President Donald Trump made the smart choice in Hanoi to respectfully but firmly walk away from nuclear disarmament talks with North Korea at the leadership level — at least for the time being. (MORE: The Note: Betrayed at home, empty-handed abroad) Heading into the first summit in Singapore last June, the United States had made a stark request of the North Koreans: Make a strategic decision to denuclearize in return for sanctions relief, economic growth and diplomatic acceptance. Trump left Singapore under the impression Kim Jong Un had made such a decision. However, the offer Kim made this week in Hanoi at the second U.S.-North Korea summit was far from strategic and deeply disappointing. Kim asked Trump to end sanctions in return for freezing operations at the Yongbyon nuclear complex, North Korea’s largest known fissile material production facility. Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo knew better than to accept such an offer. (MORE: Pressure on Trump at Korean summit is extraordinary – so is potential for progress: ANALYSIS) The Yongbyon facility does not represent North Korea’s entire fissile material production capability, and the president made it clear in his press conference that he knows it. Trump referred to another… Read full this story
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