Should Donald Trump visit the DMZ between North and South Korea?

VP Mike Pence visited the DMZ last April. Washington Post/AP. 

The Trump White House is considering a visit to the DMZ that lies between North and South Korea. Washington Post. The visit has been a tradition for sitting US presidents and already Vice President Pence has observed the DMZ last April. However, some are worried that a President Trump visit could inflame already high tensions with North Korea and could even put Trump's safety at risk. The South Koreans do not want the president to visit but many advisers, including ones from the former Bush and Obama admins say that he must. Trump has not released the schedule of his upcoming trip to Asian nations. 

My Comment:

Very interesting situation in North Korea and I can see both sides to the argument. I do think that if Trump doesn't visit the DMZ, the media, at the very least, will attack him for it. They will attack him for going as well, but the attacks that will come if he doesn't go will be much more harsh. 

It will be seen as weakness if Trump doesn't go to the DMZ. And not just by the anti-Trump mainstream media. North Korea will take it as a sign that Trump is afraid of them and could encourage them to continue on their nuclear path. Their propaganda would claim that Trump was "scared" and our media would agree with them. 

That being said no matter what we do we will anger the North Koreans. A Trump visit to the DMZ is essentially a middle finger to the North Korean government. If the goal is to ratchet down tensions, now might not be the time to inflame them. It really depends on what Trump wants to accomplish. If he wants to demonstrate strength and attempt to intimidate the North Koreans he will go. If he wants to ratchet it down tensions he might not go. 

We do have to worry about Donald Trump physical safety. There is a real possibility that the North Koreans could attempt to attack him. Doing so would almost certainly result in a war even if the attack wasn't successful so no rational leader would try doing so. 

But we have to wonder if Kim Jong Un is rational. After all, he should now that threatening nuclear war with the United States is about the stupidest thing you could possibly do but he is doing so anyways. He obviously isn't in his right mind so he might think an attack on POTUS is a good idea despite all the evidence that it isn't. 

Still, I think that Donald Trump will go. He doesn't seem like the type that will back down from a controversy. After all his tweets and arguments with people I sincerely doubt that he will be intimidated by the North Koreans. I don't think he cares about potential higher tensions and I doubt he's concerned with his safety. 

Trump also doesn't want to be the first president since Reagan to not visit the DMZ. Though George Bush 41 didn't visit as president, he did visit as Vice President. Reagan, Clinton, Bush 43 and Obama all visited and even Mike Pence has gone. Trump doesn't want to be the odd man out. I would be shocked that before his 1st term is up that Trump doesn't go at some point, unless war breaks out making the whole issue moot. 

I do think there is a chance that his advisers could convince him to not go. If they really fear a terrorist attack or that a visit could completely derail diplomacy, he might not visit. It will be a hard sell for his advisers as Trump does not want to appear weak. But I also think that if the consequences are bad enough he might stay home. I don't find it that likely though.