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China-Japan-Koreas
Trump says to end 'expensive', 'provocative' war games with South Korea
2018-06-13
[PRESSTV] US President Donald Trump
...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States...
says the United States was stopping "very provocative" and expensive military exercises with South Korea to facilitate denuclearization negotiations with North Korea.

The United States and South Korea hold regular military drills to the fury of North Korea, which has long seen the drills as preparations to invade it.

"The war games are very expensive, we pay for the majority of them," Trump told a news conference on Tuesday in Singapore after a historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Pudge Jong-un
...the overweight, pouty-looking hereditary potentate of North Korea. Pudge appears to believe in his own divinity, but has yet to produce any loaves and fishes, so his subjects remain malnourished...
.

"Under the circumstances, that we’re negotiating ... I think it’s inappropriate to be having war games."

Following Tuesday’s summit, Trump and Kim signed a document described by the American leader as important and comprehensive.

The document says the US and North Korea "commit to establish [sic] new... relations in accordance with the desire of the peoples of the two countries for peace and prosperity."

North Korea also reaffirmed its commitment to working "towards complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," a broad wording that could mean phased denuclearization in return for a number of potential American commitments along the way.
Posted by:Fred

#14  Don't read too much into the exercise halt. One phone call from SecDef and they're back on.

Don't tell the MSM. They won't have anything to talk about.
Posted by: gorb   2018-06-13 16:10  

#13  The sanctions are still in place. They come-off after Kim does stuff. My guess is that he will hurry.
Posted by: Jack Johnson6354   2018-06-13 15:56  

#12  Err..you forget he's a salesman. I've always said, we'd be better off having a top used car salesman dealing than State Dept twits. The used car salesmen are not about social virtue flashing, they're about the bottom line. He's made his introductory pitch with a 'customer'. One of the things he has to sell is stroking the customer's ego which is indeed seeking validation and standing (sort of the reverse of those feeding Trump's predecessor's ego).
Posted by: Procopius2k   2018-06-13 15:41  

#11  Did Trump make North Korea pay a price for this concession? If yes, what is it?
Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660   2018-06-13 15:28  

#10  In terms of preparedness the US/SK exercises have little practical utility. Their primary purpose is a symbolic show of bilateral force. Essential coordination exercises will continue as always and conducted with no fanfare. I say,for now, halt the drills and publically announce the money will be diverted into building a few more MOAB's. But that's just me.
Posted by: DepotGuy    2018-06-13 14:43  

#9  I still don't see how this process isn't going to end in a repeat of 1994. The Norks will sign an agreement, cash in, cheat and when they're exposed they will turn aggressive again, from a stronger position.

What gives me hope is Trump's emulation of the Nork's negotiation style, exemplified in his sudden cancellation & recommitment to the meeting.

All in all I'm very skeptical.
Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660   2018-06-13 13:33  

#8  S.Kor is going to protest canceling the war games when suddenly the 'hospitality' trade drops 120,000 rich American tourists(x2).
Posted by: Skidmark   2018-06-13 09:40  

#7  Love the way you think B.
Posted by: Skidmark   2018-06-13 09:38  

#6  This was actually a cheap and easy give to the north to show we are willing to truly negotiate. Easy to stop, easy to put back on.

I'm just thrilled that Trump isn't like the last presidents that gave away the farm, pig and tractor while getting nothing in return.
Posted by: DarthVader   2018-06-13 08:28  

#5  I have a hunch that reneging on a deal with DJT is not quite the same as crossing Barry's red line.

Hope we don't have to find out.
Posted by: AlanC   2018-06-13 08:03  

#4  The troops there will continue their routine quarterly field deployments exercises. Not part of a much wider 'war game' exercise (ie Team Spirit).
Posted by: Procopius2k   2018-06-13 08:02  

#3  Typically twice a year and Spring is past. We'll see
Posted by: Frank G   2018-06-13 06:56  

#2  Use the Rio Grande River as an off-set and conduct the exercise here in CONUS.
Posted by: Besoeker   2018-06-13 06:33  

#1  ...Don't read too much into the exercise halt. One phone call from SecDef and they're back on.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski   2018-06-13 05:16  

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