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From Associated Press
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — The leaders of North and South Korea announced a wide range of agreements Wednesday which they said were a major step toward peace on the Korean Peninsula. But the premier pledge on denuclearization contained a big condition, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stating he’d permanently dismantle his main nuclear complex only if the United States takes unspecified corresponding measures.
Compared to the vague language of their two summits earlier this year, Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in agreed in their second day of meetings to an ambitious program meant to tackle soaring tensions last year that had many fearing war as the North tested a string of increasingly powerful weapons.
Kim promised to accept international inspectors to monitor the closing of a key missile test site and launch pad and to visit Seoul soon, and both leaders vowed to work together to try to host the Summer Olympics in 2032.
But while containing several tantalizing offers, their joint statement appeared to fall short of the major steps many in Washington have been looking for — such as a commitment by Kim to provide a list of North Korea’s nuclear facilities, a solid step-by-step timeline for closing them down, or an agreement to allow international inspectors to assess progress or discover violations.
It also was unclear what “corresponding steps” North Korea wants from the U.S. to dismantle its nuclear site.
COMMENT:-
A truly suspicious person might conclude that this "agreement" is purposefully vague so that the two Koreas can set conditions that Mr. Trump has no choice but to reject in order to take the position "Well, if the government of the United States of America doesn't want to go along with Korea resolving Korean problems in ways that are acceptable and beneficial to Koreans, then we are simply going to have to do it without the involvement of the United States of America. We'll start with this joint declaration '[1] The hostilities between the ROK and DPRK have stopped; [2] The DPRK has withdrawn its armed forces to the 38th parallel; and [3] the ROK does not require Member States to render every assistance to the United Nations in the execution of this resolution as UNSC Resolution has been fully executed.'.".
For further reading "North Korea agrees at summit to shutter test site, major nuclear facility" with its "... Moon and Kim signed the joint declaration that included steps to end military hostility between the two Koreas, plans to continue inter-Korean exchanges and an invitation to Kim to visit Seoul in the near future. ..." might be of interest. Mr. Trump's "tweet" appears to be along the lines of "They have agreed to deliver the pianos and then talk to us about whether or not we'll pay them for them." which, I suspect, isn't quite what was agreed to.
Kim agrees to dismantle main nuke site if US takes steps too
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — The leaders of North and South Korea announced a wide range of agreements Wednesday which they said were a major step toward peace on the Korean Peninsula. But the premier pledge on denuclearization contained a big condition, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stating he’d permanently dismantle his main nuclear complex only if the United States takes unspecified corresponding measures.
Compared to the vague language of their two summits earlier this year, Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in agreed in their second day of meetings to an ambitious program meant to tackle soaring tensions last year that had many fearing war as the North tested a string of increasingly powerful weapons.
Kim promised to accept international inspectors to monitor the closing of a key missile test site and launch pad and to visit Seoul soon, and both leaders vowed to work together to try to host the Summer Olympics in 2032.
But while containing several tantalizing offers, their joint statement appeared to fall short of the major steps many in Washington have been looking for — such as a commitment by Kim to provide a list of North Korea’s nuclear facilities, a solid step-by-step timeline for closing them down, or an agreement to allow international inspectors to assess progress or discover violations.
It also was unclear what “corresponding steps” North Korea wants from the U.S. to dismantle its nuclear site.
COMMENT:-
A truly suspicious person might conclude that this "agreement" is purposefully vague so that the two Koreas can set conditions that Mr. Trump has no choice but to reject in order to take the position "Well, if the government of the United States of America doesn't want to go along with Korea resolving Korean problems in ways that are acceptable and beneficial to Koreans, then we are simply going to have to do it without the involvement of the United States of America. We'll start with this joint declaration '[1] The hostilities between the ROK and DPRK have stopped; [2] The DPRK has withdrawn its armed forces to the 38th parallel; and [3] the ROK does not require Member States to render every assistance to the United Nations in the execution of this resolution as UNSC Resolution has been fully executed.'.".
For further reading "North Korea agrees at summit to shutter test site, major nuclear facility" with its "... Moon and Kim signed the joint declaration that included steps to end military hostility between the two Koreas, plans to continue inter-Korean exchanges and an invitation to Kim to visit Seoul in the near future. ..." might be of interest. Mr. Trump's "tweet" appears to be along the lines of "They have agreed to deliver the pianos and then talk to us about whether or not we'll pay them for them." which, I suspect, isn't quite what was agreed to.
