North Korea is acting up because Trump has it cornered

The Washington Post ^ | May 18, 2018 | Marc A. Thiessen

[2ndDivisionVet]

North Korea’s recent temper tantrum over U.S.-South Korean military exercises and its threat to pull out of its upcoming summit with President Trump are signs that Trump’s North Korea strategy is working.

Over the past several months, Trump has boxed in Kim Jong Un. First, he ramped up economic pressure on Pyongyang while making clear that, unlike his predecessors, he was willing to take military action. Yet when Kim offered to meet face-to-face, Trump shocked everyone (probably including Kim) by reportedly accepting on the spot. Instead of rejecting the offer, or using it as a bargaining chip to elicit concessions, Trump said “yes” and put the two nations on a faster track to nuclear negotiations than anyone had anticipated.

Then, the president began shaping the parameters of an agreement — starting with making clear what kind of deal he would not cut. The North Koreans want a nuclear deal like the one President Barack Obama gave to Iran: sanctions relief up front, billions of dollars in cash, a weak inspection regime and sunset clauses on the back end. By withdrawing from the Iran deal last week, Trump sent Pyongyang a crystal-clear message: I don’t cut deals like that.....

[Jack Hammer]

It wasn’t ‘North Korea’s’ temper tantrum. It was Kim being Kim. He’s mental. Absolutely certifiable.

[kiltie65]

Love our President. Too bad he has to bear the brunt of all the weak Presidents before him. We may not get out of this without serious happenings, but finally we have a leader who will face the music and stop this merry go round of indecision. N. Korea must realize their consequences will be greater than our consequences, however the chips may fall.

[scottinoc]

I have to think Bolton’s comment was part of the plan. It’s like “If you try to work with us, it still may not turn out well for your regime. You want to see how things work out when you don’t work with us?”

[1Old Pro]

I have to think Bolton’s comment was part of the plan

I have zero doubt about that. I don't listen to the media children who purposely spread lies an rumors about a WH is disarray or some other such nonsense.

[pasr]

It is a miracle the Washington Post got it mostly right

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Holy crap. Is there a blizzard in Hell or something? This is an excellent analysis from the Post.

[redhead]

"It wasn’t ‘North Korea’s’ temper tantrum. It was Kim being Kim. He’s mental. Absolutely certifiable."

There is also the problem of the brainwashed, starved, ignorant, backward people the Kim's have cultivated for the last half a century. Facts mean nothing to a people so backward they insist after watching a surgical procedure by medical doctors that Dear Leader healed the patient in question. I don't envy the government of South Korea. The entire population of North Korea is mental.

[JustaCowgirl]

This from theWapoi? I think the sun just imploded.

[Red Badger]

WaPo?.................

[Jack Hammer]

At least that population has the legitimate excuse that malnutrition due to a steady diet of tree bark and rats weakens the mind.

Kim ruthlessly exploits his own people to stay in power.

[bert]

Face
Kim lost face

[Red Badger]

I don’t doubt that Putin is pulling some strings...................

[Dave911]

This guy works for the Post? He’s probably packing up his desk right now.

[jackibutterfly]

"It is a miracle the Washington Post got it mostly right"

Actually, it's written by Marc Thiessan - I think he's a regular on Fox News. That's probably why it's pretty balanced.

[Sacajaweau]

The media should just shut up.

[COBOL2Java]

Hey, Rocket Man: This is not your father's US President

[Gator113]

I suspect that Obama and the MSM are pulling some strings.

[trebb]

Yep - twisted Kim’s nipples until he grimaced and let him know the gonads are next.....Kim’s move.

[rickomatic]

Holy crap. Is there a blizzard in Hell or something? This is an excellent analysis from the Post.

It's an opinion piece by Marc Thiessen, a conservative. Do yourself a favor and take a look at a couple pages of the comments over at Wapo. The Trump derangement is alive and well with the MSM bubble crowd over there. They are as confident in their belief that Trump is an idiot and is being played by Kim, as they were that Trump had no chance of being elected. I can't wait for the mid terms, just to watch their meltdowns again.