this way with their program just to say, Oh, never mind. We’ve decided it’s better to be nice? Not so great, I would think.
That said, any opening that allows a de-escalation of tension is something to try to take full advantage of. That’s true whether North Korea has nukes or not. War on the Korean peninsula would be an international catastrophe, conventional or otherwise. Our own nation would be seriously damaged as a result. Thousands in our own military would die.
@Greg: The pentagon has every strength of lil kim mapped, starving soldiers dont make good ones. Not the point Kim needs food and fuel, he has come with hat in hand.
@kitt, #6:
04-25-2017 — What North Korea’s Military Looks Like Compared to the U.S.
01-03-2018 — North Korea’s Military Capabilities
There is no good military option. There hasn’t been for a long time now.
And Kim Jong-un’s suggestion that he might go along with denuclearization? When they’ve worked for decades to acquire them, and already have them? Yeah, sure. We should talk. But we should understand the reality as we do so.
@Greg: Military options are never good, tanks ect need fuel. A couple of MOABs would end his missle program. At this time looks like fatty wants to talk we can hope it turns out good.
@Greg:
It’s not a breakthrough until it’s a breakthrough. Everyone is suspicious of Un and assume he is stalling. However, the last step before military action is face to face talks. I assume this will be made clear to Un and, more importantly and effectively, to China, Russia and the gutless UN.
N. Korea’s standing army is of no concern; this won’t be a land battle. It will be nuclear, because THEY have nukes and they are threatening others with nukes. It is no-win for anyone, but N. Korea (and parts of S. Korea) will simply cease to exist.
N. Korea cannot be allowed to have a deliverable nuclear weapon.
@Greg: And I thought Bill Clinton had all this solved back in the 1990’s.