Last summer, there were fears of nuclear war breaking out between the U.S. and North Korea. In fact, Trump also said that he would send North Korea back to the Stone Age.
This crisis was compared to the “nuclear missile crisis” with Cuba which occurred at the beginning of the 1960s. There was a comparison because both of the crises were on the verge of turning into a war. Since it was a reflection of the U.S.-Soviet Russia-based Cold War, the Cuba Crisis had the potential to cause a global war. However, it was overcome thanks to the secret meetings of U.S. President John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Premier of the Soviet Union Nikita Khrushchev.
The “Korean War” ended with a cease-fire agreement signed in 1953. Since the 1950s, the U.S. has maintained a base and troops in South Korea. As of today, there are 30,000 American soldiers there. The South Koreans living under the military domination of the American army can no longer put up with this situation. As a matter of fact, Moon Jae-in, who was elected as president last year, is advocating a peaceful relationship with North Korea. This approach played a significant role in his election victory. The truth is that the people of South Korea are not happy with their country being used as an American base. However, both peace and war are beyond the power of both North and South Korea. This decision can be taken only by China and the U.S., the guardians of the North and South respectively.
You will remember that Trump published stern messages that amounted to “Never mind diplomacy” last year while U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was trying to bring North Korea to the negotiating table. A while ago, Trump surprised everyone by declaring that he would meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which had elated South Koreans. A peace environment came about, the leaders of the South and North had a meeting. Meanwhile, CIA Director Mike Pompeo secretly met with Kim Jong-un. Pompeo maintained these meetings after he became secretary of state. In this new process, North Korea was exceedingly generous. It halted nuclear tests, destroyed some of its bases, and freed three American citizens who were being held in prison.
It was expected that Trump and Kim Jong-un would meet in Singapore on June 12. While everything was going well, Trump sent a letter to Kim Jong-un notifying him that he would not meet with him for some reason. Trump also sent stern messages to North Korea through a press conference.
Trump is a man who trusts his “instincts” and perhaps his instincts about Kim Jong-un changed. This decision of Trump, who is trying to lead a very complicated system like foreign policy with his instincts, just like his former decisions, was very surprising. The strange part is that, South Korea, who is the direct party of the matter, was not informed about this cancellation in advance. Trump’s letter stunned the South which is one of the closest allies of the U.S. in the Far East. Just think of how the Southerners felt. They must have felt sorry for themselves due tp having an ally like Trump.
The North Koreans did not let the matter go and reiterated that they desired a meeting. In response, Trump again experienced a change in his instincts and announced that he still could meet with Jong-un. Everything is developing in line with Trump’s instincts, for sure. There is barely anyone in “the White House” who can resist the attacks of Trump’s instincts. National Security Adviser John Bolton is only too glad to whisper “War, war, war” in Trump’s ear.
What happened to Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi even after he ended his nuclear program is a case in point for North Koreans. They are afraid of ending up like Gaddafi. Trump’s withdrawal from the multilateral “Iran nuclear agreement” was a negative model. This decision has poisoned the relationship of the U.S. with its European allies which have become a party to the agreement. And now, it is being rumored that the U.S. is rolling up its sleeves for a regime change in Iran. If the wolf wants to eat the sheep, it always makes up an excuse.
