By this yardstick, not displaying ICBMs in public or not testing nukes for a full year, India, Pakistan, Israel must have denuclearized decades ago. https://t.co/lgf7a1ben4
This is all part of the effort to get the Trump administration to believe that Kim Jong-un is serious about denuclearization by not displaying his ballistic missiles especially ones capable of reaching the US:
This photo provided by the Associated Press shows a military parade underway at Kim Il-sung Square in central Pyongyang on Sept. 9, 2018, staged to celebrate the 70th anniversary of North Korea’s founding. (Yonhap)
North Korea did not showcase intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of striking the United States during a military parade staged Sunday to celebrate the 70th anniversary of its founding, media reports showed.
North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un presided over the event at Kim Il-sung Square in central Pyongyang but did not give an address, according to the reports.
The North appeared to tone down the parade, which was previously used to show its latest military might, amid stalled nuclear talks with the United States.
“The largest missiles shown in the parade were short-range battlefield devices,” the AFP reported from Pyongyang. [Yonhap]
Remember the happy news the S. Korean NSA brought us a mere two days ago, that Kim Jong Un purportedly did not object to the presence of USFK. So, does this mean KCNA = independent media? Or that Kim, perish the thought, was lying? https://t.co/VPnriRKVqB
Kim Jong-un and President Trump are continuing their pen pal relationship:
U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he expects to receive a “positive letter” from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said that he knows a personal letter from Kim is going to be delivered to him, adding that it was handed over at the border the day before.
This border Trump refers to is suspected to be the inter-Korean border, but a detailed route of the letter’s delivery was not provided.
Trump said the letter will likely be delivered to him by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and added that “It’s an elegant way, the way it used to be many years ago before we had all of the new contraptions that we all use.”
Trump also said he thinks it’s going to be a positive letter. [KBS World Radio]
I have to wonder what flattery and empty denuclearization promise will be in the letter that Kim is going to try and use to sway President Trump to make a major concession? My guess would be the major concession Kim will ask for is a treaty to end the Korean War.
#NorthKorea keeps using "denuclearization of KOREAN PENINSULA" because it means–>"..of #SouthKorea, which has no nukes–>no nuclear umbrella, no U.S. military capab–>US mil w/drawal, end alliance. So NK's "denuke of Korean Pen"=US military withdrawal, end alliance. A word play. https://t.co/i2gwg6uurD
It appears that the North Koreans are still trying to use flattery with President Trump to get sanctions removed instead of denuclearizing:
U.S. President Donald Trump thanked North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and pledged to work together with him on Thursday after Kim said via a South Korean envoy that his faith in Trump remains unchanged.
“Kim Jong Un of North Korea proclaims ‘unwavering faith in President Trump.’ Thank you to Chairman Kim. We will get it done together!” Trump tweeted.
South Korea’s chief presidential security adviser, Chung Eui-yong, made a one-day trip to Pyongyang on Wednesday and held talks with the North’s leader amid a deadlock in denuclearization negotiations between the United States and the North.
During the talks, Kim told Chung’s delegation that he remains firmly committed to denuclearization and that his faith in Trump remains unchanged, even though nuclear negotiations with the U.S. encountered difficulties, according to Chung.
Kim was also quoted as saying he’s never spoken ill of Trump to anybody. [Yonhap]
Kim Jong-un best be careful, Bob Woodward will probably claim he found an anonymous source that he talked bad about President Trump.
Notice that the ROK ambassador said nothing about North Korea wanting to maintain momentum to denuclearize. The Kim regime is of course willing to talk in hopes of gaining concessions for little to nothing in return:
South Korean Ambassador to the U.S. Cho Yoon-je (Yonhap)
North Korea remains determined to maintain the momentum of dialogue with the United States despite a recent hiccup, South Korea’s top envoy in Washington said Thursday.
Ambassador Cho Yoon-je dismissed a view that Pyongyang and Washington are shifting back to a confrontation after months of diplomatic engagement.
“North Korea’s intention of maintaining dialogue momentum is certain,” he told South Korea’s Washington, D.C. correspondents.
He was referring to “various speculations” driven by media after President Donald Trump called off Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s trip to Pyongyang this week. [Yonhap]
