I usually tell people that if you visited Earth from Mars, looked down at the Korean Peninsula and saw it’s divided and technically in a state of war since 1950, you’d say, “This has got to end.”
In other words, this kind of situation is simply unsustainable, despite that many practitioners of international relations seem to believe it’s possible to manage conflicts in perpetuity.
Last Tuesday’s summit in Singapore between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is at least notable for one important thing: it potentially changed the trajectory — hopefully for the better in the long run — of events on the Korean peninsula. This is because no sitting American president had ever met a North Korean leader. Previous presidents generally would not even consider the idea; Bill Clinton was the exception, but in the waning weeks of his presidency, he chose to focus on Middle East peace rather than Korean peace.
Ironically, Jimmy Carter was the first former U.S. president to meet his North Korean counterpart, Kim Il Sung, in 1994. He wisely observed at the time that “we should not ever avoid direct talks, direct conversations, direct discussions and negotiations with the main person in a despised, misunderstood or condemned society who could actually resolve the issue.” To his credit, Carter brokered an agreement, concluded months later, that froze the North’s fledgling nuclear program — which endured until the early years of the Bush 43 administration.
This simple truth — of the need for top-to-top communication and relationship-building — was easily grasped by President Trump because it had been a key lesson of his years of business experience. Kim Jong Un knew he had to take advantage of the opportunity to meet the U.S. president — the one person who could make fundamental foreign policy decisions without the encumbrance of a bureaucracy with a long and deep institutional memory.
It matters less what were the motivations of Trump and Kim; in both cases they were a mixture of the strategic and the selfish. But history shows that key figures, sometimes with unsavory motives, nonetheless produce changes, however unintended, whose impact endures for decades or even centuries (e.g., Henry VIII’s disagreement with the Pope over marriage annulment led him to initiate the English Reformation, separating the Church of England from papal authority).
At this point, that’s the best way Unificationists can look at the Singapore Summit. Something very fundamental has changed in the dynamics between the U.S. and North Korea — as well as between the two Koreas weeks earlier — that potentially can be far-reaching in the years and decades to come. We may know better later this year — and we may not. But surely the Korean proverb, “A good beginning is halfway to the goal,” applies to this situation.
When did the trajectory of events surrounding the Korean Peninsula really begin to change? President Moon Jae-in’s election in May 2017 is probably that starting point, though it occurred after his predecessor’s impeachment months earlier. Within weeks, President Moon ventured to Washington to meet President Trump. They created a close, cohesive relationship, and Moon was careful to defer and give credit to the American leader.
Meanwhile, the death of an American student imprisoned in North Korea, Otto Warmbier, who had been returned home in a coma, deeply affected the American public and spurred Trump to focus more on the Korean issue. Although three ethnic Korean U.S. hostages remained in North Korea (released only this May), the death of someone so young had a penetrating impact upon Americans.
By August last year, Trump uttered his famous phrase that North Korea would “be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen” if it continued launching long-range missiles and testing nuclear weapons. Trump’s condemnation of North Korea peaked in his address before the United Nations in September, where he said: “If [the United States] is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea. Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime.”
While Trump’s rhetoric was certainly taken seriously in North Korea, it would have been foolhardy for the U.S. to use such inflammatory statements as a tool of foreign policy if it were not for the probable establishment, with South Korean intervention, of backchannel communication with the North as early as August 2017. While public presidential rhetoric, including Tweets, increasingly demonized North Korea, the back channel, with then-CIA director Mike Pompeo, served to clarify U.S. intentions and assure the North the U.S. sought a viable means of defusing tensions. Pompeo would eventually meet Kim Jong Un twice, in March and May this year.
In September, North Korea detonated its most powerful nuclear weapon to date, its last nuclear test. Then in November, it tested its longest-range missile ever, demonstrating the capability to strike the U.S. mainland if it could successfully marry a nuclear warhead to the missile. From a purely technological point of view, North Korea’s pace of technical achievement in weapons was astonishing. Tensions rose to the highest levels ever between the two countries.
Meanwhile, the means of punishing North Korea, pursued both by the United States and the international community, was to increase economic sanctions against it. What had previously made sanctions against North Korea less effective than those targeted at Iran and Russia was that China had not been very cooperative in sanctions implementation. China would always keep a lifeline open to North Korea, making international sanctions for the North somewhat manageable. However, once the United States began to target several small Chinese banks that performed financial services for North Korean state entities, preventing the banks from utilizing the American financial system, China began to enforce sanctions against the North as never before. Sanctions were the only viable tool any American president could use outside of military force. Despite that North Korea is the grandmaster of sanctions evasion, China’s accession to the UN sanctions regime against the DPRK was unprecedented.
Tensions had reached a crescendo by the end of 2017. Many wondered, “Would 2018 see the outbreak of war between the U.S. and North Korea?” President Moon endeavored to avoid this at all costs, because those who would suffer would be the South Korean people themselves. Even a so-called “bloody nose” strike upon the North would likely be met with a massive artillery barrage upon the Seoul metropolitan area. Hundreds of thousands of civilians could be killed.
Then, on January 1, 2018, in his New Year’s address, Kim Jong Un stated that his country’s nuclear program had achieved its objectives and demonstrated to the world its capabilities. Now was the time to shift focus to the nation’s economy and well-being of its people. Observers wondered whether this was simply rhetoric or a strategic decision that would be implemented.
In February, the 2018 Winter Olympics were held in South Korea and Kim Jong Un sent his sister, Kim Yo Jong, along with its titular number two leader to the Opening Ceremony. It was unprecedented for a member of the Kim family to visit the South. At the Closing Ceremony, the North sent Kim’s Jong Un’s right-hand man, Kim Yong Chol, and in both instances extensive meetings were held with President Moon and his core staff.
Shortly after the Winter Olympics, South Korea announced it would hold a summit meeting with the North in late April. Then, most unexpectedly, South Korea’s national security advisor and intelligence chief rushed to the White House, met with President Trump, and communicated that Kim Jong Un was willing to hold a summit meeting with the U.S. president as soon as possible. Trump did not hesitate or even consult with his staff; he immediately accepted the invitation and stated he thought the summit could be held in late May or early June.
In late March, Kim Jong Un made a surprise visit to Beijing and met Chinese president Xi Jinping. It was the first time for Kim to meet a foreign leader and his first trip out of the country while in power. Until this point, North Korea’s relationship with China under Kim Jong Un had considerably degraded compared to the time of his late father. What was especially notable were photos of the Beijing summit released by the Chinese showing Kim dutifully taking notes as Xi addressed him. These pictures were not shown in North Korea, but to China demonstrated that North Korea was again behaving more like a modern-day tributary state.
Chairman Kim Jong Un shakes hands over the Military Demarcation Line at Panmunjom with President Moon Jae-in on April 27, 2018 (Blue House photo).
On April 27, the third inter-Korean summit took place on the South Korean side of the demilitarized zone. Carried live on South Korean television, the hours of meetings produced the Panmunjom Declaration, in most respects a summary of preceding inter-Korean documents dating back to 1972. The most memorable moment was the handshake across the Military Demarcation Line by the two Korean leaders, followed by Kim crossing into the South. Moon then asked Kim, “So, when do I get to visit North Korea?” Kim took his hand and said, “Right now,” escorting Moon to the northern side of the concrete divide. Earlier summits both occurred in Pyongyang, in 2000 and 2007. The fact Kim was willing to come to the South, albeit in the highly secure Joint Security Area of Panmunjom, was a significant step. Moon also gave Kim a USB stick containing materials on a “New Economic Map of the Korean Peninsula.” The two leaders agreed to hold future inter-Korean summits, pursue continuing dialogue and explore avenues of cooperation.
In early May, Kim Jong Un made a surprise trip — by air rather than train — to Dalian, China, to meet again with the Xi Jinping. Now that a summit with Trump was imminent, Kim apparently wanted Chinese assurances they would have North Korea’s back if the summit were unsuccessful. Moreover, Kim surely sought Chinese assurances that they would ease sanctions enforcement if the summit succeeded.
Late that month, however, Trump canceled the summit set for June 12 in Singapore because of threatening North Korean Foreign Ministry statements, with one directed at Vice President Mike Pence. In hindsight, statements by both Pence and new National Security Advisor John Bolton, evoking the “Libya model’s” applicability to the DPRK, riled the North. That’s because under President Bush 43, Libya gave up its nascent nuclear program, then under President Obama, the U.S. and its allies aided the overthrow of Libya’s longtime dictator, Muammar Qaddafi. Such analogies by U.S. officials were a nonstarter for the North.
However, Trump’s letter to Kim was crafted so as to leave many openings for the summit to take place after all. Within two days, President Moon secretly met with Chairman Kim on the northern side of the DMZ, leading to Moon communicating to Trump that North Korea was eager for the summit to be held. This led to intensive working-level discussions between senior State Department officials and their North Korean counterparts which took place in the DMZ, as well as logistical discussions in Singapore between White House staff and Kim’s secretariat. Quickly, enough progress was made for Trump to declare the Singapore Summit was back on for June 12.
On June 10, Kim Jong Un arrived in Singapore — not by his North Korean jet but using an Air China 747 normally reserved for China’s premier. The plane flew almost entirely through Chinese airspace such that China could guarantee the North Korean leader’s security throughout the flight. On the night of June 11, Kim went on a sightseeing excursion through Singapore, including the Marina Bay Sands Hotel (owned by Trump backer Sheldon Adelson) whose three towers are topped by its SkyPark almost 60 stories high. Television coverage of Kim’s motorcade traveling about Singapore was unprecedented and made available to the North Korean people within hours. Singapore’s leaders repeatedly expressed their hope that its economic, technological and societal achievements might offer an example for North Korea.
A movie-trailer style video President Trump showed to Kim Jong Un at the Singapore Summit, called “A Story of Opportunity for North Korea.” (Click speaker icon to unmute)
The summit formally began at 9 am on June 12 with a handshake between the two leaders of adversary nations, followed by 40 minutes of private conversation that only included translators. An expanded working session followed with senior members of each side’s national security team. A working lunch then took place with Singaporean specialties served. The short summit concluded at 1:50 pm with the leaders signing a Joint Statement that was unusually broad and brief, but probably the most that could be achieved on short notice and without extensive further negotiations. Kim then departed for Pyongyang, while Trump held an hour-long news conference to assess the summit experience and outcome.
The reaction of most press, most members of Congress, and most Asian affairs and security experts was of dismay and disappointment. Many alleged Trump was played and “had” by Kim. But others were cautiously optimistic: the Joint Statement was simply an agreement in principle and the only realistic outcome given the road leading to the summit.
The follow-up between the two countries will be critical in coming weeks and months, and the burden for the American side rests on the shoulders of Mike Pompeo and the State Department. Although Trump announced the U.S. would halt its two annual joint military exercises with the South, it is not an irreversible step, but an important interim concession to the North. However, historical DPRK diplomatic behavior always expects simultaneous concessions, reciprocal steps, and provision of promised benefits in a timely manner. The U.S. will have to carefully abide by its stated commitments to the North or risk a breach of what trust it has built thus far.
President Trump said he is willing to travel to Pyongyang at the appropriate time and would invite Kim to the White House also when appropriate. It’s even possible Kim could come to the United Nations in September at its annual assembly of world leaders in New York (with Russia and China perhaps asking the Secretary General to invite him), deliver a speech, and then go to Washington to meet Trump at the White House. Meanwhile, it’s expected that Chinese president Xi will visit Pyongyang in coming weeks, and Russian president Putin has invited Kim to meet him in Vladivostok in September.
North Korean subway riders read the front page of the June 13, 2018 edition of the main newspaper, Rodong Shinmun, covering the Singapore Summit.
Meanwhile, the North Korean public is astonished at what Kim has just achieved; making peace with its age-old enemy, the United States, was previously unthinkable. It may be just the beginning of huge psychological dislocations for the North Korean people, if Kim leads the way to normalizing relations with the U.S. and South Korea. How will the average North Korean adapt to new realities and ways of seeing the world? There is surely a role for the Unification Movement to play in this regard.
Do events of the past several months indicate new dynamics surrounding the Korean Peninsula which can produce regular inter-Korean cooperation, peace and stability in the Northeast Asian region, and the eventual reunification of Korea as an independent state? It’s too early to say, but events such as we’ve just experienced have not occurred since the end of the Korean War in 1953, a war which was a forcible attempt by North Korea, China and the USSR to reunify the peninsula under communism.
Under its third-generation leadership, North Korea finds it cannot continue muddling through as it had in the past. From his view, Kim Jong Un, only 34, can potentially look forward to decades more of leadership. Perhaps — just perhaps — he realizes that without becoming the Deng Xiaoping of North Korea — transforming his country and unleashing its full potential – his country’s future is very bleak. Kim certainly seeks his personal survival and continuity of his leadership in the North. But in our world, success is defined by an open system, unleashing the talents of your population and participating in mutually beneficial trade with the world’s nations. That’s the way to stay on top and be a winner.
Moreover, blood is thicker than water. The two Koreas know that Chinese pressure and its efforts to assert regional hegemony cannot be resisted individually in the long-term, especially if the U.S. decides to distance itself from the Asian region. Each Korea knows it must seek an accommodation with the other, and that in the long run a united Korea will not only be able to resist Chinese pressure, but can become a global powerhouse on its own accord based on the proven capabilities of the Korean people. The 1945 division of the Korean peninsula was an accident of history, and not intended to be permanent, but it lasted over 70 years because of the rise of global communism. That unity is destined to be restored, and Korea’s independence as a unitary nation, which it has not known in over a century, may come to pass sooner than we expect.
That surely was Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s goal during his lifetime. The events of last week lay a foundation for new unexpected events to occur that may take the Korean peninsula closer to that goal of a unified Korea which many of us could see in the years ahead.♦
Dr. Mark P. Barry is Managing Editor of the Applied Unificationism blog, Lecturer in Management at UTS, and Associate Editor of the International Journal on World Peace. He met the late President Kim Il Sung with the Summit Council for World Peace in 1994. His recent BBC World Service interview can be heard here. He was also interviewed for the new iTunes podcast “Korea: Stories You Never Heard.” Follow his Korean affairs Twitter feed @DrMarkPBarry.
Photo at top: North Korean leader Kim Jong un and President Donald Trump sit down for private discussions at their Singapore summit on June 12 (White House photo).
Applied Unificationism 
Great interview with the BBC, Mark. It’s a time of great hope.
Mark,
An excellent summary with lots of interesting details and connections. The purpose of this Blog being “Unificationism and its application,” you didn’t lend much thought to that. I would be curious as to your views on the relevance and usefulness of Unificationism here, in particular with respect to the process, hopefully, of developing an ideological/cultural vision and avenue beyond juche for the people of the North.
Frankly, at first I think the North Korean people should feel welcomed by the South Korean population, and need to be taught simple, basic, everyday things that people in most other societies take for granted. That would be an expression of God’s love and heart to them. Those NGOs, both South Korean and international, that have been helping North Koreans for years understand this well. Right now, the last thing North Koreans need as they emerge upon the world scene is another ideology; but they do need the tangible expression of religious spirit.
Thank you, Mark, for a very comprehensive summary of events leading up to the summit and your analysis.
I like your suggestion that blood is thicker than water and that, “Each Korea knows it must seek an accommodation with the other, and that in the long run a united Korea will not only be able to resist Chinese pressure, but can become a global powerhouse on its own accord based on the proven capabilities of the Korean people.”
The one reservation I have is that China also foresees these same possibilities and has to date worked diligently to prevent such a rapprochement occurring. It will no doubt continue to do so — certainly as long as South Korea remains in the U.S. sphere of influence. If that influence wanes with the cessation of joint military exercises and repatriation of U.S. troops, then China might be more inclined to see a reunification between the North and South, but only on terms that ensure its own hegemony over the peninsula. That possibility must make many in South Korea, Japan and even Taiwan very nervous.
Could it be that the real and immediate strategic aim, from China’s perspective, is to see the removal of U.S. troops from the peninsula? Could it be that North Korea’s remarkable progress with its nuclear program was achieved with substantial Chinese assistance? Could it be that the Chinese and North Koreans brought President Trump to Singapore and played him like an open book? After all, China is renowned for its ability to play the long game.
Reverend Moon certainly predicted the coming Pacific Rim era. Whether he had a China-centric vision in mind is open to question.
Thank you, Mark, for this excellent overview. It has been good to hear several interviews of you in major media in Europe, the U.S., and South Korea.
You mentioned that most U.S. observers were disappointed or critical of the outcome. I think that is to be expected because these traditional commentators are lined up on two sides. On the one side are the military-industrial complex that is not served by ending a conflict. On the other side are Trump haters who would almost rather see a nuclear war than to have Trump succeed at anything. Both groups are rooted in wrong motives, so it is probably good if they are both disappointed and some constructive steps to peace and unification are the result.
I have one question related to the Moon clan. Thinking about your reference to blood being thicker than water, one has to notice that three Moons seem to have been champions of world peace. Rev. Sun Myung Moon; Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary General of the UN; and now Moon Jae-in, current President of South Korea. Is there anything special about the Moon clan that makes all three of these Moons world peacemakers?
Someone who dealt with North Korea in depth for our movement in past years just emailed me: “I think the Moon clan led by True Father in the spiritual world and True Mother here on earth created the necessary conditions for these changes and more to come to take place.”
BTW, Ban is the former Secretary-General’s last name, not Moon.
Thank you, Mark, for this clear statement. I hope we are moving in the right direction. I have just come back from teaching a course at Ludong University in Yantai, China. While I was there, the topic of North Korea came up and a professor we met at the university suggested that one key to China’s relationship to North Korea hinged upon the status of U.S. support for Taiwan. Do you have any comments on this?
Taiwan is a hyper-sensitive matter for China, which it considers a renegade province, and continuing U.S. support for Taiwan is always a source of friction in the U.S.-China relationship. However, because North Korea and China share an 850 mile border, to me the issue — and danger — is China’s desire to maintain the North’s political system as one compatible with China’s, and its likely intention to integrate the North’s economy into northeastern China such that North Korea functioned almost as if it were part of China. Conversely, Korean re-integration and reunification could provide a counterweight to Chinese influence in Northeast Asia. That’s why privately North Korean officials have said to visiting foreign delegations that it would not object to some continuing presence of U.S. troops in the southern part of Korea even after reunification.
Dr. Barry wrote:
“I usually tell people that if you visited Earth from Mars, looked down at the Korean Peninsula and saw it’s divided and technically in a state of war since 1950, you’d say, ‘This has got to end.'”
Right. Peace isn’t a crazy notion. This perpetual war of people of the same blood is the strange thing.
Agreeing with Gordon Anderson, the extent of Trump derangement syndrome is unreal. The far-left establishment would rather have tragic war than have Trump get credit for peace.
But great credit is due to Trump for amazing efforts from many different angles:
(1) The stick of tough sanctions
(2) Identifying and calling out China for undercutting sanctions and ensuring that China didn’t stop them
(3) The push and pull of insults and praise of Kim, who clearly prefers the latter
(4) Identifying and sidelining (in the case of John Bolton) or shaming (in the case of China) saboteurs of the peace process in May, allowing things to get back on track
(5) The carrot of a prosperous North Korea, presented in movie form. Kim likes movies!
(6) The crucial demonstration of good faith on America’s part through holding off military exercises
This is real, folks! We are too jaded, and have experienced too much pain, to see the amazing thing that is happening now!
From today, June 18: “N. Korea Offers to Remove Long-Range Artillery from Frontline”
That is big. This goes way beyond nuclear weapons. North Korea has long been able to destroy the South with conventional artillery and now, it is stepping away from that.
Make sure you stop and smell the roses! I organized a celebration of 150 members in Maryland on the evening of June 11 as we prayed, listened to heroes of the providence, enjoyed Korean food, and witnessed the historic handshake that changed the world.
Already looking past the peace process, the big role for our movement and people of faith more generally is rediscovering family values and the importance of blessing and lineage.
South Korea has the lowest birthrate of any nation in the world. This is especially sad because the Koreans are an extremely gifted people infused with blessings by God for the sake of the world. Many providentially important nations face a similar crisis, and the future world will suffer as a result. That is where the needs of the future lie, above all else.
And the solution to these problems happen to be our core teachings!
Brief comment on the “Destiny Pictures” trailer noted here.
Hope springs, but time may tell, indeed.
Thanks, Mark, and everyone who commented. Such an important discussion.
I think it’s important also, on the Applied Unificationism Blog, to recognize that what is happening on the level of politics now is deeply related to the life and ministry of Father and Mother Moon, both born in NK. Father’s life of suffering in NK. Living the Christian message of total forgiveness and traveling to NK to meet grandfather Kim Il Sung. True Mother’s momentous rally and prayer with worldwide religious leaders for Korea last November.
Just as we all know that when the Berlin wall and the USSR fell, our True Parents and God’s Providence was the underlying foundation, there is no question that is the case now as well.
Regarding True Father’s efforts, I think he is a big part of why hot war never broke out since the Armistice. Often his and our movement’s efforts were just about the only positive contact there was between North and South. Helping to keep the peace during the long, dark night before this dawn is an underrated accomplishment. From business exchanges and tourist ventures to paying respects during the grieving process at the death of leaders to the historic meeting with Kim Il Sung in 1991, to holding countless unification rallies to keep the dream in the Korean hearts, the investment was tremendous.
Most recently, unification rallies in Korea have brought enthusiasm at just the right time.
Yes, Dan. The evidence is documented in Chambumo Gyeong, Ch. 1, “Initiatives for North-South Unification and the Visit to North Korea,” particularly pages 834-865. In these passages, Father Moon describes his VOC movement and personal visit with Kim Il Sung.
Amazingly, his approach to love and serve him and not act as an “enemy” has parallels with President Trump’s approach. He shares how the two of them walked together and held hands. Father recommends to Kim that he should develop the beautiful beaches in North Korea and that they need hotels as well as planning a major tourist site at Mt. Geumgang.” He advocates for a 30,000 couple Holy Marriage Blessing in North Korea. Also, Father affirmed Godism saying: “I told everyone in the Mansudae Assembly Hall, ‘The Juche ideal will not work. World Peace cannot be realized without Godism’… I expounded head-wing thought to the chairman of North Korea’s Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland.” (p. 849)
The recent summit was a remarkable turn of events considering that just a year ago there were real fears about a miscalculation (by either Trump or Kim) that could trigger a nuclear exchange.
Over the years True Parents initiated a number of pilgrimages to pray at the DMZ, including a recent visit by ACLC ministers earlier this year. “Loving the enemy” may seem like a shopworn platitude to some, but True Parents’ commitment to the peace process in Korea has always been sincere and they never vacillated in their vision and determination.
Critics of the Trump administration who feared that cozying up to a “tyrant” like Kim Jong Un was somehow a betrayal of the interests of the United States and other democracies, need to remember Yitzhak Rabin and his historic handshake with Yasser Arafat in 1993. Certain Israelis were not happy with this, but as Rabin reminded everyone, when you’re attempting to make peace, you’re not doing so with your friends, but rather with those who’ve been your enemy.
We simply cannot not know what Kim may be seeking in the long run, but the fact that diplomatic discussions have supplanted talk of war is an important step toward peace and reconciliation—one that True Parents longed for and all Unificationists should celebrate, IMO.
Father Moon stated that because world powers brought about the division of Korea, world powers are required to bring about reunification. That and the fact that Satan has to follow principle as well, he only gets 70 years of power. The division of Korea occurred after WW II. Times up. My humble opinion is all this is very providential. Three cheers for our Heavenly Parent.
History is not made by ordinary people. Recently True Mother asked the entire UM to have faith in the work she is doing, that it “will produce a miracle.” The reunification of the Korean peninsula is one of those miracles. Dr. Barry, thanks for this excellent overview. Good job.
Thank you, Mark, for a stimulating piece on the Korean situation.
Progress is definitely being made and we can be both hopeful and cautious. Looking for the purest of motivations for peace on any side of the debate is futile and without question, the six parties (North and South Korea, China, USA, Japan and Russia) all have their own particular interests.
What is clear, however, is that a little more than six months ago, the world faced potential war and shrill statements were made about the size of nuclear buttons, dotards and a certain Rocket Man. We now witness a serious reduction of tensions.
This all begs the questions: What happened? Why the sudden change in Kim Jong Un’s willingness to meet not only President Moon but the supposed “incarnation” of evil (from a North Korean perspective), Donald Trump?
A few days ago, I attended a briefing for parliamentarians on the North Korean situation organized by IAPP where several experts on North Korea presented their case on trade, human rights, the influence of China and Russia, etc. One speaker, Dr. Alexandre Mansourov, presented possible scenarios why Kim suddenly changed track and suggested four schools of thought on why North Korea suddenly shifted its approach toward the USA:
1. Due to the pain of sanctions
2. Kim’s cunning tactical plan to buy time
3. Kim is experiencing a transformation of his soul and outlook
4. Fear of unpredictable US action
Concerning the “fear factor,” he noted that Trump recently moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, pulled out of the Paris Accord on Climate Change and withdrew from the nuclear deal with Iran. Nobody can predict what Trump will do next. He might even initiate a preemptive strike to decapitate the leadership of North Korea.
Noting that President Trump and North Korea’s Chairman Kim agreed to set up a hotline between them and that Secretary of State Pompeo’s team spent a lot of time in North Korea preparing for the summit and will soon return to the North, the speaker pointed out that Trump cut the Gordian Knot by using positive sum diplomacy and thinking outside the box. Among other disclosed and non-disclosed results of the summit, North Korea agreed to reduce the size of its military and remove all surface-to-surface missiles deployed along its border with South Korea.
Of course, it remains to be seen what will really happen on the ground. North Korea has been a closed society and nobody really knows for sure what lies beneath the North Korean facade.
Hopefully, we will find out soon.
I think China is playing the long game here. It regards Tibet as its ancient vassal and so occupied it when it could. Taiwan it also regards as a province and is moving in the long term to make it impossible for it to remain independent. Korea was for centuries a vassal state paying tribute, and I think in the long term it wants Korea to become a vassal state once more. To do that it needs to get the US to move out and so has not been unhappy with North Korea’s tactics. I expect the North will give up its nukes in exchange for the US leaving and the reunification of the peninsula. I don’t think China would allow a reunified Korea with nukes sitting on its doorstep.
One month after the Singapore Summit, South Koreans aren’t wasting time defining denuclearization: They are pushing ahead with plans for reconciliation with North Korea—with or without the United States. See this Wilson Center op-ed.