Trump’s Sitdown With Kim: A Historic Breakthrough

THE ISSUE: President Trump’s acceptance of Kim Jongun’s invitation to discuss North Korea’s nuclear program.

President Trump hit one out of the park (“The Kim and I,” March 9).

He threatened North Korea with nuclear annihilation if Kim Jong-un didn’t abandon his nuclearweapons program, and Kim blinked first. Now, peace talks might happen by May.

Trump may be unorthodox, but he is a genius at bullying, and evidently bullying is the only thing Kim responds to. Trump was able to do what numerous presidents before him were unable to.

I’m a lifelong Democrat, but you have to give the devil his due, and Trump played this North Korean strategy beautifully. Hats off to a Machiavellian strategist. Ron Spurga Manhattan

I’m not very optimistic that the upcoming North Korea-United States talks will be productive.

First, North Korea will never give up its nuclear weapons, and the United States will never eliminate soldiers along the Korean border.

Second, the State Department is woefully understaffed (the United States doesn’t have an ambassador to South Ko- rea, and the special envoy to North Korea is retiring), and foreign-policy experts are badly needed to effectively negotiate.

Finally, Trump is too erratic and unprepared. Either nothing substantial will be agreed upon, or the United States will get hoodwinked. Kenneth Zimmerman Huntington Beach, Calif.

Trump might meet with North Korea’s leader to work out a plan to live in peaceful coexistence.

I wish them success. Both leaders have the same confrontational, inyour-face approach, and they would be wise to bring their top diplomats to the table.

They stand on a level playing field, since small minds think alike. As Trump so frequently says, “We’ll see what happens.” Herb Stark Mooresville, NC

Despite what pundits told us about Trump’s North Korean strategy, Kim appears willing to sit down with him.

It seems Trump’s strength sure beats the Obama administration’s policy of strategic patience.

Now we have a leader in office who wants to make America great, which doesn’t mean kowtowing to murderous despots.

American apologists haven’t learned that you don’t try to bribe dictators; the result is always bad. Barry Levy Hawthorne

After months of playing hard to get, Kim might finally sit down with Trump. Even a cynic can tell the two head honchos are a great match.

While loaves in North Korea are hard to come by, the pair really ought to break bread. Oliver Mosier Astoria