UN security council resolutions.
Are they perhaps angling for some attention from the Big Orange Donald? Last time, despite the photo ops of the two great men together, nothing was achieved. But times have changed.
Trump had three meetings with Kim Jong-un during his first term, although the two men failed to agree on terms for North Korean denuclearisation. Since returning to the White House, the US president has said little about his policy towards North Korea.
He caused some alarm by referring to Kim Jong-un as “a nuclear power”, a term that is generally applied only to the US, Russia, China, France and Britain. Although it is well known that North Korea possesses nuclear warheads, in diplomatic terms the use of the expression implies an acceptance of them, and an abandonment of efforts at disarmament.
Hmm. No doubt Trump will at some point announce his bold new plan for North Korea. He'll "make a deal".
We're being told by commentators and strategists that this is all a clever game, demonstrating the unique Trump genius, whereby he can finally focus his mind on the great issue of China instead of being distracted by side issues like Ukraine, the alliance of the free world nations, NATO, and the future of Europe. But since his last term North Korea has pivoted from being China's close ally to being a friend of Putin. Indeed relations between China and North Korea are rumoured to have become somewhat strained, as North Korean troops are despatched to Ukraine and North Korean arms are supplied to Moscow. Will Trump factor this in? Will he acknowledge North Korea as a bona fide nuclear power to please Putin, and annoy Xi?
Anything's possible.
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