Baggage...
Citing US Invasions of Iraq and Libya, North Korea Says 'Repugnance' of John Bolton Threatens Talks
"North Korea sees the prospect of John Bolton driving negotiations as a real threat, realizing his main goal may be driving them into the ground."

 haresfur wrote: 
yeah, pretty stupid going there.  somewhere I remember hearing that we would not stop holding our exercises regardless of how things progressed, but this is a show of bad faith on US / SK's part.

Oh well ...

 R_P wrote: 
Well, what do you expect when you won't meet the other side's symbolic de-escalation with your own symbolic de-escalation?

North Korea cancels talks with South Korea and warns US

North Korea has cancelled Wednesday's high-level talks with South Korea because of anger over its joint military exercises with the US.

The North's official KCNA news agency said the exercises were a "provocation" and a rehearsal for an invasion.

It also warned the US over the fate of the historic summit between Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump that is scheduled for 12 June in Singapore. (...)

North Korea’s Leader Was Funny, Charming, and Confident but Brought His Own Toilet

Thanks, Obama !!
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Korean leaders plan an end to war and 'complete denuclearization'

Kim Jong Un makes history; crosses border for summit with Moon

(...) Kim's news agency said that the leader would "open-heartedly" discuss with Moon "all the issues arising in improving inter-Korean relations and achieving peace, prosperity and reunification of the Korean peninsula" in a "historic" summit. It's the first time one of the ruling Kim leaders has crossed over to the southern side of the Demilitarized Zone since the Korean War ended in 1953.

The greeting of the two leaders was planned to the last detail. Thousands of journalists were kept in a huge conference center well away from the summit, except for a small group of tightly-controlled pool reporters at the border. Moon stood near the Koreas' dividing line, moving forward the moment he glimpsed Kim appearing in front of a building on the northern side. They shook hands with the border line between them. Moon then invited Kim to cross into the South; Kim invited Moon into the North, and they then took a ceremonial photo facing the North and then another photo facing the South. (...)

 black321 wrote: 
honest answer: I don't know.  He's made it plain that he will not telegraph exactly what he intends to do or how on matters.  He has however stated his goals.  I trust that he is working on achieving those goals.  So far, so good.  WW III has not started as has been the warning of his detractors. 

We are seeing things happen that have never happened before, things thought to never have been possible.  China is actually cooperating and NK is responding positively.  Have to see how it plays out.

 kurtster wrote: 
honest question: what was/is the plan (besides his use of twitter to instigate?)

US and North Korea expectations over denuclearization appear to collide
Signs that the US and North Korea interpretations are worlds apart as Kim Jong-un pledges to keep his country’s arsenal for generations

 kurtster wrote: 
Valid.

 R_P wrote: 
Be careful with that.  You'll move to a blast radius.  I'm pretty certain.

 kurtster wrote: 
I don't know what you're smoking, but I want some...

I find all this new found cautious optimism regarding Trump's efforts regarding NK amusing and self serving.  With all of the shit I've taken over Trump, this new found charity in the form of thinking that maybe Trump may actually have a plan that is working instead of he is unfit to have his fingers on the button just does not come off as sincere.

Let's be honest.  I know what all of you are really thinking.  This isn't about world peace.  Its really about Trump wanting to open up new resort hotels and golf courses.  He figures that he can buy his way in and give Kim a piece of the action in exchange for peace and exclusive rights to develop NK.  All those deserted beaches waiting for high rise towers and casinos.  And think of all the cheap slave labor available to build and staff the properties.

That's what y'all are really thinking, right ?

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 haresfur wrote: 
Trump has gone into "I know you are but what am I" mode with this guy.

If all of that crap is truly coming from an equal state of IQ and ego, we're probably screwed.  But if it isn't, it's brilliant.  Think about it.

I have absolutely no idea what's going to happen.  I'm just glad that I'm inside a blast radius.

I think Obama screwed up with N Korea. He had a chance to ratchet down the tension with the change in leadership but reacted to N Korean rhetoric and actions that to my mind were far more about their internal politics than external. 

And I think he should have said what Trump is saying, more or less, "We will talk to anybody." But I also think Trump lacks credibility to build peace. Hope I'm wrong about that.

 Lazy8 wrote: 
 See also here. Apparently NK's promise may be rather meaningless, like agreeing to give up something you no longer possess. 

 sirdroseph wrote: 
Not gonna happen. What makes them any different? Who's them? And different about what?

PS: Apparently NK is willing to drop the precondition.

 R_P wrote: 




Yep. We should bring everyone home. However, none of our previous administrations got anywhere so what makes them any different?

 sirdroseph wrote: 
What are the carrots the US is offering to China? I don't see any. I see mostly s(h)ticks. Business as usual. China can likely accommodate an aggressive neighbour as well as a compliant one. In the latter, it's one less problem to worry about. Let's just say they're not exactly stupid, and are aware of US policy.

NK's precondition to denuclearization is the removal of US troops from SK. Like that's going to happen...