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posted by martyb on Wednesday March 07 2018, @08:54AM   Printer-friendly
from the real-progress-or-false-hope? dept.

foxnews.com/us/2018/03/06/trump-cites-possible-progress-in-talks-with-nkorea.html

Trump commented Tuesday on Twitter after the South Korean government announced that North Korea has agreed to halt tests of nuclear weapons and missiles if it holds talks with the U.S. on denuclearization. South Korea and North Korea have also agreed to hold summit talks in late April.

Trump tweeted: "Possible progress being made in talks with North Korea. For the first time in many years, a serious effort is being made by all parties concerned. The World is watching and waiting! May be false hope, but the U.S. is ready to go hard in either direction!"

The Associated Press has some additional information:

While the offer of talks could ease tensions, the adversaries will still have to overcome deep mutual suspicion. The U.S. has consistently demanded North Korea give up its nukes, which the reclusive socialist state had previously insisted was off the table until Washington abandoned its "hostile policy" toward it. At a minimum, the Americans wanted a halt in nuclear and missile testing for talks to begin.

"Maybe this is a breakthrough. I seriously doubt it," Dan Coats, the director of national intelligence, told a Senate hearing Tuesday. He said his doubts are grounded in what he called failed efforts by previous U.S. administrations to negotiate with North Korea over its nuclear program.

Coats said Kim is "very calculating" and views his nuclear capabilities as "essential to his well-being as well as the well-being of his nation."

[...] Vice President Mike Pence said the U.S. would remain "firm in our resolve" whichever direction talks with North Korea go. "All options are on the table and our posture toward the regime will not change until we see credible, verifiable and concrete steps toward denuclearization," Pence said in a statement.

[...] On returning from Pyongyang, Chung Eui-yong, South Korea's presidential national security director, said North Korea expressed willingness to hold a "candid dialogue" with the United States to discuss its nuclear disarmament and establish diplomatic relations. Chung said North Korea "made it clear that it won't resume strategic provocations like additional nuclear tests or test-launches of ballistic missiles" while such talks are underway.

[...] But the administration will have difficult questions of its own as it gauges North Korea's intentions. An initial hurdle could be presented by U.S.-South Korean military drills that were postponed during the Olympics and are due to resume next month. North Korea is likely to push for a suspension of the drills which it views as a provocation and a threat, and may ask for relief from U.S.-led economic sanctions.


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  • (Score: 2, Interesting) by khallow on Wednesday March 07 2018, @09:01PM (1 child)

    by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday March 07 2018, @09:01PM (#649172) Journal

    Even when the tweeter has a nuclear football?

    Yes, damn it. That bullshit has crowded out more important stories about Trump. Because Trump has complete control over his Twitter message, he can use it to "Squirrel!" any news story that's running against him. Such as muttering about North Korea in order to derail a national conversation (such as it is) about his family cronyism in the White House.

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  • (Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Wednesday March 07 2018, @09:20PM

    by PartTimeZombie (4827) on Wednesday March 07 2018, @09:20PM (#649177)

    I am not going to worry too much about Mr. Trump and the nuclear codes as I have faith that the adults who run the US government are self interested enough to route around Mr. Trump and ensure things tick over pretty much as they always have.

    That might not always mean good things for ordinary people around the world, but I am fairly sure it will continue to mean no nuclear war.