Washington – North Korea’s reaction to comments by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence were the “last straw” that led the White House to cancel President Donald Trump’s planned summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a White House official said on Thursday.
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North Korea’s vice foreign minister called remarks by Pence about North Korea stupid and suggested the two countries could either meet for a summit or for a nuclear showdown.
The White House official said there was still hope for peace with North Korea but the country needed to change its rhetoric to get there.
“There is a backdoor that’s open still if the North Koreans are willing to walk through it. But it involves some changing of their rhetoric … at a minimum,” the official said.
orth Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons has been a source of tension on the Korean peninsula for decades, as well as antagonism with Washington. The rhetoric reached new heights under Trump as he mocked Kim as “little rocket man” and in address at the United Nations threatened to “totally destroy” North Korea if necessary. Kim had called Trump mentally deranged and threatened to “tame” him with fire.
Kim rarely leaves North Korea and his willingness to meet and Trump’s acceptance sparked hope but it had faded in recent days.
In a statement released by North Korean media, Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui had called U.S. Vice President Mike Pence a “political dummy” for comparing North Korea – a “nuclear weapons state” – to Libya, where Muammar Gaddafi gave up his unfinished nuclear development program, only to be later killed by NATO-backed fighters.
“Whether the U.S. will meet us at a meeting room or encounter us at nuclear-to-nuclear showdown is entirely dependent upon the decision and behavior of the United States,” Choe said.
A small group of international media selected by North Korea witnessed the demolition of tunnels at the Punggye-ri site on Thursday, which Pyongyang says is proof of its commitment to end nuclear testing.
The apparent destruction of what North Korea says is its only nuclear test site has been widely welcomed as a positive, if largely symbolic, step toward resolving tension over its weapons. North Korean leader Kim has declared his nuclear force complete, amid speculation the site was obsolete anyway.
Cancellation of what would have been the first ever summit between a serving U.S president and a North Korean leader denies Trump what supporters hoped could have been the biggest diplomatic achievement of his presidency, and one worthy of a Nobel Prize.
“I felt a wonderful dialogue was building between you and me, and ultimately it is only that dialogue that matters,” Trump said in his letter to Kim. “Some day, I look very much forward to meeting you.”
a childish response
I agree that Pence is a dummy, and is boring and dull. I can’t stand listening to his speeches, as they are monotonous, and not inspiring. He comes across as a robot. The Jewish community of Indianapolis, had a saying when Pence was Governor of Indiana; namely, Pence is no mench.
As predicted over a month ago (look it up) dishevelled donnie killed the peace summit. The war kooks in his cabinet only know how to make threats and raise the Defense budget anothet 10 trillion. The N Korean tyrant has more credibility and brains than our Dotard Donnie. Nobel Prize for North and South Korea , not for ToxicRasha in WH. FEH.
What amazes is; right or wrong, there is so much hate vitriol and anger.
Just short of deranged.
The more someone uses name calling and hyperbole generally the weaker the argument.
And if some of you are frum you would know that gratuitous name calling is generally osur.
Even Moshe rabbeinu was told to show respect to Pharoh.
This Pres is a genius at making deals, he knows exactly when to pull back. I admire him for defending VP Pence and demanding respect. No wonder NK is running scared! They’re already backtracking and saying they still want a deal! No one can beat Trump at his game and the witch Pelosi and her traitorous Democrat colleagues do too!