I have asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to go to North Korea, at this time, because I feel we are not making sufficient progress with respect to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula...— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 24, 2018
CNBC: Trump cancels Pompeo trip to North Korea, cites lack of 'sufficient progress' on denuclearization
* President Donald Trump on Friday announced that he had asked his secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, to cancel a planned trip to North Korea.
* The president cited a lack of progress on denuclearization talks, but also pointed a finger at China, which he accused of deliberately withholding cooperation on North Korea in order to gain an advantage in the escalating trade war between the Washington and Beijing.
* Evidence strongly suggests that North Korea has continued to develop its nuclear capabilities in recent months, despite a joint statement in June from Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un that they would work towards denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.
President Donald Trump on Friday announced that he had asked his secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, to cancel a planned trip to North Korea because there had not been enough progress in talks so far.
Trump's tweets also indicated that he holds China responsible in part for the lack of progress. "I do not believe they are helping with the process of denuclearization as they once were," Trump wrote, and claimed the shortage of help was "because of our much tougher Trading stance with China,."
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WNU Editor: North and South Korean leaders are to meet in September. That summit will impact future decisions between the U.S. - North Korea.
More News On President Trump Canceling US Secretary Of State Pompeo's North Korea Trip
Trump asks Pompeo to delay visit to North Korea -- AP
Trump calls off Pompeo's planned trip to North Korea -- Reuters
Trump calls off Pompeo North Korea trip, blasts China -- AFP
Trump calls off Pompeo’s North Korea visit, citing a lack of progress on denuclearization -- Washington Post
Trump says Pompeo won't go to North Korea, criticizes denuclearization progress -- CNN
Trump tells Secretary of State Pompeo to cancel North Korea trip -- FOX News
Trump asks Pompeo not to go to North Korea citing lack of progress on denuclearization -- ABC News
President Trump tweets that Mike Pompeo will not be visiting North Korea -- CBS
Trump calls off high-level North Korea visit by Pompeo -- The Hill
16 comments:
The North and South Korean meeting is actually more important than any meeting between US officials and North Korea. It actually probably makes more sense to have this meeting first and then once we have a better idea of where things are actually going to then have a meeting between US and NK officials. Sometimes the tendency has been if diplomatic efforts aren't going the way we want them to is continue the process based upon inertia. At least its good to see that POTUS is flexible enough to change course.
I'm pretty sure in light of the concessions already made NK wanted to see relief on sanctions. I think it is premature to consider that at this time. I wouldn't be surprised if POTUS and his team have come under pressure from some quarters to do just that.
My suggestion to South Korea would be to have a plan in place to develop nuclear weapons and to do so quickly. After all should the current diplomatic initiative fail they will need to be ready. Had I been South Korea or their leaders I would have developed a meaningful nuclear deterrent long ago.
Have the meeting between the SK and NK leaders, see where that goes, and plan accordingly. While it is disappointing to see a setback in this, it is not surprising. Frankly, I am surprised at the progress that has been made. Who knows, if this can be delayed long enough, we might actually be able to get our military ready should we have to fight.
Nothing happened in Singapore. It was a TV episode to satisfy the egos of two raging dips$%ts.
"Just landed - a long trip, but everybody can now feel much safer than the day I took office. There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea. Meeting with Kim Jong Un was an interesting and very positive experience. North Korea has great potential for the future!"
Pres. Deals June 13. We live in the dumbest times.
Anon,
Since the trip happened, Japan has lowered their level of alert with regards to NK, numerous high level meetings between officials on all sides have taken place, based upon the diplomatic initiative the SK leadership enjoys high approval rating and cruised to reelection, and, as of now, talks in September between SK and NK officials are still on. Also, while the dismantling appears to have been delayed which could be for a variety of reasons, work has been started on dismantling of NK's primary launch site. As such, the evidence as illustrated by the parties on the ground and those who are directly involved something positive clearly did happen in Singapore. We may still continue parroting the talking point but it will not make it accurate no matter how many times you repeat it.
As to Trump's tweet, it may be accurate. If this diplomatic initiative fails, we are likely to cut South Korea loose. When freed from that yoke, it becomes much easier to deal with North Korea should we have to do it through military or diplomatic means. As such, I consider a strong possibility that the statement is fully accurate that the nuclear threat from NK to America has been eliminated. After all I think it was an American audience the that this tweet was primarily directed to. Furthermore as evidenced by the actions of the parties on the ground who are directly involved and face the highest risk if this wrong appear to have no issue with the tweet in question.
As such, based upon a careful examination of the evidence the assertion that nothing happened in Singapore is inaccurate and repeating it over and over again will not make it accurate. Admittedly when faced with contradictory assessments and we lack inside information that is in real time it can be a judgment call as to which assessment is credible. In this case, clearly the assessments of the South Koreans, the Japanese, and team Trump should carry more weight than those of talking head pundits who, while they may cite "experts," their experts lack credibility and have shown an overt bias against these efforts pretty much from the beginning. Combine this with their general poor track record and it would tend to discredit the notion that nothing happened in Singapore. Nevertheless, thanks for sharing. Now the serious people can move onto hopefully solving this problem, hopefully. Inaccurate talking points are not helpful. At least for the most part, they probably don't undermine things to much as I suspect no on in the region takes any of these pundits very seriously.
Let the "Wonder Team" of the cadaverous Johnny K and the prior occupant of the White House, take over, right anon?
Step one to success, fly billions to NK. Then fly billions to China. All at night with no consultation with anybody or anything. Not needed.
Step two to success, drop pants.
Step three to success, unscrew Vasilene[sp] container lid.
Steps two and three's order can be interchangeable. After all, the "Wonder Team" are diplomatic professionals and appreciate flexibility in negociating[sp].
Damn I dislike trying to spell in inngrizhe.
Agree on #2, Poster.
I also think when Trump made his comments, that was the case. Then pudgy went to China. 1+1=s 2, anon. In other words, before china trip, after china trip.
Let china and nk trade together to offset sanctions. China's belt and road power grab is crumbling. It has been exposed for what it is. A self serving and debt entrapping deal by and for the chinese. What country just canceled further participation in china's debt entrapping scam? Malaysia? After an election that swept out the paid off crook who indebted that country on behalf of the yellow peril the election winner called it like it is. No mas. Got that anon? China's financial pastures are drying up. Trump stopped the rains. China has to go elsewhere to keep their momentum up.
Let nk starve. Won't be the first time they died by the millions in their workers paradise. Let China sell them dust enriched noodle soup. With weevil protein, or their famous adulterated honey. Good for C
china [of course], good for nk.{better than tree bark dust noodles].
This isn't in my mind a Trump failure. Quit sounding like pelosi, obama, etc., anon.
Stinking liberal software programmers; always have to correct them, pelosi and obama are not proper nouns.
End of rant.
Roger,
As always thank you for the reply. You may actually be right. With that said with regards to NK and nuclear weapons I think DJT and his team would have known that Kim would be meeting with Xi. As such, I still, at this time, stand by my original analysis. As I stated, and at the risk of looking like a "broken record," when faced with conflicting analyses it is going to be a judgment call as to who we are going to believe.
I think you are spot on about the "power grab" failing. Something to think about, when the US became a major world power, we did so by adding value to others. The western Europeans, the Japanese, South Koreans, Canadians, Australians, and others I could go on have become very, very rich trading with us and working with us over many decades. China does not seem to have figured this out.
They are currently losing the trade war. They could then switch to a military conflict which they might win but it risks being EXTREMELY costly. So much for the Chinese century.
"...China's financial pastures are drying up."
China plays the long game. Do you honestly think Eurasia, with its 4 billion people and resource wealth is going to sideline the most populous country on the planet? You might want to have your grandkids learn to speak Mandarin. It will help them in their job search.
Back on topic, a decade from now NK will still have a nuclear deterrent. A more accurate deterrent. They have no good reason to give them up. If you can think of one, please name it.
Oh please I've heard this "learn Chinese" for decades. It was a big hit ten years ago and now no one cares. No one wants to learn Chinese and most people won't. The Chinese are learning English. And the smart Chinese are moving to Europe and the US. That's the reality.
Anon,
Interesting question. You could be correct about China. I've heard this argument made regarding China. They may have overplayed a fabulous hand if they continue to resist negotiating a more equitable trade agreement with America.
As for why NK might give up its nuclear weapons, 1.)they don't and the other nations of the region Japan, South Korea etc nuclear arm. China wouldn't want that. 2.)China and Russia have had a fabulous run. They may well be the most powerful countries in the world now. They may want to "lock in" those gains. Having a crazy North Korean leader threatening nuclear annihilation of your biggest trading partner threatens to undermine all these gains. In the case of Russia, such an action introduces an unstable element threatening their gains as well. As such, it may be time for Kim to change course or a more compliant puppet can be introduced. While the sanctions have had some holes, they have been largely successful. I hypothesize this is part of the reason why.
"...a decade from now NK will still have a nuclear deterrent..." The other nations in the region don't agree with the talking point as is observed by the actions they've taken and are taking as I point out in the posts above and elsewhere on this site. If they did, they wouldn't be taking the actions they are currently taking.
When presented with a talking point and actions of those with first hand knowledge and experience in the situation and they are in disagreement, I'm going to go with the later every time unless their is extraordinary evidence to contradict such a position. In this case, there simply isn't. Thanks for sharing though.
As to "name one," I think I just did. Essentially it undermines China's long range position and exacerbates an unstable element to Russia. Adding to their headaches the other countries are going to nuclear arm and America is going to withrdaw. FINALLY!! With America there the Chinese could have generally counted on America to restrain these countries as we didn't want "made in China" endangered. With these countries nuclear armed and America no longer there as a buffer the Chinese headache is now a fullblown migraine. I can go on here. Essentially a nuclear armed NK is a liability to them.
As to China playing the "long game," I once blindly accepted the talking point. No more. If they did, they would have already locked in their gains and agreed to a nore equitable trade agreement with America. Much more is to ve gained by the American model of ascension, add value don't steal and intimidate and no they won't be "sidelined." Such a large population of essentially slave labor serving foreigners is far to valuable to "sideline." Think "century of humiliation" on steroids for China. Continue the current policies and this is their fate and the neighboring countries will be far more ruthless than westerners ever were.
Actually "learn Chinese" was big in 1998. It does seem to be accurate that allot more Chinese are coming here than vice versa.
Bottom line: Chinese advancement has less to do with playing the "long game" and more to do with stupidity on the part of American leadership. Continuing playing the same "long game" and the future is not a "Chinese century" but is instead "a century of humiliation on steroids."
"When presented with a talking point and actions of those with first hand knowledge and experience in the situation and they are in disagreement, I'm going to go with the later every time unless their is extraordinary evidence to contradict such a position. In this case, there simply isn't. Thanks for sharing though."
And those people would be......? Please, do tell.
Get back at me when SK and Japan have their nukes. I'll be waiting on that Iran regime, too. It's all part of the plan, right?
Who would those people be? They would be the variety of talking head pundits and "experts" who have given us wrong information for decades and whose previous policy prescriptions have created much of the problems we are facing now.
When SK and Japan acquire nuclear weapons, you won't need me to get back at you. It'll be obvious. These are tech savy countries. It's not like it would be hard from them. I'd be surprised if they don't already have the components in place. These people are smart. As for our cabal of talking head pundits and "experts," not so much
As for Iran, this is a,separate issue requiring completely different approaches. With regards to Iran and a number of other challenges we face, Russian assistance would be very helpful. Policies that seek to inflame tensions with Russia for no good reason aren't helpful.
By trying to change the subject Iran completely different topic is a,sure sign you aren't winning the current argument. Thank you for sharing though.
Anon 8:47PM.
I think China will and is sidelining itself. It appears you didn't read my post or note the news this week. My post of 4:57PM today tells of what I mention here.
China is China. A pushy and arrogant culture whose then leaders said we smelled when an American admiral went to the Chinese heads of state in 1857, I believe it was, in an attempt to open trade with China. The clothing is different. So is the calendar's date but the arrogance is still there.
I don't understand the figure 4 billion Eurasians. I don't feel they are unified. China's neighbors are wary of China and arming as a result. Again, note the frictions the Chinese Belt and Road plan is currently creating. Google it if you think I'm making this up. This trading plan of China's has been going on for awhile now.
There has been friction for years over fishing practices of China in other's soveirgn[sp] waters. Still is. South China Sea islands friction. Spratley Islands ring a bell. If not, give a phone call to the Vietnamese embassy. Or the Phillipines. The 1979 invasion of Vietnam by China...heard of that?
4 billion Eurasians, I don't know. Unified with China? Not. China is a nice neighbor only when they get their way.
I'm in Asia now. Very few have ever uttered the words "I want to move to china..." maybe 1 or two at most out of 100..and that was before their social scoring system. Now only desperate or crazy people want to go to China. How many people I talked to want to live in Europe? Maybe 10%. To US? More than 20%. Rest wants to stay - often the older
Oh and IN China. .the Chinese want to go to live in USA or Europe. So I fully agree. No one will learn China. It's not this advantage people (language schools) claimed in their marketing. Especially now that we do all of our production in Vietnam. No one wants to be extorted. We lose too much money in China and all the time it takes to negotiate their cut. They just wanted more and more. No thanks
By the way, on CNN the language is "Trump BLOCKED Pompeo's trip"
CNN. ..misleading brand #1
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