The Associated Press is reporting that the White House has scuttled the June 12th summit meeting between the two nations. In a letter posted to on Twitter and addressed to “His Excellency Kim Jong Un” the president asserted, “Sadly, based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting.”
It does make sense that the two leaders could only play nice in the sandbox together for so long. In his one-page letter to Un, President Trump was quite direct in his comments:
“Therefore, please let this letter serve to represent that the Singapore summit, for the good of both parties, but to the detriment of the world, will not take place.”
Then in classic Trumpian fashion, he goes on to issue a not-so-veiled threat, “You talk about your nuclear capabilities,” the president wrote, “but ours are so massive and powerful that I pray to God they will never have to be used.” That’s Trump-speak for, “I’m in, and I’ll raise you.”
Still, the president left the door wide open for the NK leader to walk through. “If you change your mind having to do with this most important summit, please do not hesitate to call me or write.”
The Backstory
Likely the thing that set Trump’s teeth on edge was the North Korean dictator’s assessment of Vice President Mike Pence a “political dummy.” According to NKNews.org:
“The comments appear to come in response to a statement by DPRK Vice-Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui issued on Thursday, in which the senior North Korean diplomat warned that she may ask Kim Jong Un to “reconsider” participation in the summit.
“We will neither beg the U.S. for dialogue nor take the trouble to persuade them if they do not want to sit together with us,” Choe said in an English-language statement issued by KCNA on Thursday.”
As the harsh sallies flew back and forth, it seemed there left little room for a summit. Thus, the president’s decision to back off for now.
However, Mr. Trump is known for playing chess while those around him are circling the checkerboard and this just may be a shot across the bow for Un to straighten up and fly right if he wants a positive end-game with the U.S. This move by the president now puts the ball in the North Korean court.
In other words, it’s NK’s serve.
