Secretary of State Rex Tillerson appeared to make a major change to the US position with respect to possible direct negotiations with North Korea, saying Tuesday that he is prepared to engage in such talks without preconditions.
Historically, the US has demanded North Korea unilaterally disarm before the would even consider negotiations, something which North Korea has long refused, arguing they need to deter the US from just attacking them outright.
As North Korea’s deterrent capabilities expand, the Secretary of State may believe he can no longer simply wait indefinitely on North Korean capitulation. This also comes amid Rusian officials saying North Korea is “ready” for such talks, which would make it embarrassing for the US to stand in the way of it.
Tillerson also said he’d continue to push for diplomacy “until the first bomb drops,” echoing comments he made in the past. Other administration officials have suggested “time is running out” before a US attack on North Korea, but have not offered a timeline on that.
Aahahaha!!!
American. Pussy. Cowards!!
Uh huh.
Right…
I’ll believe when I see it.
More erratic Foreign Policy from the US. I hope this is true but… This administration changes its mind every five seconds…
The big question is, will Tillerson be around long enough to follow through on this new Korea policy? Neocon interventionists (like Mike Pompeo) are drooling over his job. Trump will be OK with anything, just so long as he can keep golfing on a regular basis.
There are always preconditions on talks with the US. The DPRK should not trust the US to keep its side of any agreement they happen to reach.. many historical precedents here.
It’s not so much “without preconditions” as “now that we’ve exhausted all our demands for preconditions and been told by you to go pound sand every time …”
I’m waiting for a tweet from Trump. He can’t possibly be on board with this. I hope I’m wrong.
It took only until this afternoon for you to be right. “The White House has ruled out a dialogue with North Korea until it fundamentally improves its behaviour”
Window of opportunity here while the Seoul Olympics loom on the calendar. Recent pressures by Russia and statements by Lavrov made the U.S. look bad. Where the DPRK goes with this offer and its validity are unclear.
Looks like Rex must have read Pat Buchanan’s latest column on Korea.
One good plan at last, but it may be Pompeo who is the “diplomat” and will be believed as mush as Trump is.
i’ll be surprised that trump doesn’t tweet his firing tonight…