[Ciaphas Cain]

Every time North Korea has launched a missile over the sea or made some nutty proclamation in the last year or two, my gut reaction has been "Do they really mean that?"

I'm inclined to believe that Trump's personal meetings with Kim are yielding greater fruit that we may presently realize. The problem is, Kim is walking an unenviable tightrope between China on one hand and his own government on the other. The potential threat to him from hardliners/malcontents in the NK regime should not be underestimated. Doubtless, Trump understands this. Maybe that's why he has been so "forgiving" for Kim's actions sometimes. He knows that Kim has to look strong... or else.

North Korea may be at the most perilous point in all its history. Much more so than the Korean War. Which will Kim favor: his longtime Chinese masters or a nascent friendship with the outside world via President Trump?

Thanks for posting. Very good article.

[mplc51]

Double Santions of NK and China. Period

[Equine1952]

China is feeling the heat, now trying to put pressure on Trump. The Trade war is kicking China’s ass.

[datura]

Thank you for your reply and analysis - I hadn’t thought of it in your way before.

[datura]

How much of the current impeachment insanity is being run by Beijing I wonder.....

[Zhang Fei]

[The potential threat to him from hardliners/malcontents in the NK regime should not be underestimated.]

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I think there’s a tendency to mistake power politics and mere posturing to get ahead, for genuine ideological difference. Ultimately, most of the positioning relates to getting a better grip on power. During the last thousand years, at least half-a-dozen Korean kings have been ousted by courtiers, sons, siblings, uncles, etc. They said what they had to say to get near the throne. Once they got complete control, that’s when you found out what they were really all about.

[stig]

The problem is, Kim is walking an unenviable tightrope between China on one hand and his own government on the other.

Good analysis by you. I have wondered how deep the Chinese tentacles are in the North Korean Government. Should Kim try to deal with the US will China have one of his Generals take him out?

So as you are pointing out Kim may want to do much of what the President is proposing. The problem is HOW does he do it without getting killed? No sense in trying to pocket a few billion if one of your Generals is going to stab you in the back.

I would have thought that South Korea could be playing a larger role in helping Kim but they seem to be impotent in this process.

[Jumper]

My hope is that one morning we wake up to US Troops stationed in NK and a huge amount of fanfare at the UN at NK becomes another independent nation, who may someday join together with SK.