North Korea says it’s hosting a nuclear dismantling party this month. On Saturday, state media reported that North Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to dismantle the country’s nuclear testing site in a ceremony between May 23 and 25. The event will take place days before President Donald Trump meets North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore on June 12 for the pair’s much-hyped summit, where they will discuss a potential deal and items such as sanctions and North Korea’s nuclear program.For one thing, the testing site has been used often enough and for overly powerful weapons that it's no longer usable.
Just like Trump to fall for glitz and not look under the hood.
There are a number of contrary opinions about the stability of the test site. The U.S. has used similar sites hundreds of times, and a chimney collapse is not as bad as the media are portraying it.
ReplyDeleteThat being said. It’s possible the other tunnels have been damaged to the point where t makes sense to relocate the test facility. Since there’s no rush to build a new facility, why not play this for value..
ReplyDeleteI was under the impression that the tunnels were collapsing and/or unstable and the entire site was unusable due to water.
I too have wondered what the Koreans were actually giving up.
Is **Trump** "Trumpeting" the agreement to abandon the testing site, or is it the Media? I've not seen anywhere where the Trump administration is claiming this is a success, only the Papers and the News Media.
If there is nothing under the hood, give it a good wax and sell the looks.
ReplyDeleteTrumpet (verb): to praise (something) loudly and publicly. (from Merriam-Webster)
ReplyDeleteTrump's twitter:
"North Korea has agreed to suspend all Nuclear Tests and close up a major test site. This is very good news for North Korea and the World - big progress! Look forward to our Summit." (4/20/18)
https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/987463564305797126?lang=en
"A message from Kim Jong Un: “North Korea will stop nuclear tests and launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles.”
Also will “Shut down a nuclear test site in the country’s Northern Side to prove the vow to suspend nuclear tests.” Progress being made for all!" (4/20/2018)
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/987532088302886913
"Sleepy Eyes Chuck Todd of Fake News NBC just stated that we have given up so much in our negotiations with North Korea, and they have given up nothing. Wow, we haven’t given up anything & they have agreed to denuclearization (so great for World), site closure, & no more testing!" (4/22/2018)
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/988037292932653056
"Headline: “Kim Prepared to Cede Nuclear Weapons if U.S. Pledges Not to Invade” - from the Failing New York Times. Also, will shut down Nuclear Test Site in May." (4/29/2018)
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/990787671281819648
North Korea has announced that they will dismantle Nuclear Test Site this month, ahead of the big Summit Meeting on June 12th. Thank you, a very smart and gracious gesture!" (5/12/18)
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/995410516129538048
So, B, would you say that this counts as the Trump administration claiming that this is a success/very positive move? Because it sure seems like it's not "only the Papers and the News Media) talking about it...
Ok, I'll agree with you to a point...a positive move? Yes. Taking credit for it, or claiming it is something that makes a difference? No.
ReplyDeleteBut it IS the MEDIA that has (ahem) trumpeted the announcement of the closure of the test site so very, very loudly as a positive step and an oh so gracious and wonderful move and a sacrifice by the NORKs. Even our gracious hostesses original article does so...and it fails to say that Trump is taking credit.
Sorry this attack on Trump fails the test. Like so many before it, this one just shows a bias against him. Points towards TDS....kinda like crying "Wolf!!".
I think we shall have to wait and see what actually happens after the "summit", if anything.
B., it strains credibility to say that Donnie has not claimed credit. Perhaps TDS does stand for Trump Delusion Syndrome?
ReplyDeleteHoo boy! Thanks for the laugh, B. First you make a claim, then when presented evidence to the contrary, you change the parameters of your argument. Then you try to change the direction of the discourse by playing the “TDS” card. Finally, you state that we will have to wait and see, as if you are calming the waters you roiled. That’s rich.
ReplyDeleteIn another thread you berated Centerpuke88 when he asked you to cite references, claiming that you had in the past and that he refused to acknowledge them. And yet, on this thread, you don’t acknowledge the 5 referenced sources from Trump himself. Wouldn’t that tend to be hypocritical?
Go ahead and use your “try reading for comprehension” line. That’s always good for another laugh.
Dale
The North Koreans have backed out of the summit with South Korea and say they will do likewise with the Fergus meeting if the US and South Koreans go ahead with this year's military exercises. That's even before the whole nuclear weapons question is considered.
ReplyDeleteGee, it sure would be nice if we had a functioning state department right about now.
-Doug in Oakland
Where has Trump traded something for the destruction of the test site? Given a concession or anything material? Done more than say that it is a good idea?
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, he did tweet about it, so what? At the end of the day, he hasn't "bought a used car" 'cause he hasn't *given* anything for it. The MEDIA is greatly impressed with the idea, however.
Again, wait and see how things end up. So far, nothing. I will wait for the summit and the aftermath.
Now, if you want to talk about "Used Cars" lets talk about the Iran deal.....That was, indeed a failure. I sincerely hope Trump does better with Korea than Barry did with Iran.
We shall see.
Ok B, in what ways Wass the Iran deal a failure? I've many people say that yet no one has even attempted to explain how it was a failure.
ReplyDeleteEr, B., Donnie traded recognition of the North Korean regime. U.S. policy has been the U.S. wouldn’t meet with the NORK’s until a peace was agreed by all parties...not so much now.
ReplyDeleteEven scarier is the 38 North suggestion that China and the U.S. might be aiming for a handshake deal where China looks away in North Korea if the U.S. looks away in Taiwan.
"The North’s official KCNA news agency said earlier on Wednesday Pyongyang had called off high-level talks with Seoul in the first sign of trouble in what had been warming ties.
ReplyDeleteCiting first vice minister of foreign affairs Kim Kye Gwan, KCNA later said the fate of the U.S.-North Korea summit, as well as bilateral relations, “would be clear” if Washington spoke of a “Libya-style” denuclearization for the North.
“If the U.S. is trying to drive us into a corner to force our unilateral nuclear abandonment, we will no longer be interested in such dialogue and cannot but reconsider our proceeding to the DPRK-U.S. summit,” Kim Kye Gwan said, referring to the North’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea."
"...Wow, we haven’t given up anything & they have agreed to denuclearization (so great for World), site closure, & no more testing!" (4/22/2018)
So that is a whachacallit, lie.
Kim will not give up the nukes he feels he has clawed his way onto the world stage by acquiring. Any competent diplomat could have told Fergus that, and although there aren't as many of them as there used to be in the state department, I really doubt that none of them tried to tell him.
Perhaps if they had bought an ad on "Fox and Friends" he might have at least seen it, but seeing it isn't his problem, it's caring about it that he never does, when it comes to facts and the truth.
-Doug in Oakland