Trump contradicts advisor on North Korea
Summary
- North Korea has threatened to pull out of a historic summit with US President Trump about giving up its nuclear weapons.
- The North blamed US Security Advisor John Bolton, who has called for the upcoming negotiations to follow the ‘Libya model’.
- In 2003, Libya's then-leader Muammar Gaddafi agreed to give up all nuclear weapons in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. A few years later US-backed air strikes helped overthrow Gaddafi.
- The comparison has angered North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un. President Trump is also not happy and contradicted Bolton, saying the ‘Libya model is not a model we have at all’.
Quotes
“This [deal] would be something with Kim Jong-un where he would be in his country, he'd be running his country, his country would be very rich.
”Donald Trump US President
“Libya allowed American and British observers into all their nuclear-related sites… North Korea needs to present real evidence it’s giving up its nuclear weapons.
”John Bolton US National Security Advisor
“We shed light on the quality of Bolton already in the past, and we do not hide our feeling of repugnance towards him.
”Kim Kye Gwan NK Foreign Affairs Minister
Analysis
North Korea has a history of walking away from talks and deals. It also has a lot more experience at this kind of diplomacy than the current US administration.
This development will hand sceptics more ammunition to say that this time is not different and that Kim Jong-un remains untrustworthy.
That makes the next few steps even more difficult. South Korea and the US must decide how to respond. Do they cave in and offer a concession? Or do they tough this one out and hope Kim Jong-un wants this historic summit with the US president just as much as the other way around?