North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un looks at President Trump as Kim's sister Kim Yo Jong exchanges documents with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Reuters: Trump, Kim agree on denuclearization, but deal seen symbolic
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged on Tuesday to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula while Washington committed to provide security guarantees for its old enemy.
The joint statement signed at the end of their historic summit in Singapore gave few details on how either goal would be achieved but Trump fleshed out some details at a news conference.
“President Trump committed to provide security guarantees to the DPRK and Chairman Kim Jong Un reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” said the statement.
DPRK is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the formal name of North Korea.
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WNU Editor: I was hoping that there would be more "meat" in their joint communique .... but when one looks at it very closely ....there is not much there. I am not surprised that President Trump agreed to halt U.S. military exercises with treaty ally South Korea (this could always be restarted in the future), nor am I surprised that North Korea is going to destroy a missile site (they could easily build another one somewhere else). Sanctions are still there, and there is still no real firm roadway for North Korea to denuclearize. But if I look at it as one step among many .... and resign myself to the realization that this is going to take time .... I would then label this summit a success. And if Kim Jong-un keeps to his promises (of which I am still dubious), then we are going in the right direction. Nuclear and missile tests are not going to resume, and tensions between North Korea and the U.S. are better today than at anytime in the past. What is also important in my observation and analysis of this summit is what do North Korea's neighbors think .... and what is their reaction to what happened today. China, Russia, and South Korea are praising this agreement. And even Japan is giving it a "thumbs up" .... World reaction to Trump-Kim declaration (SBS). To me .... their reaction is important. North Korea is their neighbor .... and ultimately their problem.
WNU will be giving a full news wrap-up on this summit .... including commentaries and analysis from the pundits .... later in the day.
3 comments:
Not for a second do it think Kim deserves anything less than a firing squad. The lasting hatreds and murders committed by the Kim clan against Americans still sting, not to mention what they did to South Koreans or Japanese. The explosions, kidnappings, infiltrations, unprovoked military attacks going back 6 decades are still raw.
The fact the document doesn’t engaged in sugary phrases is a good sign to me that the process will go slowly with each side using “trust but verify”.
It's early, but I am happy how this is proceeding. Your not going to get more 'meat'; far to many issues to resolve. I like the give and take this far and since sanctions remain until real progress is established means NK will proceed quickly. But again it's early.
Not that I know anything, but I believe this is the outcome China engineered. Their message to Kim, in person, would have been, "No detailed and specific commitments when we are not at the table."
Question is, does China want to actually sit at the table? Maybe. Whatever is necessary to further their interests. If Kim's control at home gets sketchy, I expect 4 party talks to result.
Site editor sounds right when he remarks about the significance of any softening of the stand off at the DMZ. Kim's soft underbelly is the erosion of control that will occur as the winds of opportunity and freedom seep north. That is a serious threat to China also.
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