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NORTH KOREA & NUKES -- IS CHANGE ON THE HORIZON?
#1
Ahead of historic summits with South Korea and the United States and following a secret meeting with soon-to-be U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo.......North Korea announced yesterday that it is halting nuclear and missile tests.

Leader Kim Jong-un said further tests were not needed, as the North had already demonstrated it had nuclear weapons (it launched more tests last year than previous years combined).

Early on Saturday Kim Jong-un said: "From 21 April, North Korea will stop nuclear tests and launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles."

The surprise announcement, relayed by the country's KCNA news agency, also said a test site would be shut down.

Welcoming it on Twitter, President Trump said it was 'progress' and that he was looking forward to a face-to-face meeting with Mr Kim in June. South Korean President Moon echoed the sentiment. EU leaders said it was a good sign, but verification is essential and irreversible North Korean denuclearization (not just test halts) is the goal.

China, North Korea's main backer, said it believed the move would "help ameliorate the situation on the peninsula".

Russia's foreign ministry also welcomed it, but called on the US and South Korea to reduce their military activity in the region.

(continued)
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#2
The decision to halt missile tests is aimed at pursuing economic growth, according to KCNA (state-owned N. Korean media). Mr Kim reportedly pledged to "concentrate all efforts" on developing a socialist economy, which requires foreign investment.

One may wonder why Mr Kim should give up so much in advance instead of hanging on to a nuclear test-ban and an ICBM moratorium as aces up his sleeve.

The answer is simple: a summit with a US president is enough of a prize in itself -- it affords Kim the international legitimization he longs and is something that neither his grandfather nor his father could attain.

What North Korea loses by demolishing its nuclear test site and submitting to a unilateral moratorium on ICBM launches is entirely tolerable compared with what Mr Kim gains by sitting alongside President Trump.

Advisors from the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush administrations warn that the U.S. needs to be careful not to be conned by the Kim dynasty. They've invited previous U.S. presidents for summits which never happened because it was determined in advance that the Kims were only looking for worldwide recognition with no intention of entering nuclear disarmament agreements.

I hope there is reason for cautious optimism here, for the good of South Korea and North Korean citizens primarily. If North Korea will agree to give up nuclear proliferation permanently or for a long period of time, with regular verifications -- like Iran agreed to do during the Obama administration -- it will be a win for the U.S. and our allies. If not, it may well be perceived globally as a case of Rocket Man getting the best of Dotard.

Refs:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-43849516
https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/09/politics/...index.html
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#3
(04-21-2018, 02:14 PM)HairOfTheDog Wrote: it may well be perceived globally as a case of Rocket Man getting the best of Dotard.


Smiley_emoticons_smile That's how I think it's going to be. I don't believe there is anything that will ever convince Kim Jong-un to give up his biggest weapon. It's all he's got and to be presumptuous, I think he believes it's the only thing that stands between him and being taken out. I'm viewing all this as a show, entertainment purposes only.
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#4
I hope you're wrong Duchess, but suspect that you're right.

Kim's a repressive weirdo alright, but he's not an idiot.

He's well aware of the fact that the U.S. got Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi to sign denuclearization agreements, only to force regime change by executing them later.
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#5
We have been putting major pressure on China, suspect this is a result from the secretive train trip he just took there. He has also been promise Two Hundred Million Covfefes.
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#6
Jumping at the ability to stop long range missiles should be the believed and discussed. Jumping today about short range missiles should be addressed later after the economic situation in N. Korea start's to show results. Demanding complete nuclear deactivation looks like to much at once. These things take time and S.Korea has more at stake here than America does. I say let them solve their own issues first and guide both sides along the way.

At any rate it's good that Trumps policy's are taking effect and hopefully that region becomes stabilized.
He ain't heavy, he's my brother.
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#7
I nominate the Sir Cheeto Overlord for the Noble Peace Prize.
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#8
(04-21-2018, 10:49 PM)Maggot Wrote: Trumps policy's


What policies are you referring to?
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#9
(04-22-2018, 01:23 AM)BigMark Wrote: I nominate the Sir Cheeto Overlord for the Noble Peace Prize.


*snorts* Like that's ever going to happen.
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#10
Sha!
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#11


Sometimes I just like being argumentative, I enjoy the hell out of it. I'm deeply flawed that way.
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#12
A Conservative will never get the peace prize. It's impossible considering who gives them out. The Iranian leader is more likely to get it.
He ain't heavy, he's my brother.
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#13
Wasn't Yasser Arafat a conservative?
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#14


There are no true Conservatives in the GOP right now and there hasn't been in many, many months.
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#15
(04-22-2018, 04:50 AM)Duchess Wrote:
(04-21-2018, 10:49 PM)Maggot Wrote: Trumps policy's


What policies are you referring to?

His straightforward approach towards a dictator and his economic policy towards them. He has also reminded China that an arms race in Asia would not be in their best interests, getting China to realize this a good way to get more countries involved. Obama never had a very good foreign policy record. I'm not sure if it's because drawing a line in the sand meant absolutely nothing or not but N. Korea seems to believe that Trump follows through on what he says. 79
He ain't heavy, he's my brother.
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#16
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#17
Heh, I've seen that one before, Maybe if the Dems would love their country more than they hate Trump? I heard that today after the Sec. of State committee results and thought it was great. 17
He ain't heavy, he's my brother.
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#18
(04-23-2018, 09:08 PM)Maggot Wrote: Heh, I've seen that one before, Maybe if the Dems would love their country more than they hate Trump? I heard that today after the Sec. of State committee results and thought it was great. 17

You're such a dorkas. ') You and many others on the far right were all over Obama's shit based only on bullshit conspiracy theories and differences of opinion for 7+ years. That didn't mean you didn't love your country, obviously.

Anyway, NK's Kim met with SK's Moon this week. It was the first time a NK leader has traveled to SK.

[Image: 180427082018-05-koreas-summit-0427-exlarge-169.jpg]
The two men ^ almost rivaled Trump and Macron's physical display of photographed affection. But.....it's still Trump and Macron for the win.

Kim has pledged to stop nuclear testing and to allow global experts to inspect NK's nuclear sites.

There's nothing in writing and no official terms or deal at this point, so it still remains to be seen if Kim will follow through. I hope he does.

But, I'd be shocked if Kim will agree to complete denuclearization -- destruction of the nuclear weapons he's already built and tested -- if that's one of the conditions. It's his only real leverage for staying in power and he surely knows that.

Last night at a supporter rally in Michigan, the crowd was chanting "Nobel! Nobel!" when President Trump took the stage.

It's a little early for that, I think. But, if NK really denuclearizes and it turns out that Trump's non-conventional methods helped bring about an end to the decades-long Koreas' conflict, I could see Trump getting the Peace Prize (or at least sharing it with other leaders involved in the process).
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#19
South Korea has stated that trump was instrumental in the meeting between North and South Korea. There is much speculation if "rocket man" is really taking it seriously but the meeting that has not happened before is a good start and hopefully creates a unified Korea but that may be a bit of a stretch. Japan has always despised Korea but they seem to understand that a denuclearized Korea is in their best interest.

I hope if Trump gets the Nobel prize that he refuses it.
He ain't heavy, he's my brother.
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#20
Japan has always firmly realized that denuclearization of North Korea is in their best interest and the best interest of everyone in the region. They've been threatened by it forever.
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