BBC: S Korean envoys 'to take message from Kim to US'
South Korean envoys will bring a private message to the US from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un when they meet in Washington later this week, according to reports.
They were given the undisclosed message on Monday when meeting Mr Kim in rare talks in Pyongyang, local media say.
It is not clear whether the envoys will meet US President Donald Trump.
Previous US talks with North Korea have come to nothing and there has been no comment from Pyongyang itself.
It has also been agreed that the two Koreas' leaders will meet at a summit in April for the first time in more than a decade, and the first since Mr Kim took power.
Read more ....
MIDDLE EAST
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Turkey urges US to stop Kurdish militia's Afrin advance.
UN: US-backed SDF recruits children.
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Netanyahu attacks Iran and says Trump still set to abandon nuclear deal.
Hariri court rejects bid to acquit Hezbollah suspect.
Record number of women register to run in Lebanon election.
Israeli Army erects West Bank checkpoints to collect Palestinians' personal details.
ASIA
Kim Jong-un says US is 'the sworn enemy to humankind' as South Korean President Moon warns it's 'too early to be optimistic' over North's offer of denuclearisation.
South Korea president assures political rivals North sanctions will continue.
South Korea: 'Too early to be optimistic' on North.
Seoul: U.S.-North Korea talks may precede inter-Korean dialogue in April.
US: North Korea used chemical agent VX to kill Kim Jong Un half-brother.
Pakistani army says it shot down Indian drone in Kashmir.
Sri Lanka blocks social media as Buddhist mobs attack mosques, anti-Muslim rioting flares. Violence continues in Sri Lanka despite emergency decree. Sri Lanka police and Buddhist rioters clash after emergency declared.
US lauds Afghan offer to open talks with Taliban.
East Timor and Australia sign treaty ending long-running gas dispute. Australia, East Timor sign deal on maritime border, agree to share revenue from Greater Sunrise oil and gas.
Lawyer: Presidential pardon for Pakistan's Asia Bibi 'unlikely'.
AFRICA
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U.N. criticizes Angola for forcing refugees to return to violent Congo.
Egyptian jamming of Sinai insurgents disrupts phones in Israel, Gaza.
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Somalia: Al-Shabab 'orders closure of football pitches'.
Ethiopian ruling party to meet next week to choose new PM.
Rwanda won't renew agreement with Human Rights Watch.
EUROPE
Outrage in Britain as Russian ex-spy fights for his life.
Britain knows more about mystery substance behind illness of Russian double agent.
Hungary PM announces new batch of pre-election handouts.
'They are terrified': Italy election result deepens refugees' deportation fears.
UK PM to raise human rights concerns in Saudi crown prince visit.
EU firms lash out at new net privacy rules.
US juice and peanut butter face new EU tax.
Belgium hands out millions of iodine pills in case of nuclear accident.
AMERICAS
Trump says he'll counteract any Russia meddling in midterms.
Donald Trump's top economic adviser Gary Cohn quits.
US trade deficit hits nine-year high on falling exports.
Jared Kushner leads US delegation to Mexico for visit with president.
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Opioid crisis: Overdose rates jump 30% in one year.
US sues California over pro-immigrant laws.
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Argentine Congress to debate legalising abortion.
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TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
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Zawahiri incites followers in the Maghreb.
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ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
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Germany and EU hit back at Donald Trump's trade war threat.
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Coca-Cola plans to launch its first alcoholic drink.
3 comments:
The timing is interesting. Perhaps they just want to join the rest of the world. Perhaps they fear a nuclear holocaust. Perhaps they see negotiations with the South as a means of taking over the whole country of Korea.
Most likely it is because of Trump. Trump is to be feared for his idiotic bragging and war projections and the possibility that he may launch because he gets angry at Melania over something she says, or doesn't say.
On the other hand, perhaps it is because of Trump whose senseless rhetoric has placed the US in such a position worldwide that they have no international support regarding involvement in the negotiations.
If NK is serious about negotiations with the South and it looks as if it is going ahead in a positive way, what ever will the US military do to turn it around so the flow of money for the military dance will continue?
Or, perhaps they just need food.
Mr. Huntley,
To which idiotic bragging are you referring to. After being threatened with destruction by North Korea many, many times and backing America essentially into a corner, Mr. Trump had little choice but to respond. As to idiotic bragging, it was the previous POTUS who referred to the US as a "super power" and "indispensable.: Thus far the current POTUS has refrained from such non sense. As to "war projections," when a very powerful country with numerous powerful allies threatens us repeatedly with destruction, of course POTUS will have to respond with "war projections."
As to "senseless rhetoric," a very powerful country who has had major world powers backing it has threatened us with destruction, leaving us with no choice but to respond. To have not responded by warning this country and others that America will not sit idly by and wait for others to hit it, hope it can absorb the crushing blow, and then respond would be "sensless."
With this said, we have 28,000 or so troops in South Korea. We have invested allot of time, money, and much blood to assist South Korea in attaining their freedom asking little to nothing in return. Given the huge investment, we have to be involved in negotiations. Furthermore South Korea is a country where 33% of the leadership views us as an enemy. There is concern that they will sell us out. As such, we have to be fully "in the loop" on all aspects.
Without Donald Trump it is unlikely these negotiations get going at all. Perhaps all of the so called rhetoric has convinced some that the US will no longer passively tolerate naked aggression against it and its people.
I agree with you that this is moving forward in a "positive way." While we have had this type of situation in the past and it did not work out, there is a new element. Never before has America had a POTUS with the extreme prowess at negotiating that Mr. Trump has. As such, I am cautiously optimistic that we will succeed here. If so, Mr. Trump should get a Nobel Peace prize. As both the editor and I have pointed out elsewhere, this will not happen. Achieving a peaceful resolution and the fact that everyone will know who was/is the primary driving force behind it will be more than enough.
There is little to nothing that the US military can do about this. As a practical matter, should hot war ensue the South Koreans will take command of US forces. Essentially these US forces are their pawns and neither the US nor its leaders have any say in how they will be used in such a conflict.
Any solution to the conflict will be incomplete and insufficient if it does not involve the redeployment of US forces. When this happens our national humiliation at the hands of South Korea can finally begin to end. I would not expect the South Koreans to give up their American pawns/cannon fodder so easily. As stated, we will need to be in the loop on all negotiations and informed of what all sides are doing. There is extreme risk that South Korea will sell us out and obviously we cannot trust North Korea right now either.
Why would he launch an attack over anything Melania may or may not say? By all indications by anyone who would be in a position to actually know, Mr. and Mrs. Trump have an excellent relationship. Hearsay put forth by enemies of the president should be taken with extreme skepticism and given that the available visual evidence indicates an excellent relationship I tend to discount this.
Call me an old fuddy duddy, but I would prefer to wait till various sides sat down and did some actual negotiations...till such time, there is little need or use for May be This; May be that...I have a feeling that both sides will not pay much heed to the comments here.
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