CNN: South Korea's Moon credits Trump with 'huge' contribution to North Korea talks
(CNN)South Korean President Moon Jae-in has credited his US counterpart Donald Trump with making a "huge" contribution to bringing the North and South together for landmark talks.
Giving his New Year press conference in Seoul Wednesday, Moon added he would be willing to sit down with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the future, but wouldn't have "a meeting for the sake of a meeting," calling for Pyongyang to move towards denuclearization.
"War must not break out on the Korean Peninsula again," Moon said. "My goal is to resolve the North Korean nuclear problem and solidify peace during my term."
On Tuesday, following a long day of negotiations at the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas, Pyongyang agreed to send a delegation to next month's Winter Olympics and to hold talks with Seoul to ease military tensions.
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Update #1: South Korea's Moon says Trump deserves 'big' credit for North Korea talks (Reuters)
Update #2: Trump deserves credit for Korea talks, says President Moon (BBC)
WNU Editor: These talks are a South Korean show. But would they have occurred if President Trump did not put pressure on those who trade with North Korea to put pressure on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to at least participate in some form of dialogue with South Korea .... I think not.
1 comment:
So far this appears to have been one of the most brilliant diplomatic moves in the history of civilization on the part of president Trump and his team. With that said there is still much that can go wrong and I may be misreading the situation.
First we have South Korea and Japan building up their military capabilities which has included Japan taking concrete steps towards voiding its antiquated post WW2 "pacifist constitution." Then we have Japan and South Korea openly engaging in joint military exercise. Additionally, while it has been tepid, South Korea has considered the deployment of THAAD and, while the deployment of US nuclear weapons on South Korean soil was rejected outright, things such as THAAD and US nuclear weapon deployment would have been considered unthinkable to even discuss by South Korea just a year and half ago. Recently major sanctions have been put into place agreed to by China and Russia that will only get tougher as time goes on. As such, it appears the traditional rock solid support that North Korea has enjoyed from two of the world's major powers may not be so solid anymore.
When faced with a deteriorating situation that is only going to get worse on its current course, North Korean calculus may be that they need to get to the negotiating table and negotiate in good faith for an honorable peace as victory for us is no longer assured as it once was and we can no longer act with impunity as we once could.
There are potential pit falls. North Korea may not be serious. This is a potential problem. With problems there are opportunities. We can use the additional time build up our military capabilities and enhance our homeland security allowing us a better chance of victory should hot war ensue.
Also, North Korea has sought to convince the world that their nukes are only aimed at the US. In a country like South Korea where much of the military, 33% of the officers according to a survey, do not like America, some may buy into this and there is the possibility of them betraying us. This type of thing should keep POTUS and other US leaders up at night. This is clearly a problem.
As stated, problems create opportunities. Should South Korea betray us this will once and for all free us from the South Korean tether. If this happens, I think we would be in a much better position to negotiate our own separate peace agreement with North Korean freed from the concerns of South Korea. As I have stated, we should help the South Korean people where and when possible, however, their government is not trustworthy but it may be that they do what other nations do. Act in their own interests!! After all this is what normal countries do!! They act in their own interests!! Perhaps American should seriously consider trying to behave like a normal country. Act in our own interests!!
Editor,
You write "these talks are a South Korean show." You may be correct but I would not be so pessimistic. We've managed to get this far. Getting North Korea to the negotiating table would have been unthinkable just a few months ago. I would not be so pessimistic. I think the issues between the Koreas can be resolved and peace achieved. With that said America should work on upgrading its military capabilities and enhance its homeland security. I think there is a saying, to roughly paraphrase, "hope and strive for peace, prepare for war." I think this is the case here. America cannot and should not let its guard down.
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