Following his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korea’s Kim Jong Un reiterated his desire to see the US be “more flexible” in future talks, saying that progress depended on the US, and a state of hostility could easily return to the Korean Peninsula.
Kim has emphasized the importance of the US changing its attitude since
the failed Hanoi Summit in February, and while it seems hard to envision
things going back to the way they were, it’s only been a little over a
year since diplomacy really began in earnest.
US refusal to give North Korea anything in return for progress on
denuclearization is increasingly a big problem, with Kim saying the US
needs to come in with a better attitude by year’s end, or their posture
is going to change.
Putin has urged the US to offer security guarantees as an easy way to
reassure North Korea. Though there is no sign the US will be doing so,
President Trump did “thank” Putin for his comments, saying he believes
Putin is backing the US position on North Korea, and wants to see a deal
made.
Trump acts like we’re doing S Korea a big favor by basing so many troops there, but S Korea can protect itself perfectly well, and the aggressive US position towards N Korea, China and the region in general puts S Korea in great danger. S Korea’s government should tell the US in no uncertain terms, publicly if the message doesn’t get through otherwise, to get serious about peace with N Korea or US bases and arms sales will be ended for good. That’ll get Trump’s attention.
The last thing Trump wants going into the 2020 election thicket next year is a failed North Korean diplomacy with a return to hostilities. He is going to have to give in and let Putin/Kim decide what to do, or he won’t have his bragging point.