“These negotiations are predicated on Kim giving up his nuclear program.”
The media is getting most of what is said to be North Korea’s position of “denuclearization” through the mouth of the HARD left leader of South Korea, and not in the exact words of what that means to Kim.
“Predicated on Kim giving up his nuclear program”? When, how, on what terms, and by what date, and with what concessions and economic benefits have to occur first.
The two sides are either farther apart than the media makes it sound, or the deal is not going to be a good one, for our side, if North Korea leaves satisfied, knowing what the dictator wants: Respect it does not deserve without any change in the regime or its behavior, removal of the U.S. from South Korea as part of what it is calling “denuclearization” which is really just - keeping far too much than will be safe, long term, for South Korea, with no more than a “promise” it will never be “offensive”, for which it wants trade and investment with the west that is as open as it is with China.
If Bolton remains Bolton Kim will not agree to the international oversight we would rightly demand on Kim’s “denuclearization” including U.S. and South Korean observers in that as well. If Bolton is trumped by Trump, in favor of a legacy for Trump, we can pity the future on the peninsula as the South, under hard lefties like Moon, submit to heavy POLITICAL concessions with an unchanged Communist dictatorship.
We’re not just talking about denuclearization.
They are trying to weave a restoration of Korea, vs a North and South.
Nobody said it would be easy, but if there is a rejoining, there would be no Northern leadership to develop and use nukes against anyone.
Of course we have to wait and see how it plays out. Trump is playing hardball, and he’s not going to let an opportunity go by like this, and leave nukes on the table.
Either the talks are productive, or it all falls apart.
As for the South’s leadership, I sincerely doubt the people of South Korea want the reunified nation to adopt the government of principles of the North.