Big tick for Trump
NORTH KOREA: Donald Trump’s audacious plan to meet dictator North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to pressure the communist dictator to scale back his nuclear program has been welcomed by world leaders.
As potential locations were being scouted, new detail yesterday emerged about the historic event’s hasty inception, with confirmation the US President had decided alone on Thursday to accept the invitation due to a “dramatic” change in posture from Kim and the move had taken many White House staff by surprise.
“President Trump has said for some time that he was open to talks and he would willingly meet with Kim when conditions were right,’’ Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in Africa. “And I think in the President’s judgment that time has arrived now.’’
Australia, Russia, China, South Korea and Japan were among the nations to cautiously welcome the plan.
The summit, to be held in the next two months, will be the first between a sitting US president and leader of North Korea. It comes after a year of rapid escalation in Pyongyang’s nuclear capabilities and increased tension between North Korea and the US and its allies, including Australia.
The question of where it will take place brings a wealth of issues. Despite being educated in Switzerland, Kim has not left North Korea since assuming leadership from his father. While the White House has not elaborated on any details, the notion of President Trump travelling to Pyongyang has been roundly dismissed as too much of a security risk.
Peace House in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea is considered most likely.
Other touted locations include Beijing, Geneva, Stockholm, Seoul, Ulaanbaatar, Pyongyang, Washington, New York and Mar-a-Lago. Beijing was the location of the Six-- Party Talks (a series of meetings between North Korea, South Korea, Japan, US, China and Russia aiming to find a peaceful solution to North Korea’s nuclear program) and is another close and safe location for Kim.
Geneva and Stockholm both provide neutral ground, while Ulaanbaatar has previously hosted negotiations with North Korea.
Washington and Mar-a-Lago would require travel sanction waivers. Mr Trump’s decision to meet Kim has drawn cautious support.
Bill Richardson, former US ambassador to the United Nations, said it was a “huge gamble” but “worth taking”.