Monday, May 7, 2018

Singapore likely location of US/North Korea meeting.

Kim  Jong Un and Donald Trump. VOA/AP.

South Korean news outlets are reporting that the location where Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un will meet is Singapore. VOA. The meeting is expected to happen during the third week of June. President Trump will meet with South Korean President Moon Jae-in later this month to coordinate the talks. President Trump said that a time and place has been chosen after previously suggesting a meeting at the DMZ. 

My Comment:
Most of the news recently on the Korea issue has been over the semi-war of words between Trump and Kim, but I don't put too much stock in those complaints. That's just North Korea trying to save a little face and will do nothing to derail the peace talks. 

Indeed, short of something completely insane happening, I don't see how this meeting has happened. Both sides are committed now and I doubt Kim would throw away the chance of his country surviving long term over something as irrelevant as Trump taking credit for the peace effort. 

I am surprised that Singapore was the place that was chosen. Trump had hinted very publicly on Twitter that a meeting at the DMZ. Such a meeting would be historic and one that would show quite a bit of trust towards the North Koreans. I kinda thought it was set in stone. 

However, perhaps neutral ground would be a better option. Kim would gain prestige for traveling to another country and neither side would have home field advantage. Singapore would probably be better able to handle the logistic and security concerns having two world leaders in the same place. It's not a bad choice at all. 

I am somewhat disappointed that this meeting isn't happening until June. I was hoping it would be this month but perhaps that would be to quick. Still, ending the Korean War,getting rid of North Korea's nukes and having peace break out is something I am excited for. Sure, there are a million and one things that could happen that could derail the peace process, but I am hopeful that it will work out. 

No comments:

Post a Comment