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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Kim Jong-un: May we dare to hope? |
| 2018-06-13 |
| Reaction in South Korea, and indeed across the world, to the first summit between the leaders of the United States and North Korea has, as you would expect in this age of social media, been loud and mixed. But if you cut away opinion, which is set alight by reluctance to credit the players ― North Korea's Kim Jong-un, U.S. President Donald Trump and, here in South Korea, President Moon Jae-in ― and if you discount the impatient expectation of some kind of Versailles-peace-treaty-in-a-day ― there is a common thread to the reaction. 'mpatient expectation of a peace treaty in a day'. Nice turn of a phrase. It comes in the form of a question: May we now dare to hope? At least now, there is reason to hope, yet again. We dared to hope, but were let down because, it turned out, North Korea just wanted our money. So, we ask now, have things really changed? But, but ... Trump gave him a promise. Can Fat Boy buy more caviar with Trump's promise? On the yes side, we note two differences. First, South Koreans are not alone. The story now is about the United States getting cozy with North Korea. In their statement on Tuesday, Trump and Kim Jong-un committed to "establish new U.S.-DPRK relations … for peace and prosperity." This, in my opinion, is the most significant of the four points of their joint declaration ― the others (a peace structure, denuclearization and recovery of war remains) are conditions for that new relationship to happen. Second, this time it is the North Koreans who are initiating change. Whether driven to by Trump's belligerence last year or not, it was Kim Jong-un who signaled his willingness to reach out. To his credit, and unexpectedly for leaders who take a path of belligerence, Trump's decision to break with the U.S. tradition of refusing to meet North Korean leaders has brought us thus far. Hat tip: The Donald. Is Kim Jong-un on his own letting go of all that has sustained his family's dynasty? Or is this outbreak of peace simply a change of strategy? The answer is that we don't know yet, but right now, we dare to hope. |
| Posted by:Bobby |
| #7 :-) RJ |
| Posted by: Frank G 2018-06-13 19:27 |
| #6 |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2018-06-13 17:33 |
| #5 Let them hate, so long as they fear? I heard that somewhere... |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2018-06-13 17:01 |
| #4 Refusing to make the right enemies is a mark of ineffectiveness, even shame. --Posted by: Iblis John McCain's long love affair with the MSM and Across the Aisleâ„¢ and what did it get him? Treachery just means your are useful in the short term... |
| Posted by: magpie 2018-06-13 15:37 |
| #3 Being hated by some is a mark of honor. I'd go further. Refusing to make the right enemies is a mark of ineffectiveness, even shame. |
| Posted by: Iblis 2018-06-13 14:13 |
| #2 And you END the ability of Iran to deniably test their Nukes in Korea. Iran can never TRUST an UNTESTED nuke design! |
| Posted by: 3dc 2018-06-13 12:22 |
| #1 Trump has probably pointed out that you can be hated by half the country and still be totally safe. Being hated by some is a mark of honor. |
| Posted by: Rjschwarz 2018-06-13 11:45 |