CNN: Secret, direct talks underway between US and North Korea
Washington (CNN)The United States and North Korea have been holding secret, direct talks to prepare for a summit between President Donald Trump and North Korea leader Kim Jong Un, a sign that planning for the highly anticipated meeting is progressing, several administration officials familiar with the discussions tell CNN.
Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo and a team at the CIA have been working through intelligence back-channels to make preparations for the summit, the officials said. American and North Korean intelligence officials have spoken several times and have even met in a third country, with a focus on nailing down a location for the talks.
Although the North Korean regime has not publicly declared its invitation by Kim Jong Un to meet with Trump, which was conveyed last month by a South Korean envoy, several officials say North Korea has since acknowledged Trump's acceptance, and Pyongyang has reaffirmed Kim is willing to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
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Update: Secret US-North Korea talks reportedly underway to prepare for summit (The Hill)
WNU Editor: No one should be surprised by the use of these back-channels. This is what diplomacy is all about.
2 comments:
WNU Editor,
Your editor comment is spot on. As a trained diplomat you would certainly know this. With that said the statement is actually experiential common sense. Humans have been using "back channels" throughout history. For example, we wish to make a sale. We consult with people who know important people within the organization and are on good terms with them to try and facilitate the achievement of our goals.
In international diplomacy these "back channels" will likely become even more important when the official channels are closed due to either sheer pettiness or political reasons mean someone cannot "save face" by meeting publically. Obviously the talks need to be kept somewhat "secret" as North Korea and China will need to be allowed to save face somewhat.
Furthermore there is an unscrupulous element in the US who it appears will do just about anything to undermine an American POTUS that they despise. Would they stoop to the level of undermining a careful diplomatic process here? They have already done it at least once. As such, I would not put it past them to try again.
Lots of prep work for this.
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