South Korea's national security chief, Chung Eui-yong, briefs US President Donald Trump at the Oval Office about his visit to North Korea, in Washington on March 8. Photo: Presidential Blue House / Yonhap via Reuters
Robert E. McCoy, Asia Times: Trump knew of Kim’s invitation long before it was received
The paper trail leading to the North Korea-US summit is longer than thought, but some Americans worry that Trump may be played by the wily Kim.
Media around the world have reacted with astonishment at how quickly the summit between North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un and American President Donald Trump appears to have been agreed upon. However, prior to the surprise announcement on the White House lawn, there were signs – not widely reported – that something was afoot.
Kim is always probing for advantage in his dealings with Seoul and Washington and his advisors saw the environment in South Korea with the liberal Moon administration as ripe – but to be sure, other factors were also at play. For convenience, here is a brief recap of the more salient dynamics:
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WNU Editor: The above author may be onto something here, but I think he is wrong in his focus on President Trump .... I think this is more South Korean - North Korean back-channels at work. The South Koreans for the past two decades have been trying to lessen tensions on the Peninsula, and to lay the groundwork for mutual economic development and political stability. In turn .... the North Korean leadership have had an ambivalent view of these efforts .... they have taken what they wanted, but for them the status quo was the preferred option. President Trump's successful push for sanctions has changed the dynamics for North Korea .... especially since the imposition of new UN sanctions a few months ago, and a time frame of two years for implementation. The writing is now on the wall .... and I am sure the North Koreans know it. So enter the South Koreans who understand the situation perfectly, and are now giving the Kim regime an out. Will this succeed .... I do not know. But this is the best opportunity that I have seen in my lifetime for real change in North Korea, and if President Trump becomes the instrument for South Korea and North Korea to accomplish it .... so be it.
5 comments:
I think Kim just needed something else to focus on rather than Nuclear weapons. A bit like inception, once the idea was implemented hes looked to the greater international community to help him achieve it.
Actually the Kim regime has nothing to gain by improving relations with he US. One thing a dictatorship needs is an imminent threat. To exploit and flame and use as the instrument by which they oppress their people. A full state military mobilization for some 70 years. Starvation and impreisinment of the proles. All to justify the benevolent leader in his “protection” from the US.
Without the agitprop threat of the US, Kim’s reason for being vanishes
Russ,
Interesting analysis. I think there's some truth. I would add that the South appears to have often used us as their military arm essentially as pawns to be used as they see fit. In fact, I've suggested for a number of years that SK be dumped in the manner one dumps an abusive girl friend/boy friend. This eliminates all pretenses of America being a threat to NK. Negotiations become much easier without SK in dealing with both NK and their nain benefactor China.
Candidate Trump correctly called out SK by name. I suspect this provided some incentive for them to use that "back channel" to actually try and seriously advance peace and here we are.
If we liken a serious peace process to an American football game, peace had the ball 4th and 30 from it's own one inch line. Punting is not an option in this game!! Like lightning the ball has been advanced to midfield and its first and ten.
Whatever works. The last meeting before war or peace.
RussinSoCal
Not just dictatorships but plutocracies as well. It has been used for a long time in the USA.
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