Posted on 10/25/2025 12:21:31 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
North Korean leader refuses to discuss denuclearization, but meeting would boost his global legitimacy
Departing for his first Asia trip of his second term, President Trump publicly called for a meeting with a regional leader not on his diplomatic itinerary: North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.
Trump, speaking to reporters on Air Force One en route to Malaysia, reiterated his openness to meeting Kim, asking the media to “put out the word.” Trump concludes his multi-stop trip to Asia in South Korea, where the president would be within roughly 250 miles from the Korean Demilitarized Zone—site of the two leaders’ last face-to-face encounter in 2019.
In his overture on Friday evening, Trump seemed to suggest he’d welcome extra help reaching out to the 41-year-old dictator.
“They have a lot of nuclear weapons,” Trump said, “but not a lot of telephone service.”
Recognizing North Korea as a nuclear state would be a dramatic shift in U.S. policy, which for decades has aimed to persuade Pyongyang to dismantle its arsenal with a mix of economic and diplomatic pressure. Ending that stance would usher in a new era in U.S. relations with North Korea, one where the two countries engage as fellow nuclear powers instead of fierce adversaries.
That animosity has led to years of nuclear threats and driven North Korea into closer ties with China and Russia, with Pyongyang even sending troops to assist Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Trump recalled the last time he met with Kim, he “put it out over the internet” that he was coming to South Korea and was open to a meeting. But when asked by a reporter about any plans to see Kim, Trump said the dictator hasn’t been in contact.
Two senior U.S. officials said the Trump administration hadn’t sent Kim an invitation for a meeting. Trump’s...
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
Rumor has it Jong Un has called in his hair stylist. Always a sign he has an important meeting.
“A little off the sides and don’t you dare touch the top.”
“Yes, Excellency.”
He’s messing with China. Last time they met, China forced Kim into his own re-education camp to make sure he hadn’t been flipped into a double agent by Trump. They didn’t let him return to power until they were sure of his loyalty.
Meanwhile, Dennis Rodman continues to check his voice mail for any urgent plea by the president for Basketball Diplomacy. “I’m all ready, Mr. President! Send me over there at any time!”
In fairness to Rodman - #1 he made it happen. #2 he gave Trump credit #3 he exposed to the world he had told 0 multiple times of Un’s willingness to meet - and that Trump (who was supposed to get us into a nuke war with Little Rocket Man) at least had the meeting and heard Un out
There are more upsides than down to.changing relations with the Norks. Why do tje Norks keep siding with China and Russia? Could it be we are not making attractive enough to align with us? Or just communists and former communists sticking together? There would be benefits to aligning economically and opening the North to development and tourism.
Because China pwns North Korea.
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