TRUMP CALLS OFF KOREA SUMMIT
DONALD Trump dramatically pulled out of a historic nuclear summit with North Korean dictator Kim Jong- un yesterday, saying the world had “lost a great opportunity for lasting peace”.
The US President said he made the decision because of the “tremendous anger and open hostility” in a recent North Korean statement.
President Trump, 71, was referring to remarks by Choe Son Hui, North Korea’s foreign affairs spokeswoman, in which she branded US Vice President Mike Pence “ignorant and stupid”.
Asked if the cancellation of the summit increased the risk of war, President Trump said: “We’ll see what happens.”
Anger
In a letter to Mr Kim, which was released by the White House, Mr Trump said he had been “very much looking forward” to meeting him at the summit, which was scheduled to take place in Singapore on June 12.
But Mr Trump – who had previously branded Mr Kim “little rocket man” – added: “Sadly, based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have the longplanned meeting.
“Therefore, please let this letter serve to represent that the Singapore summit, for the good of both parties, but to the detriment of the world, will not take place.”
Mr Trump went on to warn: “You talk about your nuclear capabilities, but ours are so massive and powerful that I pray to God they will never have to be used.”
He said the “missed opportunity” was a “truly sad moment in history” but urged Mr Kim to “call me or write” if he changed his mind.
Last night the White House said North Korea’s condemnation of Mr Pence was “the last straw” that led to cancelling the summit. It came in an angrily worded statement by Choe Son Hui, in response to an interview Mr Pence had given to TV station Fox News.
The cancellation came just hours after North Korea said it had demolished its only nuclear test site at Punggye- ri. Foreign journalists invited to attend said they witnessed a series of explosions at the site.
Mr Pence had warned North Korea it could end up like Libya, whose former leader Colonel Gaddafi gave up his nuclear programme only to be killed by Nato- backed fighters. In response, Ms Choe suggested the two countries could meet for a summit or for a nuclear showdown.
She said: “I cannot suppress my surprise at such ignorant and stupid remarks gushing out from the mouth of the US vice president.
“We will neither beg the US for dialogue nor take the trouble to persuade them if they do not want to sit together with us. In case the US offends against our goodwill and clings to unlawful and outrageous acts, I will put forward a suggestion to our supreme leadership for reconsidering the summit.” Later, in a statement at the White House, Mr Trump warned North Korea the US military stands ready if necessary to deal with any “reckless act”.
He added: “While many things can happen and a great opportunity lies ahead potentially, I believe that this is a tremendous setback for North Korea and indeed a setback for the world.”
The President said the US would continue its “maximum pressure” campaign of sanctions to press North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons, adding: “I hope that Kim Jong- un will ultimately do what is right not only for himself but perhaps most importantly what’s right for his people, who are suffering greatly and needlessly.”
The US military said it is on “a high state of vigilance”.
Last night Theresa May was said to be “disappointed”. A Downing Street spokeswoman said last night: “We need to see an agreement that can bring about the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.”
South Korean President Moon Jae- in said: “I am very perplexed and it is very regrettable the North Korea- US summit will not be held.”
The summit, announced in March, would have seen the first ever meeting between a serving US President and a North Korean leader.
OH DEAR. What a way to run the world. Just when you think there has been a triumph for diplomacy, President Trump opens his mouth on the subject of North Korea and we’re all back to square one. Many thought that proposed meeting on June 12 was too good to be true. Now it turns out they were right.
The American president is the most powerful and influential man in the world and the current, somewhat curious, incumbent of the White House really had seemed to be on the verge of doing the ultimate deal: bringing North Korea back into the global fold.
Now all plans have been cancelled. Is this particular peace process reparable? Who knows in the longer term – although for the moment at least, all bets are off.