The Koreas agree to end the war
The New York Times reports that the leaders of North and South Korea met for the first time on the shared frontier of their two countries hoping to end the sixty-eight years of tense showdowns.
Their meeting was marked by some surprisingly candid moments but also sweeping pledges, with Mr. Kim saying, “I came here to put an end to the history of confrontation.”
The event, at the Peace House, a conference building on the South Korean side of Panmunjom, was closely watched because it could set the tone for the even more critical summit meeting between President Trump and Mr. Kim, two leaders known for bold, if unpredictable, actions who only recently had the world fearing a nuclear war.
President Trump is cautiously optimistic;
Mr. Trump, early Friday in Washington, cautiously praised the Korean leaders’ meeting on Twitter: “Good things are happening, but only time will tell!”
Fifteen minutes later, he declared in an all-caps tweet, “KOREAN WAR TO END!” and said that all Americans should be “very proud” of what was taking place on the Korean Peninsula.
In another tweet, he thanked President Xi Jinping of China for his “great help” in the process.
Me? I’d trust NDtBF as far as I could throw his portly ass. I can’t help but think that he’s going to take advantage of the situation and it will all crumble.
Category: North Korea
How wonderful that the work of Obama, Albright, and Kerry finally paid off. /sarc
I recognize the sarcasm but that is exactly what will be claimed by the media if this works out.
Yup^^^^^
Dude! Presstitutes -lie-? Water is -wet-? Who knew?!?! /sarc
….
I think history will be kinder to Mr. Trump than our press. With each passing event, with each win, it is harder and harder to say with a straight face that Democrat policies really do eventually work but only after a Republican takes office.
Funny how that works, eh?
Don’t forget Dennis (the statesman) Rodmen.
And Alan Alda.
Or Team America F*** Yah !
Every time I see KimDaTurd I think of the line “Yoo Brakin’ my Baws Hans ! Yoo Brakin my Baws !
SOOOooo RONERY!
Y’all don’t forget Jimmeh Kahtuh, he done been there too!
Word on the street is Kerry is going to get James Taylor to sing “I’m Going to Carolina in My Mind.”
P.S. Say nice things about me ’cause I’m gone.
Sorry, that should have been “I’m Going to Pyongyang in My Mind.”
I’ll just drop this here for your perusal. Please try and hide your shocked face.
https://www.chicksonright.com/2018/04/27/the-hags-at-the-view-are-trying-really-reeeeally-hard-to-spin-the-korea-thing-away-from-trump/
Wow. This seems like good news on the surface.
Don’t know how long I’d trust someone who executes relatives with nerve agents and top generals with AAA fire, but this could be the start of the fall of Communism in NK.
for my part, I cant help but wonder what’s really happening behind the scenes here. is NK really crumbling from starvation now? is he worried he’s finally met his match in an unhinged leader with the sand to follow through on threats? what is he doing? I cant help but think that he’s up to something slimy, and EVERYBODY should be on high alert.
I’m thinking there’s a Chinese boot on Fatty Kim’s neck and he’s been told to play nice.
fair point. so whose boot is laying across china’s jugular?
I mean, that’s a helluva lot of pressure to apply, and why now? it’s gonna be interesting to watch this develop.
There is -no way- China could handle 20 million starving people moving north across the Yalu. They would lose -huge- face if that happened.
It has gotten to the point where the Chinese are scared of this fat unhinged asshole too. And they are far closer to the action than America is.
Several months ago, they put another 250,000 troops on their border with the Norks, effectively sealing it off.
Anyone have a read on how this is playing out in the NK media (if at all)? In NK it’s all about the state run media.
Well, if as they state the denuclearize the peninsula, militarily it reverts to conventional forces. What could be worrisome about that?
Stray/stolen artillery pieces cannot level an entire city. (Not quickly, anyway.)
See Belin, 1945, and Marshal Zhukov. Tube arty can do a lot, and as I have read, KJU has quite a bit of it aimed south.
-one- cannon cannot do that,
-one- nuke can.
The nuke is more portable and sale-able.
May be, but estimates place Nork artillery aimed at Seoul at 12-14,000 guns – in place. And the ROKs have how many pointed north, and are unable to hit Pyongyang anyway? I still say the Norks gain a huge advantage, not in spite of nukes, but because of no nukes.
The danger to the USA is -vastly- reduced if that loony-bin lacks nukes, especially ICBM nukes.
The DPRK -cannot- sustain any combat. Their food situation is dire, and the moment the Army mobilizes half the country -dies- in two to four weeks, no matter what happens.
They can -start- a war. They can kill thousands. Then the DPRK government becomes -extinct-, by us or by their own folks.
Logistics is the key, and theirs is … beyond “fucked”.
If you watch the video of Rocket Man’s body guards running next to limo, you might notice some of the guards right arms are not swinging or moving ate all. That’s because what you see is a fake arm, with the real one under the sport coat with the weapon at the ready.
I also wonder how many if not all of the costumed performers in the procession along with the ceremonial flag bearers if not all were cream of the crop ROK SPECOPS types?
I would bet the farm that the area was crawling with operators from the ROK 707th SMB
You and me both!
As concerned as we may be about DPRK treachery, you can bet a bundle that the Nork security folks are absolutely -freaking- that this is all some sort of strategy to pull off some sinister Yankee trick.
The DPRK did not even -blink- when we test flew a Minueman-III ICBM this week. Not a -peep-.
I think they are -desperate- to end their isolation, like “end of the DPRK world – all the bosses die” desperate. Someone gazed into the “fall of the State” abyss, and blinked.
I’m with you on that.
I dunno about it, but from my chair here in Austin I am wondering if he is actually looking at converting to being a decent economy after the Chinese, Japan and a lot of other behind the scenes actors including and especially President Trump have told him that his country will get the help they need provided he mends his ways.
Maybe Trump told him that if he works with China and the US that the rewards would guarantee the money he would make would dwarf anything he could possibly get from selling any of his nukes or the technology.
We can hope, can’t we?
I honestly think he finally realizes that screwing with Trump is a zero sum game and quite dangerous.
Reagan said it best, “Peace through strength”.
We bought Russian fissile material, why not DPRK nukes?
Possibly a freighter-load of wheat each?
Yes indeed. NK is run more like a Mafia crime family than an actual nation.
My concern is how China reacts to this. They have enjoyed having NK as a buffer state for generations. Now?
Be interesting to see if Lil’ Kim’s train trip to China was him havingto explain himself to the Chinese communist party, and them and Xi telling him that’s he’s gone too far with all this nuclear crap and it’s time to make nice with the South Koreans.
I always saw it as a cult of personality as well. For one, it’s the only country that reveres a dead man as its perpetual Head of State (Kim Il Sung, KJU’s Grandfather) and every bit of its propaganda is dedicated to the worship of the Kim Family bloodline and dynasty.
I hope we’re watching the Korean equivalent of Germany when the Berlin Wall fell. I watched a 20+ minute video of the initial meeting and ceremony, of course it began with the handshakes at the Demarcation Line and then on with the rest of the procession and ceremony. KJU was not only having trouble walking around, he also has the poker face of a retarded Chihuahua. As soon as he and ROK President Moon took their places on the stage when the ceremony began, KJU had one hell of a deer-in-the-headlights look and his delegation did as well all through most of it. I could see the expressions on the faces of some of the South Koreans around KJU and they looked like they would rather immolate him as soon as look at him! IMHO KJU’s Body English and facial expressions in many of the pics are not unlike that of a desperate bully who is about to have his ass handed to him, I’m glad we now have adults at the helm in DC instead of the pansies and patsies of the past that kowtowed, placated and pandered to tinpot nuthatches like KJU! Both sides agreed to stop their broadcasts across the DMZ? About half of my tour there 91-92 was spent in the field where we heard the NK propaganda 24/7 and I can’t even imagine it without that noise!
I suspect that China informed KJU -exactly what would happen if the ROK and USA forces decided to head north. No mater what China did, the DPRK would be -toast-. And China wasn’t going to even -try- to stop the US anywhere short of the Yalu this time.
“As long as the Yankees’ boots stay dry, you are on your own. Make peace. Save face.”
And -Trump-, of all the possible wildcards in this mess, seems to understand allowing KJU and the DPRK to save face.
Which just might allow this to work, DDR style.
The “face save” may be the ROK asking -us- to withdraw, with their gratitude, “But all is well now. Thanks for visiting. Allow us to facilitate your well-eared homeward journey. Thanks again.” Followed by a “Declaration of Neutrality of the Korean Peninsula”, as face-save for China and a way to leave a buffer-state on their border.
Those troops get freed up for border work here, for example. Or, elsewhere, as noted by, say, Iran.
I wholeheartedly agree with you on CHina’s stance but US Forces withdrawal? I respectfully kinda doubt it, US Personnel spending their money downrange puts a lot into the ROK economy.
South Korea’s economy is right up there with China and Japan- they could easily weather the withdrawal of US troops. Funding the poor Northern cousins is another matter altogether. Remember the German re-unification.
I’d guess that if there was a reunification on the peninsula, that it would make the German reunification look like a cakewalk. 60+ years of economic stagnation/regression, plus a population that has been living under conditions of long term famine for years. If it were to happen, South Korea will need a ton of help from the US, China and other players for years to get through that.
“South Korea will need a ton of help…”
And they’ll get it, too.
In order for re-unification to happen in Korea, the Nork communist dictatorship and the people who run it would have to end. That is not going to happen peacefully. I note that Kim mentioned re-unification in his public comments. I don’t see that happening without bloodshed. The Nork people are considerably more brainwashed and controlled than were the East Germans.
Quite true, let’s not forget that North Korea has been quite a hermetically sealed fiefdom for 65 years.
Infidel has a great point. 65 years is a long time. Remember the Kim family setup in the North was started by Joseph Stalin who viewed Kim Il Sung as “Lord of the Useful Idiots”
From what I was taught, Kim Il Sung fled to Siberia during the Japanese occupation of the Korean Peninsula during WWII where he learned communism under Stalin who installed him as a puppet Dictator after Russia liberated Korea North of the 38th Parallel while the US and Allies did so south of it and we all know that Kim Senior obviously thought he could conquer South Korea and give it to his Uncle Joe for a present.
Timetable of a phased withdrawal, starting with a token battalion this year and ending in 2022.
An alternative would be a balance of China and US units, much smaller than current and far back from the DMZ line.
Don’t forget the large number of pamphlets dropped from the sky.
C co. 1/5 Infantry 91-92
I was stationed at Camp Hovey back in the day had two KATUSAs under me. Learned a lot from those guys regarding Korean culture. Started to travel all over the Peninsula. Really neat place. Nice ppl. Though sometimes a bit rude esp in crowded Seoul. I guess the thing that really struck me about the divide between North and South was when I went through WLC and our field training and land nav was at Warrior Base on the DMZ. To see the guard towers to the north with armed Soldiers, the mine fields and the cliff faces rigged to blow. It was a real eye opener. And I hoped that one day they might work it all out. Fingers crossed
Traveling the Korean Peninsula? BTDT myself, I had fun playing around in country during my mid tour leave there, especially riding the Saemaeul Express from Seoul to Pusan!
Cool. Where were you stationed at ?
Camp Pelham, 92-93. Others would waste time and money taking a bus from there to Seoul on a Warrior pass but as soon as I found out about Korean mass transit I’d take a bus from our front gate to Munsan Station for 200 Won, about 350 Won got me a train ticket and about an hour and 20 minutes later I was at Seoul Station about a 10 minute walk from Yongsan and Itaewon! (Exchange rate was usually 750-850 Won to the US Dollar then)
I was stationed at Kunsan AB from 94-99. I was married to a Korean and as an E-6 I was able to bring my POV over. Life was good. I got to see much of the country away from the bar districts and made some really good friends. I lost my wife in 2013 and I’m half tempted to go back and find another, but I’ll never be able to replace the first one.
Sorry to hear about your loss. I enjoyed seeing Korea once I was away from the takee-Joe_monee districts right by US Installations that few others ever ventured away from. I remember getting picked up on by a couple of Korean Women at the Korean Folk Village in Su Won as well as other fun times there.
I don’t believe a word of it. Rocket man is stalling to come up with a new strategy.
Or, just possibly, he sees the impending collapse of DPRK society as unstoppable, and has chosen the German Democratic Republic option versus the Romanian Socialist Republic option.
Could very well be, TW, but this isn’t John Kerry (did you know he was in Viet Nam?) who is at the bargaining table this time, and the NORKs need an agreement more than we do.
Or, maybe he found out about Mattis!
Wasn’t there in uniform, but flew with the ROKN in their P-3C aircraft as a Project Specialist contractor. Very impressive and professional. I was a bit surprised when, after takeoff, I opened the Bomb Bay inspection port and saw MK-46 warshot torpedoes there. I had’t flown with warshots since the last time Libya was kicking up her heels. An eye-opener, these people were still at war.
“So, you know what happened. My nuke scientists ruined my program. Blew up a mountain. Wrecked all kinds of shit.”
“And you had them all killed.”
“Well, yes and maybe that was a bit rash.”
“A bit? You’re an idiot.”
“Does that mean you won’t give me a nuke or two, just a loaner until we get the program up again?”
“Do you know what GFY means?”
I’m very cautiously optimistic about what is occurring on the peninsula right now. Please forgive my religious reference here I don’t want to get sued for bringing God into. -sarc.. I sincerely pray with every fiber of my being for peace on that peninsula one more Korean North American shed their blood in anger there. I also pray that this leads to the opening up of the north to allow for international Aid and eventually for them to be able to feed themselves and become prosperous. No human being in this day and age should live their adult life with parasites that their doctors can’t get rid of.
And that not one more Korean or American darn fat fingers
Not so fast. A Federal Judge in Hawaii has ruled that the Korean War must continue.
h/t Chris Plante
Damn it, now I need a new phone…
THE NEXT thing you know there will be an injunction issued by the US Ninth Circuit Court of Schlemiels forbidding the Nobel Committee from awarding The Nobel Peace Prize to President Trump!
Actually, since this was all a result of the previous admin’s polices (see comment #1 above), the former Pres will be receiving his unprecedented 2nd Nobel Peace Prize /sarc
The interesting thing about court rulings is that they have absolutely no ability to enforce any of them.
It’s interesting to consider what caused this. SFC D’s comment above about Kim getting pressure from China presents a plausible possibility.
Another possibility is there’s an element of carrot-and-stick going on such that Kim has been offered certain benefits if he tones it down while also being told that bad things will happen if he doesn’t.
Yet a third scenario is that things amount to a game of three-dimensional chess. We, for example, offer trade concessions to the Chinese in return for their acting as a proxy to bring pressure on Kim. Meanwhile, the ROKs are also given concessions but the quid pro quo is for them to cut the fat kid some slack.
What might also be a safe bet is that nobody but the players directly involved will ever know what really happened. If I was Kim, and wanted to save face, I’d make any diplomatic deal contingent on it not giving an appearance the NORKs caved to outside pressure.
Whatever machinations are going on in the background, none of this would have been possible without Trump’s take-no-prisoners stance on economic sanctions imposed on the North. These have crushed the NORK economy- never really stable in the first place- and forced them to the negotiating table. He’s accomplished in 18 months what previous administrations failed to do in 16+ years.
Yep…that and a collapsed mountain nuke testing facility or maybe that was just a throw in at the last minute.
Can’t say I’d disagree with that. What’s also interesting are the contortions most of the news media seem to be going through to avoid giving President Trump any credit.
Aren’t they still hawking the Russia bullshit along with the Stormy Daniels smoke and mirrors? I myself don’t even think about tuning in to them.
…It’s my understanding that the collapse of the Nork nuke test site may be the key to all this.
First, it pissed the Chinese off pretty badly – because any radioactive material released by those tests is going right into the Middle Kingdom. Second, a nuclear test site is freaking expensive just to use once – a lot of that instrumentation has to be replaced every time you push the little red button. It’s just possible that the sanctions bit hard enough that they couldn’t set up another site – and they had a ways to go yet to a usable warhead or bomb. Kimmie may be insane, but he’s not crazy – he saw an opening and he took it. Now let’s see if he follows through.
The best comment on the NorK atomic test came from the Onion after their first test. It basically said, “North Korea detonates fifty years of Gross National Product.” It turns out that that was truer than they knew. They have been running on fumes ever since.
“I’d trust NDtBF as far as I could throw his portly ass.”
I agree with that, but it’s based on my personal cynicism toward the entire Kim regime, going back to the 1950s. Fatty Kim da T’ird doesn’t have the “snap” his father and grandfather did. He had to convince the Norks he meant business. This is a simple way for him to “retire” from public life and let the South handle things for him.
Maybe he’ll stop stealing money from other countries’ bank accounts, too.
So Colbert will say that the pressure coming from the whore Stormy, “Quick, drill me in the a$$ or anywhere you want” Daniels lawsuit is still a bigger deal than this…
Meh.
What does this mean for the North Koreans slaving away in the prison camps?
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow doesn’t constantly suggest that he’s willing to blow up the planet, so nobody talks about Turkmenistan, but the situation there isn’t exactly “justice”. A North Korea that leaves its neighbors in peace but carries out its aggression on its own people isn’t either.
Personally, this situation isn’t over until Jong-un’s head is on a spike, along with all possible successors, and those people have at least some inkling of freedom.
Maybe I’m just being greedy and should shut up. One step at a time, perhaps.
The end of the DDR did not include firing squads or gallows.
But it -was- an end.
Will history judge us harshly for an absence of rough justice, if it also avoids the bloodbath of civilians expected for sixty five years?
I would love a “movie” ending, with the thugs all “stretched”. I will sleep well enough if it just ends.
As some have said, I’m cautiously optimistic, but I can see it going awry, but I can also see that maybe NDtBF sees the light at the end of the tunnel and realizes the train is headed and his fat ass can’t run quick enough to get the fuck out. Also maybe 24,000,000 starving NORKS are also too big a thing to try to continue to deal with.
I’m hoping Trump is the 2018 Reagan “TEAR DOWN THAT DMZ”. and goes down in history defeating Communism and reuniting the Koreas.
That’s my prayer.
The libs will not give Trump credit for any of this… good, bad or otherwise.
Now if Trump and Kim are unable to “make a deal” and Trump walks away from the table, Trump will certainly get the blame.
Carter, Clinton, Kerry, Rodman, Obama, and Hitlery, now the greased the skids and deserve all the credit.
My advice to President Trump, remember: Peace Through Strength; Trust, But Verify; and know when to walk!
1st Bn, 72nd Armor, 2nd Infantry Division ’78 – 79
USFK, UNC, 8th US Army, Seoul ’93 – ’94
Will the United States and the other countries sign the treaty too? or is it officially over for everyone?
as the old saying goes ‘talk is cheap’