Kim Jong-un’s Overture to South Korea Signals Possible Thaw in Nuclear Crisis

NY Times ^ | Dec. 31, 2017 | CHOE SANG-HUN

[Innovative]

North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, moved Monday to ease his country’s isolation by offering to send a delegation to the Winter Olympics in South Korea next month, even as he claimed to have accomplished the ability to launch a nuclear missile at the mainland United States.

Mixing the nuclear threat with an overture for easing tensions on the divided Korean Peninsula, Mr. Kim proposed immediate dialogue with South Korea to discuss the North’s participation in the Olympics.

If such talks were held, they would mark the first time the two Koreas have had an official dialogue since the South’s new president, Moon Jae-in, took office in May. Mr. Moon has doggedly championed dialogue with the North, even as President Trump has threatened military action to stop the North’s nuclear weapons program.

[Innovative]

Excellent.

At least Kim Yong-Un has some sense and is trying to resolve the crisis peacefully.

Trump's peace through strength is working.

[TigerLikesRooster]

This doesn't mean he would negotiate away his new arsenal. Actually the chance of it happening is almost zero. This is a short-term tactical move NK frequently makes.

[ConservativeMind]

Do you really think peace with a crazy man can be negotiated?

Are you related to Neville Chamberlain?

[GoldenState_Rose]

apparently the South Korean president is from the political party that is more conciliatory and buddy-buddy with the North than meets the eye..I’m sure Washington knows this though, and even Moon Jae-in must ultimately succumb to Trump’s terms of engagement?

Interesting timing though...Olympics being in South Korea this year...God works in mysterious ways.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Trump has a big stick to whack Moon if necessary. Trade and financial retaliation would be devastating if Trump choose to do it. Applying it in small dose alone would bring big chill to SK economy whose domestic business climate is not good these days. This is one of things people fear most.

[Enchante]

Giving N. Korea any form of participation in the Olympics is merely rewarding the POS. I know Moon will probably be foolish enough to do so, but there should not be any such concessions until N. Korea truly changes course. Giving Kim Jong Un diplomatic triumphs without sufficient reciprocation is just silly.

[Boomer]

Too funny. Two posts in a row about rocket boy. One says he has his finger on the nuclear button and will never take any crap from the USA and the other says he’s a good guy making nice. BS.

This little POS really needs to go away in a puff of smoke along with any siblings or other family who can cause trouble for the people of NK or us again. Poof. Gone and forgotten. In a perfect world it would have already happened.

I’ve been predicting a quick hard and fast war with the little asshat for a few weeks now. I figure sometime around March - June is when it will happen. It has to happen sometime; the world can’t let the little twerp live or have launch capable nukes. Just can’t have that. Too destabilizing for the world in general.

[chuckee]

Remember this is a New York Times story that has a tendency to misdirect and create the impression that it is Moon that is getting Yung Un to back off. The reality is that South Korea’s Moon in a cowardly appeasement weak leader.He is a useful tool. This is a message to China to give the appearance they are being reasonable to drive a wedge between the US and China to get them to back off sanctions to buy them more time to develop nuclear tech while China presses for phony 6 party talks that will go nowhere

[bagster]

offering to send a delegation to the Winter Olympics in South Korea

His delegation will be long, cylindrical, and have fin. I wouldn't trust the bastages an inch.

[GoldenState_Rose]

Thanks for the reality check and thank God for a president that owns having the upper hand.

[WVNan]

Winning.

[chuckee]

Why do I smell the rancid odor of a call for been there, done that useless six party talks from China, Russia and appeasement oriented Moon while the sanctions get lifted and buying more time for North Korea to finish up their program?
Nothing short of regime change resolves this problem.

[trebb]

Too funny - he is out of oil/fuel and the South is starting to seize the ships breaking the embargo on such - going to try to get folks to loosen the strangle hold.....again.

[rbg81]

Mr. Kim proposed immediate dialogue with South Korea to discuss the North’s participation in the Olympics.

---

Not sure this is a positive development at all. NK wants to have a presence at the Olympics w/o giving up anything in return. The NYT is as predictable as a stopped watch — they will promote anything that smacks of appeasement.

[Unrepentant VN Vet]

Since I don’t trust the NYSlimes as far as I can throw Manhatten I did a fast search, got a half-dozen other places this story has had play (Reuters, Australia, India...) but nothing from South Korean or Japanese sources.

Is my tinfoil too tight or is somebody playing a game here?

[TigerLikesRooster]

He did say such a thing, but it is not something MSM want it to be. He is throwing a bone to S. Korean gov, who has been eager to push its appeasement agenda. The nuclear issue is between U.S. and NK. NK made it clear time and again. It does not matter what NK does to SK. It will not lead to any progress in nuclear issue. NK wants SK gov to run interference and tie down U.S. while it is working to finish its nuclear/ICBM project.

[Unrepentant VN Vet]

Thanks for the fast confirmation.

FR’s a better news source than the entire world’s MSM...

[independentmind]

The New York Times apparently believes in peace through weakness.

It won’t work, and is a particularly bad idea with an irrational and narcissistic dictator.

[HLPhat]

>>Not sure this is a positive development at all. NK wants to have a presence at the Olympics w/o giving up anything in return.

Let them participate and demonstrate what a monumental FAIL their communist dicta-Utopia is.

Be a nice, inexpensive, reality check that wouldn't cost any American lives.

[COBOL2Java]

Too funny - he is out of oil/fuel and the South is starting to seize the ships breaking the embargo on such - going to try to get folks to loosen the strangle hold.....again.

Not to mention also that the NORK's best buddy Iran is having a bit of trouble on the home front and may be a little distracted.