The perfect storm....for Trump the Peacenik

[LiberalLovinLug]

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/north-korea-signals-willingness-to-talk-with-u-s-as-olympics-come-to-a-close/

Something I don’t see recognized much is that the main reason there even is a new possibility for peace between N Korea and S Korea is S Korea’s generous inclusion of the north in the olympics.
President Moon Jae-In didn’t have to.

One thing Trump and Kim Jong Un have in common is their susceptibility to undeserved flattery and rewards. I think that simple human gesture of grace and deference was read as a well deserved victory by a megalomaniac like Un. And it began the process that grew as both leaders watched their athletes compete together. Literally in the case of women’s hockey.

I just find this whole Trumpification of this potential peace deal sickening. In the end it wouldn’t have been all the threats and insults from Trump that sparked this. It was honey that worked, not vinegar.

I’m not saying that any deal would not have to include th US, but to watch all of this unfold and be reported on even CNN and MSNBC as being framed in advance as some potential great achievement by Trump is laughable.

He just happened to have the good luck of being the POTUS when the olympics happened to involve Korea. And that President Moon Jae-In was also so gracious to the north and insisting they be a part of the olympics as well.

Is there any doubt that Obama or Hillary would not be taking advantage of the situation to push for a peace deal as well?

[raging moderate]

1. Maybe President Moon Jae-In deserves the Nobel Prize.

I agree that his words and actions have been exemplary in this whole scenario.

[LiberalLovinLug]

4. If ever a deal is reached, I'd agree

His simple act of generosity to his northern brothers and sisters started the whole thing

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

6. The SK Pres.

even looks kind doesn't he? A gentleman. Let's wait and see what dt takes credit for first...there may not be enough meat on that bone or room on that stage for both of them...and only one deserves to be there. And we know who THAT is. SK Pres certainly does deserve credit for all of this. Seems he's so eager to give the laurels to dt. Maybe the SK Pres wants the USA out of SK as well? Hope not. Japans going to be getting real nervous if they aren't already.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

2. No good deed...

I read where Kim wants dt to remove troops from S. Korea. I bet he does. I'm sure China would love that as well w those ever growing islands in the Pacific, now fortified w air bases and anti-aircraft equipment.
And Ivanka just got a bunch of new selling licenses in China. I think Ivanka and Kim and dt all suffer from the same thing described above. The apple doesn't fall to far from the tree.

[gulliver]

3. Trump happened to be president when NK succeeded in their nuclear weapons program.

That's what changed the equation. On Trump's watch, NK maximized their bargaining position. That brought them to the table.

[LiberalLovinLug]

5. Their nuclear program was well on its way .

And pretty predictable. Whatever level of success they had achieved, did not suddenly alter their “bargaining position”.

It was something unpredictable and human that changed things. Do you really think this summit would be happening now if South Korea’s leader had been more of a hawk and shut out the north?

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

7. yes.

Kindness...the world and hu-mans respond to it. Ergo...Obama.

[gulliver]

8. Two big NK nuclear goals were reached under Trump

1) A (probable) successful H bomb test. Not just a fission bomb.
2) Long-range ICBMs

Those things were predictable, of course, but the prediction actually came true under Trump. NK is going to the bargaining table in their best possible position as a result.

SK wasn't going to be a hawk under any circumstances. They are pushovers for summits and negotiation with NK.

[trof]

9. Kim has already won.

His father and grandfather tried for decades to get recognized by and meet with a U.S. president.
Nothing doing.
This is a huge propaganda victory for him.