Utopia Talk / Politics / I do have to wonder something (re NK)

Rugian Member	Tue Jun 12 08:46:45 What would be the likely Republican reaction to this article? ---- Obama's North Korean gamble ends with 'special bond' with Kim By Kevin Liptak, CNN Updated 8:04 AM EDT, Sat June 12, 2010 Singapore (CNN) Nearly five hours of unprecedented and surreal talks between US President Barack Obama and North Korea's Kim Jong Il culminated on Tuesday with fulsome declarations of a new friendship but just vague pledges of nuclear disarmament. For Obama, that amounted to a triumphant outcome in his extraordinary gamble with the rogue kingdom's despotic leader. But there were scant details on what new commitments had been secured from Kim, even as Obama announced he would end the regular military exercises the US conducts with South Korea. Whether nuclear disarmament is indeed the final outcome of Tuesday's summit won't be known for years, if not decades. But the dramatic act of extending his hand to one of America's longtime adversaries will forever illustrate Obama's multilateral, norm-shattering tenure. "We both want to do something. We both are going to do something. And we have developed a very special bond," Obama said at the conclusion of the landmark summit. "People are going to be very impressed. People are going to be very happy." The document he and Kim signed said the North Korean leader "reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." In exchange, Obama agreed to "provide security guarantees" to North Korea. But there was no mentioning the previous US aim of "complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization." And Kim's commitments did not appear to go beyond what he already pledged to do in April when he met South Korean President Lee Myung-bak along their countries' border. Obama insisted during a news conference the agreement went further than many people expected. But he acknowledged the effort to rid North Korea of its nuclear arsenal was in its early stages. "We will do it as fast as it can mechanically and physically be done," he said. Obama and Kim -- both intent on making history -- greeted each other early in the day with extended hands in front of a row of US and North Korean flags, a previously unthinkable sight that reflects a new chapter in the two countries' acrimonious relationship. Obama's threats to politely walk out of the meeting if his expectations were unmet did not materialize. Instead he predicted he could "solve a big problem, a big dilemma" alongside his new partner. "Working together, we'll get it taken care of," Obama said. The remarks came amid an improbable series of events that few could have anticipated even three months ago. The unlikely images of US and North Korean counterparts engaging in friendly dialogue lent the day an air of unreality. In a detailed menu, the White House said the men were served Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream for dessert. Even Kim seemed to acknowledge the surreality of the day. "Many people in the world will think of this as a (inaudible) form of fantasy ... from a science fiction movie," his translator was overheard saying as the two leaders walked down a white-columned colonnade. At the conclusion of the summit, Obama hailed the talks as a historic, and personal, achievement. "We learned a lot about each other and our countries," Obama said. "I learned he's a very talented man." When pressed about those comments in light of Kim's brutal tactics, Obama continued praising the North Korean leaders' ability to run his country. "He is very talented," Obama said, citing Kim's ability to "take over a situation like he did and run it, and run it tough." Kim assumed power after his father Kim Il Sung, also a brutal dictator, died in 1994. Throughout the day, Obama and Kim's body language was openly friendly, a striking warmth given Kim's iron grip on power and dismal record on human rights. Obama's move to meet him attracted fierce criticism for normalizing a regime routinely called out for its human rights abuses, that over years has built an image of fearsome renegade regime, throwing around threats of nuclear war. The day began with Obama patting Kim on the back and placing his hand on the North Korean's shoulder as they walked into their first meeting. Later they were seen smiling and laughing over lunch. Obama told reporters he would "absolutely" extend an invitation to the White House to Kim, who also heralded a new era. "Today, we had a historic meeting and decided to leave the past behind," Kim said through a translator. "The world will see a major change." The meeting came only months after a period of heightened tensions between the two countries, leading to fears of war. By contrast, Obama appeared to back off a military footing on Tuesday, declaring the US will stop the "war games," an apparent reference to joint military exercises with South Korea that North Korea has long rebuked as provocative. Obama also said he hopes to eventually withdraw US forces from South Korea, but said "that's not part of the equation right now." "I want to get our soldiers out. I want to bring our soldiers back home," Obama said. "But that's not part of the equation right now. I hope it will be eventually." Tuesday's meeting, convened at a luxury hotel on the island of Sentosa, came just three months after Obama accepted North Korea's invitation for talks on the spot. It was an extraordinarily compressed timeline for the landmark summit, which at one point was called off entirely as communication broke down between Washington and Pyongyang. The talks were quickly revived, leading to the highly choreographed event that unfolded Tuesday. After the men shook hands, they repaired inside for one-on-one talks. In that first meeting they were joined only by translators, a break from standard practice of having at least one aide present for high-stakes huddles. Later in the day, advisers joined the talks for a larger bilateral session and a working lunch. Obama took keen interest in the pageantry of the day, insisting the pictures beamed around the world reflect a commanding leader making a decisive, world-altering move. At the same time, he'd admitted he didn't believe he required extensive preparation to take stock of Kim. As part of the advance work, Obama commissioned a highly produced video meant to convince Kim to relinquish his weapons and open his country to outside investment. Obama showed Kim the movie on an iPad during their talks. Here in futuristic Singapore, however, Kim was able to view the benefits of economic advancement at close range. He was spotted taking a moonlit stroll around the high-end Marina Bay Sands hotel and casino, owned by Democratic mega-donor Tom Steyer, the type of glitzy development few North Koreans could ever imagine coming to their country. Kim was cheered by onlookers who caught sight of the dictator, who until earlier this spring was not believed to have ever left North Korea as supreme leader.
Dukhat Member	Tue Jun 12 09:01:30 You know how Republicans would feel. They'd attack Obama constantly as being an empty suit that didn't get anything real accomplished. But kudos to you for trying to practice some empathy. It's a big step forward.
Hot Rod Revved Up	Tue Jun 12 09:43:46 As someone who is a registered Independent, I can only hope that Obama will keep the very stern sanctions on North Korea until we see some concrete results.
obaminated Member	Tue Jun 12 09:48:43 The difference is Obama was known as a milktoast sort of person, Trump is known as an alpha so he gets a lot more slack.
Dukhat Member	Tue Jun 12 09:55:11 Trump is known as an Al ... RETARD. FTFY
Dukhat Member	Tue Jun 12 09:55:31 So he gets a lot more slack from other retards/cuckservatives.
obaminated Member	Tue Jun 12 13:13:10 Trump got kim to sign an agreement to complete denuclearization, hahaha, rip cucks
hood Member	Tue Jun 12 13:24:24 It was posted elsewhere: http://www...public-korea-singapore-summit/ No, they didn't agree to denuclearization. They agreed to work towards it. Very big difference, since working towards it is about as binding as a pinky promise.
tumbleweed the wanderer	Tue Jun 12 13:29:02 and they agreed to that in the past too, more than once but luckily for Trump, his fans know as little as he does
Cold Rod Member	Tue Jun 12 13:31:48 "Trump got kim to sign an agreement to complete denuclearization, hahaha, rip cucks " Oh here we go again. Don't worry, little bitch m'tard will claim he knew that and is only "joking".
Dukhat Member	Tue Jun 12 13:44:54 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFsiYm8aHWY Curb your Peace Summit.
Seb Member	Wed Jun 13 06:52:38 So, north Korea got everything Iran got from Obama, and all they have to do is promise to dnuclearise at some point in the future. They don't even need to stop enriching or producing warheads. But Iran was the worst dear ever.
Delude Member	Wed Jun 13 07:22:07 The worst,seb, the worst. With no details attached exactly as to why is was the "worst."
jergul large member	Wed Jun 13 07:46:57 Trump thought that the US paid iran 150 billion dollars.
murder Member	Wed Jun 13 09:54:59 "No, they didn't agree to denuclearization. They agreed to work towards it." Yeah, the US has been committed (NPT) to denuclearization for 48 years, and we're still up to our eyeballs in nukes so ...
murder Member	Wed Jun 13 10:06:45 "What would be the likely Republican reaction to this article?" You know what the reaction would be. What I find amusing is Republicans trying to spin this into some sort of "win", when we've essentially been run off by nuclear threats. For decades the North Koreans have wanted an official end to the war, our troops to leave Korea, and an end to sanctions ... and developing nuclear weapons secured ALL of that for them without having to fire a shot. Personally I am and have been all for leaving but ... the fact is that the US under Donald Trump succumbed to nuclear blackmail. In theory we've been in Korea all this time because the Norks were a threat to our security and to the security of our allies ... but now not so much. If Iran isn't developing nuclear weapons right this second, they are dumber than hell.
swordtail Anarchist Prime	Wed Jun 13 10:31:50 Murad Gazdiev‏Verified account @MuradGazdiev · Jun 12  More Chronology of U.S. nuke deals: Clinton makes deal with North Korea. Bush tears it up. Bush makes deal with Gadaffi. Obama bombs Gadaffi. Obama makes deal with Iran. Trump tears it up. Trump makes deal with North Korea. To be continued.
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