South Korea's National Security Office head Chung Eui-yong, center, Cho Yoon-je, the South Korean Ambassador to the U.S., right, and National Intelligence Service chief Suh Hoon, left, make an announcement about North Korea and the Trump administration outside of the West Wing at the White House in Washington, March 8, 2018.
BBC: Trump and North Korea talks: Strange optics of the North Korea announcement
When South Korea's national security adviser stood on the front lawn of the White House and delivered the news that North Korea's Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump would meet by May, a piece of history was made. But analyst Ankit Panda's dissection of that moment and the extraordinary statement shows that all may not be as it seems.
There was something profoundly odd about the optics of this announcement. Three South Koreans - National Security Adviser Chung Eui-yong, Suh Hoon the top spy chief, and the ambassador to the US Cho Yoon-je - stood shoulder-to-shoulder speaking to eagerly-gathered reporters outside the West Wing.
Without any American officials present, it very much placed this entire diplomatic initiative in South Korea's hands.
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WNU Editor: The last thing that I expected .... even a few days ago .... was seeing three South Koreans .... National Security Adviser Chung Eui-yong, Suh Hoon the top spy chief, and the ambassador to the US Cho Yoon-je .... standing in front of the White House and making this statement. There were no American officials present .... this was an entirely Korean affair ... including the remarks of praise and respect for President Trump from South Korea's National Security Office head Chung Eui-yong who was clearly pleased with accomplishing putting the players together for this summit.
1 comment:
Clearly this is a case of covert diplomacy, no leaks and no interagency squabbles resulting in all parties backing away.
Kudo's to the Trump Admin and Koreans for keeping it secret until they were ready for an announcement.
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