Volatile mix of egos could have ended in nuclear disaster
world”. But it fell some way short in providing that.
Cynics would say the five-hour meeting proved to be little more than a meeting about having more meetings but for the first time the States has a very real diplomatic relationship with North Korea.
After more than a year of venomous barbs and apocalyptic threats of war, the summit between the two men was indeed a relief, with its handshakes and courtesy.
Trump deserves credit for setting in motion a process that, for the time being, will keep the two once enemies talking to each other.
But he should hold off creating a space for the Nobel Peace Prize on the White House mantelpiece just yet. The statement he signed with Kim was strikingly thin on real action, with little evidence of any substantial progress, despite his claims.
The document does not differ greatly from the agreement issued by Kim and the South Korean president, Moon Jae-in, after their meeting on the southern side of the demilitarised zone at the end of April.
The truth is Kim and Trump were never going to appear in Singapore and sign a peace treaty.
China and South Korea would need to attend for such a development, and far more time would be required to negotiate a settlement.
But the wins were obvious and none more so than for Kim.
The dictator achieved his wish to appear an equal on a global stage with the president of the world’s mightiest military power.
He also got what his father and grandfather never did – a meeting with an American president, the legitimacy of being treated as an equal as a nuclear power and his country’s flag standing side by side with the Star Spangled banner.
And while American sanctions remain in place, his country will not see the imposing of any new sanctions while other countries are expected to begin easing theirs.
Trump meanwhile, insisted he secured concessions from Kim, including a nuclear and missile test suspension that is already in its seventh month, and the destruction of a missile test site and an engine test site.
But what about the main goal, denuclearisation?
“We’re starting that process very quickly, very, very quickly,” said Trump.
The statement lacked his previous mantra-like demand or any real substance that denuclearisation not just be complete but also be verifiable and irreversible.
It also contained no definition of “denuclearisation,” which the States and North Korea interpret differently.
But, despite the obvious shortcomings, the President should be commended in his desire to have North Korea abandon its nuclear bombs.
The coming together of two enormous and unpredictable egos to discuss one giving up nuclear weapons was a volatile mix that could have ended horribly.
Thankfully it appears the gamble paid off.
He should hold off creating a space for the Nobel Peace Prize on the mantelpiece just yet