President Donald Trump said he “probably” has a “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump suggested that his fiery tweets against North Korea and Kim during the first year of his administration were part of a diplomatic strategy. President Donald Trump continued floating the idea of developing warmer ties with North Korea, and suggested that his previous rhetoric against the regime was part of a grand strategy. “I probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un,” Trump said of the North Korean leader, according to a Wall Street Journal report Thursday. “I have relationships with people. I think you people are surprised.” Trump addressed the fiery and furious tone of his tweets that were aimed at North Korea during the first year of his administration, and said that it was how he created friendlier ties with people. “You’ll see that a lot with … [Read more...] about Trump says he probably has ‘a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un’
Kim jong un
Why Kim Jong-un wanted a diplomatic offensive
Last year Kim Jong-un shocked the world with the unexpected speed of his nuclear missile development, his brutal crackdown on apparent rivals and suspicions that he ordered the assassination of his half-brother with a chemical nerve agent. This year, the North Korean leader is opening January with a diplomatic offensive -- but that doesn't mean a change of strategy. North Korean officials met their southern counterparts on Tuesday for the first such talks in two years. The outcome was an agreement to send a delegation to the Winter Olympics being hosted by South Korea next month as well as to hold military-to-military talks.Openness to dialogue is, of course, a mildly positive signal. None of that, however, means North Korea has any intention of slowing its drive for evermore powerful nuclear missiles and warheads, specifically those that would allow it to hit the United States. Instead, Pyongyang appears to be pursuing a deliberate and increasingly successful strategy to drive a wedge … [Read more...] about Why Kim Jong-un wanted a diplomatic offensive
It’s Kim Jong Un’s birthday, but nobody in North Korea is celebrating — here’s why
January 8 in Kim Jong Un’s 34th birthday. The day hasn’t been made a national holiday, unlike the birthdays of both his father and grandfather, which are still celebrated. A North Korean expert told BI that it’s too cold and expensive to celebrate his birthday right now. Others say it could be due to growing discontent amongst his people. January 8 is Kim Jong Un’s 34th birthday – but nobody in North Korea is celebrating with him. According to the country’s official calendar, as cited by the BBC, the day is just a normal working Monday. North Korea has attempted to cover up Kim’s birthday in the past. In 2014, former NBA star Dennis Rodman was in North Korea for Kim’s birthday, and sang “Happy Birthday” to him at a basketball match in Pyongyang. But citizens were told only Rodman had “sung him a special song,” with no mention of his … [Read more...] about It’s Kim Jong Un’s birthday, but nobody in North Korea is celebrating — here’s why
Kim Jong Un is in the nuclear drivers’ seat
Donald Trump may have a bigger nuclear button than Kim Jong Un, but North Korea is driving events right now.While Kim and Trump’s back-and-forth is disturbing, their rhetoric is aimed at domestic audiences. And while we’ve focused on the threats and insults that these two leaders throw at each other, we’ve missed the larger story: namely, that the North Korean government holds the upper hand in its decades-old dispute with the United States and that since this summer — with only small exceptions — the U.S. and its allies have been reacting to North Korean policy. Kim Jong Un is shaping the conflict — and its possible solutions — right now.Should it be this way? North Korea is, after all, a tiny military power (spending about 0.5 per cent of what the U.S. does on the military), an even smaller economy (with a gross domestic product about the same size as Appleton, Wis.), and a diplomatic lightweight (only 24 countries have embassies in North … [Read more...] about Kim Jong Un is in the nuclear drivers’ seat
Trump says he’s open to speaking with Kim Jong Un as North Korea, South Korea prepare for talks
THURMONT, MD.—U.S. President Donald Trump, shelving comparisons about the size of a “nuclear button,” said Saturday he is open to talking with the North Korean leader he’s called “Little Rocket Man” and hopes some progress results from upcoming talks between the Koreas.Trump, who last year lambasted his chief diplomat for talking about negotiations with the nuclear-armed North, told reporters at Camp David that some dialogue or direct conversation with Kim Jong Un was not beyond the realm of possibility.“Sure, I always believe in talking,” Trump said. “Absolutely I would do that, I wouldn’t have a problem with that at all.” But he was quick to add that any talks would come with conditions, which he did not specify. Read more: Koreas have agreed to hold talks next week to discuss Olympics, Seoul says … [Read more...] about Trump says he’s open to speaking with Kim Jong Un as North Korea, South Korea prepare for talks