Singapore Summit 2018

[_cinepro]

It's easy to ignore how historic this summit is since it's Trump as the President. If it were Obama or Bush or any normal President, we'd probably be declaring today a national holiday.

I remember growing up and learning about divided Germany and then one day, it was reunited. It will be shocking and amazing if North and South Korea ever reunite, and I hope it will happen as suddenly and peacefully as the German reunification. And if it happens under Trump's watch, whether because of him or in spite of him, I'll put it up there with his election as something I don't know how he did.

[_ajax18]

I'll put it up there with his election as something I don't know how he did.

It's simple. Trump is a winner. We've been losing for so long that we've forgotten what it's like to win again.

[_canpakes]

I'll put it up there with his election as something I don't know how he did.

It's simple. Trump is a winner. We've been losing for so long that we've forgotten what it's like to win again.

What are you winning?

Serious question.

[_Hawkeye]

It's easy to ignore how historic this summit is since it's Trump as the President. If it were Obama or Bush or any normal President, we'd probably be declaring today a national holiday.

Oh, that is absolute horse manure. The second Obama talked about his willingness to speak to N.Korea in a formal way the Right Wing made sure he'd pay a political price for even talking about that idea. The only hypocrisy here is on the Right, and we know this for a fact because we have their reactions to both scenarios. When FOX News, their plethora of "pundits" and even Donald Trump himself, were all poo pooing on the idea that we should be meeting with the N.Korean dictator.

[_Jersey Girl]

And the media wants America to start singing kumbaya as if this is something to be proud of?

Who said that?

Oh that's all I'm seeing in the media. "What a historic event" and commentators getting excited.

It was a historic event.

[_Hawkeye]

He went and shook hands with the guy. How historic. At this point it doesn't mean squat.

China and S.Korea had already been meeting with Kim Jong Un, I just don't get what the ruckus is about by having Trump go to Singapore to take a few photo ops, boast about his awesomeness and then bash previous presidents. It all seems so staged to me in an attempt to change the media narrative. All he did was the same exact thing the Right Wing raked Obama over the coals for even considering. At the end of the day it is just another useless meeting that was more about symbolism and a perceived political victory for our own dictator. Not one word was raised about Un's human rights violations and there are no specific details about the denuclearization of N.Korea aside from the chest beating rhetoric from a guy who has recently lied to us about N.Korea's plans to end its nuke program.

[_DarkHelmet]

We've been losing for so long

Speak for yourself.

[_Jersey Girl]

He went and shook hands with the guy. How historic. At this point it doesn't mean squat.

China and S.Korea had already been meeting with Kim Jong Un, I just don't get what the ruckus is about by having Trump go to Singapore to take a few photo ops, boast about his awesomeness and then bash previous presidents. It all seems so staged to me in an attempt to change the media narrative. All he did was the same exact thing the Right Wing raked Obama over the coals for even considering. At the end of the day it is just another useless meeting that was more about symbolism and a perceived political victory for our own dictator. Not one word was raised about Un's human rights violations and there are no specific details about the denuclearization of N.Korea aside from the chest beating rhetoric from a guy who has recently lied to us about N.Korea's plans to end its nuke program.

Let me see if I am following your thinking here. The administration had been in contact for months leading up to the summet. Pompeo went in, in advance. And you think that during this brief first meeting event that they should have discussed nitty gritty human rights violations and details of denuclearization right out of the gate.

You think that's how this process should be handled and not in step-by-step increments via ongoing meetings. Correct?

[_Chap]

I popped back in here to feel the pulse of America on the meeting in Singapore.

So this is the text of the agreement:

Joint Statement of President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea at the Singapore Summit

President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) held a first, historic summit in Singapore on June 12, 2018.

President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un conducted a comprehensive, in-depth, and sincere exchange of opinions on the issues related to the establishment of new U.S.-DPRK relations and the building of a lasting and robust peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. President Trump committed to provide security guarantees to the DPRK, and Chairman Kim Jong Un reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Convinced that the establishment of new U.S.-DPRK relations will contribute to the peace and prosperity of the Korean Peninsula and of the world, and recognizing that mutual confidence building can promote the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un state the following:

1. The United States and the DPRK commit to establish new U.S.-DPRK relations in accordance with the desire of the peoples of the two countries for peace and prosperity.

2. The United States and the DPRK will join their efforts to build a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.

3. Reaffirming the April 27, 2018 Panmunjom Declaration, the DPRK commits to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

4. The United States and the DPRK commit to recovering POW/MIA remains, including the immediate repatriation of those already identified.

Having acknowledged that the U.S.-DPRK summit — the first in history — was an epochal event of great significance in overcoming decades of tensions and hostilities between the two countries and for the opening up of a new future, President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un commit to implement the stipulations in this joint statement fully and expeditiously. The United States and the DPRK commit to hold follow-up negotiations, led by the U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, and a relevant high-level DPRK official, at the earliest possible date, to implement the outcomes of the U.S.-DPRK summit.

President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea have committed to cooperate for the development of new U.S.-DPRK relations and for the promotion of peace, prosperity, and security of the Korean Peninsula and of the world.

(Signed)

DONALD J. Trump

President of the United States of America

KIM JONG UN

Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

June 12, 2018

Sentosa Island

Singapore

So, what has Kim given that cost him anything? Pretty well nothing.

Points 1 and 2? Nice sounding but contentless. Point 4? Nice for some families, granted. But what did that cost Kim? Zilch, unlike the potential cost of what the Japanese asked Trump to obtain in relation to their citizens abducted by the DPRK - which he didn't ask about.

Point 3? Kim was already committed to 'working towards denuclearisation' after his meeting with President Moon of South Korea in April, as the text affirms. But as is well known, by 'denuclearisation' Kim means something very, very different from Trump. Kim's plan includes the effective removal of US nuclear-capable forces from the whole region, including Japan. Trump means the DPRK giving up its entire nuclear capacity, actual and potential, and submitting to a rigorous inspection regime. That isn't going to happen anytime soon. Actually, let's say 'anytime Kim is still in charge.'

What did Kim gain?

A: The huge boost to his prestige of being treated on equal terms with the leader of what is still the world's most powerful country.

B: A great big cherry on the cake: Trump's declaration during the news conference that joint military manoeuvres with the South Korean forces will cease:

He declared that the war games, involving planes flying long distances, were too expensive. “We will be saving a tremendous amount of money. Plus, it is very provocative,” Trump said.

Unfortunately, Trump had not only not informed his allies in South Korea of this huge apparently spur of the moment concession of a point that the DPRK have been pushing for over many years - he did not even tell his own forces in South Korea about it. He really loves and respects the military, doesn't he?

“In coordination with our ROK [Republic of Korea] partners, we will continue with our current military posture until we receive updated guidance,” a spokesperson told Reuters.

So, on the whole, what did the US gain from this meeting, exactly?

[_DrW]

So, on the whole, what did the US gain from this meeting, exactly?

Exactly nothing.

Well, unless one needs more evidence that the Trump presidency is the worst political, cultural (and soon to be economic) disaster of the 21st century - a disaster from which the world will not soon recover (if indeed it can recover at all).