#denuclearization

"Well, look, we had a tremendous meeting, as you know, with President Xi in China. And my doctrine would be denuclearization because we have enough nuclear—we're number one, Russia's number two, China’s number three, way behind but they'll be even in four or five years—they’re, you know, working overtime on nuclear weapons. I think that denuclearization would be a great thing. We could blow up the world 150 times. There's no need for this. So I really think we're going to have—I've spoken to President Putin about it, I've spoken to President Xi about it, and everybody would like to spend all of that money on other things, people that really, you know, things that can benefit people now. So I think something like that could happen, the denuclearization. It's really—I want peace, I want peace through strength, but we want peace all over the world. We're very close to getting it. We had a lot of wars raging that people didn't know about. Now they’re not raging anymore. We have one left and we're going to hopefully get that taken care of."

Trump’s goal? End the nuclear threat and focus on peace and prosperity instead.

He’s not just thinking America First — he’s thinking Humanity First. 🙏💥

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By the time Trump had his first summit with Kim Jong Un in June of 2018, North Korea had conducted no missile tests since October of 2017. This didn’t stop Trump from taking full responsibility for the suspended tests, or from repeatedly touting it as supposed proof of his success with Kim:

Donald Trump, June 13, 2018: “Everybody can now feel much safer than the day I took office. There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea.”

Donald Trump, June 15, 2018: “I have solved that problem. Now, we’re getting it memorialized and all, but that problem is largely solved.”

Donald Trump, June 21, 2018: “They’ve stopped the sending of missiles, including ballistic missiles.”

Donald Trump, September 25, 2018: “The missiles and rockets are no longer flying in every direction.”

Donald Trump, September 25, 2018: “If it takes two years, three years, or five months. It doesn’t matter. There is no nuclear testing and there is no testing of rockets.”

Donald Trump, February 19, 2019: “I’m in no rush. As long as there’s no testing, I’m in no rush. If there’s testing, that’s another deal. But there has been no testing.”

Donald Trump, March 6, 2019: “I would be very disappointed if that [North Korea rebuilding a rocket launch site] were happening. Well, we’re going to see. It’s too early to see. ... It’s a very early report. We’re the ones that put it out. But I would be very, very disappointed in Chairman Kim, and I don’t think I will be, but we’ll see what happens.”

Donald Trump, March 8, 2019: “I would be surprised in a negative way if he [Kim] did anything that was not per our understanding. But we’ll see what happens. I would be very disappointed if I saw testing.”

Donald Trump, March 9, 2019: “I’m not in a rush. I don’t want to rush anybody. ... I just don’t want testing. As long as there’s no testing, we’re happy.”

As M.I.T. politics professor Vipin Narang explained: “Stopping missile tests, rather than actual denuclearization itself, may be enough for Trump to claim success on North Korea and enjoy a political win.” Unfortunately for Trump, as of May he can no longer claim even that supposed victory:

“The North began lobbing missile after missile aloft, testing at least three new varieties. The tests have showcased the North’s ability to consistently launch solid-fuel missiles that are easier to hide in the mountains and which could be quickly deployed on mobile launchers and fired before the United States could respond. ... The recent bout began in early May when the North fired a 30-foot-tall missile from an eight-wheeled truck. Analysts said it was a solid-fuel rocket that can be launched in minutes – unlike liquid-fuelled missiles, which can take hours of preparation. In all, the North conducted eight flight tests of the new missile in May, July and August. Its maximum range was found to be roughly 430 miles... The missile, if perfected, could target all of South Korea, including at least six US bases, and parts of southern Japan, including two large bases. North Korea debuted another type of missile in late July and early August, along with a new launching system ...a new generation of weapon that could fire an unknown number of missiles simultaneously. The older type could fire eight. The range of the newly tested missile... was 155 miles, about 40 miles farther than the older version... it would increase the North’s ability to subject US and South Korean targets to ‘saturation attacks,’ which can also defeat antimissile defences. North Korea tested a third new missile twice in early August. ... Then, late last month, the North fired two projectiles from what it called a ‘super-large multiple rocket launcher.’ ...the system appeared new, making it perhaps the fourth missile system to debut this year and another iteration of a multiple rocket launcher.”

Naturally, Trump has responded by declaring that once again he knows better than the entire U.S. Intelligence Community, and that North Korea’s illegal missile testing is no longer relevant as a measure of Trump’s own “tremendous success” with North Korea and Kim:

South, North Korea declare commitment to full denuclearization, ending war

The two Koreas have reached a landmark Panunjom Agreement to achieve full denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and agreed to pursue a peace treaty to formally end the Korean War.

South and North Korean leaders Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong Un signed and declared an agreement Friday after their historic summit talks at the Peace House building, on South Korea's side of the Panmunjom border village.

...

The president added that government officials will also "closely talk and cooperate," and civilian exchanges and cooperation will also take place for the reconciliation of the Korean people.

Under the agreement, the two Koreas will establish a joint liaison office in the North's industrial area of Kaesong to enable "close coordination" between two governments as well as ensure smooth civilian exchanges and cooperation.

(Photo: Carl Court/Getty Images) 

Hanoi summit

Both the US and South Korea have confirmed the end of continuous large-scale military exercises after US talks with North Korea. These diplomatic efforts are part to"achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” the alliance’s defense chiefs said.

A number of exercises had already been suspended last year after US President Donald Trump met with North Korea’s Kim Jong-Un, who regards the “war games” as provocation and indication for a military invasion.

The US and South Korea agreed to end the exercises such as the Foal Eagle and Key Resolve series of military drills in a phone call made Saturday. Trump had critized the cost of such exercises involving around 30,000 US troops. Others have warned about ending the drills, that might cause an undermining of South Korean military defence against the North.