Well, the historic summit between North Korea and the U.S. has left with the two men signing an agreement on denuclearization, recovering of the remains of missing persons during the Korean War, the establishment of American relations with the regime, and the cessation of U.S.-South Korean war games. Overall, the meeting was a step towards peace. Katie wrote about it earlier this morning:
"President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un conducted a comprehensive, in-depth, and sincere exchange of opinions on the issues related to the establishment of new U.S.–DPRK relations and the building of a lasting and robust peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. President Trump committed to provide security guarantees to the DPRK, and Chairman Kim Jong Un reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Trump and Kim released in a joint statement at a signing ceremony early Tuesday morning.
"The United States and the DPRK commit to hold follow-on negotiations, led by the U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, and a relevant high-level DPRK official, at the earliest possible date, to implement the outcomes of the U.S.–DPRK summit," the statement continues.
1.The United States and the DPRK commit to establish new U.S.–DPRK relations in accordance with the desire of the peoples of the two countries for peace and prosperity.
2.The United States and the DPRK will join their efforts to build a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.
3.Reaffirming the April 27, 2018 Panmunjom Declaration, the DPRK commits to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
4.The United States and the DPRK commit to recovering POW/MIA remains, including the immediate repatriation of those already identified.
Former NBA All-Star, five-time champion, and rebound titan Dennis Rodman has been a character in these negotiations. The former Pistons and Bulls player is reportedly a friend of Kim Jong-un—and he’s been trying to get both the U.S. and the North Koreans to the table for years. Rodman broke down, overcome with emotion, saying how he received death threats over his relationship with North Korea, and that this is a great day that the principals on this issue (via partial transcript by RCP) [Relevant portion begins around the 4-minute mark]:
DENNIS RODMAN: We have really put ourselves on the line to reach out to North Korea. So let's make this happen. If Trump can pull this off, more power to him...
I talked to Kim Jong Un and the administration over there five years ago, and he asked me when we sat down for lunch, 'Hey Dennis, I would like to ask you three things to go back and tell the president of the United States these three things and I would be willing to talk to him.'
This is a true story and I've got me people here who heard the conversation. He said things like if they can move the (inaudible?) [ I think he said ships] back from South Korea I will do what I have to do to listen. If you can move some things and do some things my ears will be open.
And I tried to do that to Obama, and Obama didn't even give me the time of day. I asked him, I said I had something to say from North Korea. He brushed me off. But that didn't deter me. I still kept going back, I showed my loyalty to this country, and I said to everybody the door will open.
CHRIS CUOMO, CNN: I remember you saying that.
RODMAN: It is amazing, it is amazing, when I said those damn things, when I went back home, I got so many death threats. So many death threats.
And I believe in North Korea, but when I go home, I can't even go home. I had to hide out for thirty days, I couldn't even go home. But I kept my head up high because I knew things were going to change. I knew it, I was the only one. I never had anyone to hear, see me. But I took those bullets, all that, everything that came at me, and I'm still standing. It is a great day.
So easy for smug pundits to mock Dennis Rodman, but the guy apparently contributed to the easing of deadly geopolitical tensions. What have the pundits ever done
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) June 12, 2018
Indeed, it is—and surely something that the Obama team couldn’t have managed with their pervasive paralysis by analysis. Trump tried something new. This is what we voted for—and hopefully it yields results. The alternative was another devastating war. The goal was peace and denuclearization. One of the parties in that discussion is a communist monster, but removing him was not an option, killing him was not an option, and not speaking was not an option. So, for all the eeyores in the liberal media terrified that this could succeed, maybe you should be—because this is Trump’s golden ticket to a second term. He’s already cruising to re-election, but this is would be the Kevin Durant-like three-pointer that’s a dagger to the heart of the opposition, an assassin play. In this case, the receivers of that punishment would be Democrats and their liberal allies in the news media. They know if this succeeds, Trump will win in 2020. There would be nothing to criticize him on during an election year other than we don’t like what he says. So, it’s a historic day. Deal with it. Let’s see what happens.
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