North Korea’s state news agency is admonishing so-called hardliners in the US, Japan and South Korea not to “spoil” an improving diplomatic atmosphere in a further sign that Pyongyang wants to keep a planned summit between President Donald Trump and leader Kim Jong-un on an even keel.
“We do like to remind that it is time for all to approach everything with prudence and with self-control and patience,” a Wednesday commentary from the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
KCNA also criticized current and former officials and analysts in the US and Japan, along with conservatives in South Korea, for saying Pyongyang had been pushed into a corner by tougher sanctions imposed by the US and its allies.
“At this time, the dishonest forces in the US and Japan and the conservative group of south Korea are peddling groundless stories distorting the truth in a bid to mislead public opinion,” said the commentary entitled, “KCNA Blasts Dishonest Forces’ Distortion of Truth.”
In addition to US hardliners, the statement also singled out the “Abe group” headed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean conservatives of the “Liberal Korea Party” for arguing that Pyongyang had come to the table because of a get-tough US posture or to cynically drive a wedge in the US-South Korean alliance.
Trump and Kim are expected to meet in a historic summit by late May. Pyongyang has been noticeably measured in its official references to the US and its allies since the two sides agreed to step up negotiations.
A timely call. It is evident NK desires peace but not at the price of its security. Neocons, please go away. The world do not need a nuclear war.
Nothing can be done to north Korea to embarrass, back into a corner or drive a wedge between that country and others that it does not do to itself first. The people outside the capital are starving. The military is a shadow of the marching masses portrayed in pictures. The family dictatorship of the Kims becomes more of a laughing stock every day. Does anyone really believe there will be a meeting with Trump? The north Koreans know Trump will tower over Kim, and to Pyongyang that would be humiliating. We have never really heard him speak. It is said his real vouce is shallow and doofish. He can not speak without a script. I hope he comes to a meeting. Trump will seal his fate as a leader with one photograph of the two of them together circulating throughout north Korea. I do not believe he will go.