President Donald Trump and Melania Trump stand with one of the freed US citizens. Reuters.
President Donald Trump welcomed back three US citizens formerly held in North Korea. Reuters. The three men arrived and were met with Trump early this morning. The three men were Kim Dong-chul, who is a missionary, Kim Sang-duk and Kim Hak-song, both of whom worked at the foreign funded Pyongyang University of Science and Technology. The three men were sentenced to hard labor for "hostile acts" against the North Korean state. They were released by Kim Jong Un and appeared to be in good health compared to the last person released by North Korea, Otto Warmbier, who died shortly after returning to the United States. Trump thanked Kim Jong Un for releasing the men and expressed hope that a nuclear deal could happen.
My Comment:
Great moment last night with the release of these three men. And quite a bit of excellent diplomacy to get them released. And to see those men in good health and good cheer is also a very good thing after what happened to Otto Warmbier. There was no guarantee that would happen, so to see it is very welcome. These men were not treated well but they were at least in decent health and seem to be very happy to be home.
This release is also a good sign for the US-North Korea talks. I think this shows that North Korea is acting in good faith and is working hard to make some kind of deal with America over their nuclear program. Releasing these men wasn't a precondition to talks but this is a very powerful gesture. Of course, these men didn't deserve to be imprisoned in the first place, but letting them out helps improve the image of North Korea slightly and shows that they aren't playing games. This was also done without anything expected in return, as far as I am aware so it was done just to make nice.
This also shows that the minor diplomatic war of words over why North Korea is coming to the peace table is just that. Minor. In the end it doesn't matter if Trump's pressure gets the credit or Kim Jong Un gets it, what matters is that diplomacy is still working. That minor diplomatic scuffle won't be anything but a footnote when they write the history books about this.
This was a great moment for Trump. It's a major feather in his cap and he accomplished something that Barack Obama was unable to do. I think it will also give Trump some very rare positive mainstream media coverage. It's very hard to spin this in a way that hurts President Trump, even though most outlets are still trying. Even the Reuters report had to throw a few slings at Trump for the Iran deal and the Stormy Daniels (ugh) faux scandal. But the core of the story, Trump administration secures release of three Americans, is one that can't be taken any way except positively.
I also think that the North Korea situation is a major reason Trump's poll numbers, along with the GOP in general, are starting to rise. Trump's approval rating is hovering around 40-50% depending on which poll you use/trust and the GOP's disadvantage in November is being erased. Trump is getting results foreign policy wise and if he manages to broker a peace deal with the North Koreans, the 2018 blue wave might end up being a red one.
And that outcome looks even more likely. The release of these three men is only part of it. Of even greater importance is the fact that the North Korean media showed Kim Jong Un and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo together. Kim is going to face domestic pressure now to get results after that picture has come out. He needs to convince his people that talking to a country that has been demonized for years is the right move and the only way I can see him doing that is if he makes a deal.
Finally, I have to say, it feels pretty good to write about good things happening in the world. So often I have to write about horrible things, like war, terror attacks and senseless violence. Getting to write about the peace process that is happening now is a welcome relief from that, and I for one hope it continues in the future.
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