Breakdown in North Korea Talks Sounds Alarms on Capitol Hill

[DonViejo]

Source: NBC News




OCT 25 2017, 5:14 AM ET

by LEIGH ANN CALDWELL and VIVIAN SALAMA

WASHINGTON — Diplomatic efforts between the United States and North Korea are in peril with Pyongyang shunning talks in response to President Donald Trump’s increased public attacks on Kim Jong Un, according to multiple U.S. government and congressional officials.

Joseph Yun, a top American diplomat to North Korea, has been warning of the breakdown in meetings on Capitol Hill and seeking help to persuade the administration to prioritize diplomacy over the heated rhetoric that appears to be pushing the two nuclear powers closer toward conflict, sources familiar with the discussions told NBC News.

The warnings from Yun and Congressional officials come as the president prepares for his first official trip to Asia next month and as tensions between the two nations are near an all-time high. Officials throughout government worry that a lack of diplomacy increases the risks of military action in the region.

They also explain some of the alarmist comments that have been made by Republican and Democratic Senators in recent weeks, most notable Foreign Relations Committee chair Sen. Bob Corker who has said repeatedly that the president is undercutting diplomatic efforts.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/north-korea/lack-talks-north-korea-sounds-alarms-capitol-hill-n813951

[trusty elf]

1. Thanks a lot, Dump!

[Jim__]

2. Childish name-calling could actually get us into a nuclear war.

In the era of nuclear weapons, we may have to re-think how best to govern our country. I know, democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others that have been tried. But we know that democracy can lead to the election of some fool to be president. Given that, we can't have our nuclear arsenal essentially under the sole control of the president.

[SummerSnow]

3. Words have consequences.

[Eliot Rosewater]

4. And there it is... Was nice knowing some of you, I am taking off now, going to enjoy the rest of the

little time I have left.

[yuiyoshida]

5. It wouldn't surprise me if a nuke exploded

about five miles out from the West Coast of California,...a warning to Trump to say, "Go ahead and mess with me, I will reduce the west coast to rubble."

[maxsolomon]

9. If NK launches any Nuke that explodes anywere,

Trump will vaporize them. They know it.

Bluster on both sides.

[yuiyoshida]

12. Not sure that China wants the country next door

to be reduced to radio-active rubble, and China is more well armed then North Korea. We Really don't want to make major enemies of China.

[maxsolomon]

14. then China might want to stop their Lapdog from yapping

China and the US will not become enemies; we have too many economic ties.

[yuiyoshida]

16. Nuking NK will definately

Affect China, and if you think they will go along with the United States Nuking North Korea when NK's border is right against China, than you best think twice about that.

[Iliyah]

6. Well GOPers have said tax cuts/reform comes first

[red dog 1]

7. With that birdbrain in the WH, we're closer to a nuclear war than any time since 1962,

when the Russians parked nuclear missiles in Cuba.

JFK saved us then, but he was an intelligent POTUS.


K&R

[Tobin S.]

8. There has been a peaceful solution to the conflict with NK for a while

but it has been rejected by the United States. War with them is completely unnecessary and totally avoidable if Trump takes the proper coarse of action. In short, what we are seeing here is off the charts in the level of insanity and psychopathy.

[maxsolomon]

15. Care to share the "Peaceful Solution"?

it's 'course', BTW.

[Tobin S.]

17. Here is an example of what might be possible

when peaceful intentions are in mind. I can't find specifically what I was referring to in other post right now and I have to head out for work. But this will illustrate that war is not the only option, the Trump administration is just making it seem that because of Trump's insanity.

http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/41349-north-and-south-korea-want-a-peace-treaty-the-us-must-join-them

[Igel]

18. It's pablum.

The US doesn't have to be included. North Korea insists on it. It wants to be armed and dangerous and face another army without any international backing. The same dynasty that launched the Korean Conflict to reunify the country is still there, with the same ideology. (Remember that?)

North Korea still thinks there's a single Korea with Kim in charge, but with the south occupied by damned ferners.

[bronxiteforever]

19. NK wants nukes because we dont attack nations with nukes

Iraq War taught the world that and asshat is just itching to start a further nuclear arms race in the Mid East with Iran.

We can despise Kim all we want but this is rational self interest. Dictators can still possess rational self interest. Stalin, for all his evil, protected his regime.

Also China is ready to flex its muscles and history showed that their armed forces kicked our asses during the Korean War until we fought and clawed back to a tie.

[Tobin S.]

20. Even if that is the case, there are

other ways to deal with the issue than war. I'd heard of a deal that was brokered by China with North Korea in which the Norh Koreans would agree to discontinue their nuclear program and become less aggressive militarily in return for concessions from the US. I'm on my phone now. I'll try to locate it later.

I remember a guy who was an American ex-pat living in Seoul who posted on DU. During the Obama years he was very hard line on North Korea. I wonder how he feels about that now? Funny that we haven't heard from him in a while.

Anyway, the North Koreans might be crazy but they are not siuicidal. The regime there knows that any war with us will result in its complete destruction. They are trying to negotiate diplomatically, but Trump's just not having any part of it. It looks like war is eminent to me at this point and it is completely unnecessary and totally avoidable.

[noneof_theabove]

10. Let the Supreme Ruler..

Not tRump but the idiot in the West Pacific throw anything at us.

Now let's get the "facts".
NKPR - 5-10 nukes
UCCA - 5,000-10,000 nukes

Go ahead Little Kimmy and so we can rid the planet from you crap.

1) UCCA - United Corporations and Churches of Ameria - as USA

[yuiyoshida]

13. You willing to take on China too?

They are right next door, and that will throw up a bunch of Radio-activity, so if you want reduce NK to rubble, you best make sure China has time enough to move people away from the North Korea border..

Unless you are willing to go to war with China.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

21. If we attack NK, China will move in almost immediately.

They will not allow US boots on that ground. China wants NK there, and secure as an ally to be a buffer to South Korea.

Under the right wind conditions, nuclear fallout could just as easily drift onto South Korea or Japan.

People thumping the war drums also forget that China can take our economy and South Korea's down very quickly if push comes to shove.

[Turbineguy]

11. Trump likes to create

anxiety and chaos so people will tune in tomorrow.

This is why he was voted for. For ratings.