Trashed by Democrats and the press as a publicity stunt, 73-year-old President Donald Trump met North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un in the Demilitarized Zone [DMZ], allowing Kim to walk Trump into North Korea. No other U.S. president has visited North Korea or, for that matter, had any rapport with Kim’s deceased father Kim Jong-il or his grandfather Kim il-Sung. Less that two years ago, Sept. 23, 2017, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho said at the U.N. it was “inevitable” its missiles would hit the U.S. mainland. Threatening nuclear war against the U.S. two years ago, Democrats and the press won’t acknowledge how far Trump has advanced peace between the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea [DPRK] and the U.S. Instead of slamming Trump for cozying up to dictators, Democrats and the press should acknowledge how much Trump has advanced the cause of peace.
Trump crossed the DMZ into North Korea with Kim without any Secret Service on North Korean security guards present, not knowing what to expect. “OK, let’s do it,” Trump said to Kim, proceeding to cross the DMZ into North Korea, a place no other U.S. president has been. But more importantly than the photo-op, there’s a real rapport Trump has developed with Kim, despite the fact that Trump walked out of the Hanoi summit Feb. 28, once he knew that Kim was not prepared to de-nuclearize the Korean Peninsula, as he promised June 12, 2018. Trump’s been slammed by Democrats and the press for not getting Kim to dismantle his nuke and ballistic missile arsenal. While that’s certainly Trump’s goal, the most important part of Trump’s summits with Kim was to develop a close personal relationship. When the two leaders met June 29 in the DMZ, the rapport was there for all to see.
Walking together to North Korea, then returning to an impromptu mini summit at Panmumjon’s Freedom House, Trump and Kim showed there’s much more to their relationship than only nuclear disarmament. Judging by the extended meeting, it looks more likely that both leaders want to sign a peace treaty in the near future before any attempt to dismantle Kim’s nukes and ballistic missiles. Jetting to meet Kim in the DMZ after finishing the G20, Trump silenced his critics, knowing that the high stakes international diplomacy made him look like a world leader. Demonized by Democrats and the press, Trump showed beyond any doubt he’s commander-in-chief, asserting mastery of high stakes diplomacy. Whatever one says about the spectacle, Trump’s relationship with Kim has resulted in no more nuclear tests or ballistic missile launches over Japan in the last 18 months.
More important than dismantling Kim’s nukes and ballistic missiles, Kim no longer sees the U.S. as its mortal enemy. Trump has reassured Kim that it is not the U.S. or South Korea’s intent to conquer the DPRK, something North Korean feared since the July 27, 1953 end of the Korean War. Meeting in Freedom House for 50 minutes, Trump and Kim spent more time building an enduring friendship where a peaceful relationship is more important than Kim’s arsenal of nukes and ballistic missiles. Like other nuclear-armed countries, the danger comes from a belligerent attitude, not the nukes and ballistic missiles per se. “I never expected to meet you at this place,” Kim told Trump shaking hands in the DMZ. “Would you like me to step across?” Trump asked Kim. Kim graciously invited Trump to be the first U.S. president to cross the border into North Korea.
Kim knew that he was making history walking with Trump into North Korea. “If your excellency would step forward, you will be the first U.S. president to cross the border,” Kim said, knowing the sense of history. As Trump and Kim walked back to the DMZ, a scuffle broke out with security personnel and reporters, resulting in bruises to Trump’s new Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham Security personnel for Trump, Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in got into the scrum, unable to control hordes of reporters filming the historic encounter. Trump and Kim promptly went for their impromptu meeting in Freedom House, agreeing to continue talks on a wide variety of bilateral issues, including more U.S. trade with North Korea. Kim faces a real dilemma negotiating to reform the DPRK’s totalitarian regime, especially when it comes to dealing with political prisoners.
Trump proved that there’s no substitute for personal charisma when it comes to breakthroughs in international relations. While advanced diplomacy with teams of bureaucrats has its place, there’s no substitute for one-on-one diplomacy. Whether Democrats or the media want to recognize it or not, Trump has created a strong personal relationship with Kim where none previously existed. Pivoting away from demanding Kim dismantle his nukes and ballistic missiles, Trump’s now focusing on getting a peace treaty with the DPRK. When you consider the dangers of nuclear weapons, it’s preferable to have amicable relations with nuclear powers. North Korea worked on nuclear technology for the last 40 years, it’s unrealistic to expect them to give it up. What Trump can expect is a peace treaty that protects the United States against any nuclear threats from North Korea.
