The Trump-Kim geopolitical reality-TV show – surreal for some – offered unparalleled entries to the annals of international diplomacy. It will be tough to upstage the US President pulling an iPad and showing Kim Jong-un the cheesy trailer of a straight-to-video 1980s B-grade action movie – complete with a Sylvester Stallone cameo – casting the two leaders as heroes destined to save the world’s 7 billion people.
Away from the TV, the former “Rocket Man”, now respectfully recast in Trump terminology as “Chairman Kim”, did strike a formidable coup by completely erasing the dreaded acronym CVID – or “complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization” – from the final text of the Singapore joint statement.
Throughout the pre-summit negotiations, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) had always stressed an “action-for-action” strategy leading to denuclearization, as in Pyongyang being compensated every step of the way instead of waiting until after complete denuclearization – a process that could last over a decade – to be eligible for economic benefits.
The Singapore joint statement enshrines exactly what the Russia-China strategic partnership – formalized in the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit – was suggesting from the beginning: a double freeze.
The DPRK holds off on any new nuclear and missile tests while the US and South Korea stop the “war games” (Trump’s terminology).
This logical sequence of the Sino-Russian roadmap is based on what South Korean President Moon Jae-in agreed with Kim Jong-un at the inter-Korean summit last April. And that ties in with what North Korea, South Korea and Russia had already discussed at the Far East summit in Vladivostok last September, as Asia Times reported; economic integration between Russia and the two Koreas, including the crucial connectivity of a future Trans-Korean railway with the Trans-Siberian.
Once again, this is all about Eurasia integration; increased trade between North Korea and Northeast China, concerning mostly Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces; and total, physical connectivity of both Koreas to the Eurasian heartland.
That’s yet another instance of the New Silk Roads, or Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) meeting the Eurasia Economic Union (EAEU). And not by accident South Korea wants to connect deeper with both BRI and the EAEU.
When in doubt, re-read Panmunjom
The Singapore joint statement is not a deal; it’s a statement. The absolutely key item is number 3: “Reaffirming the April 27, 2018, Panmunjom Declaration, the DPRK commits to work toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”
This means that the US and North Korea will work towards denuclearization not only in what concerns the DPRK but the whole Korean Peninsula.
Much more than “…the DPRK commits to work toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula”, the keywords are in fact “reaffirming the April 27, 2018, Panmunjom Declaration…”
Even before Singapore, everyone knew the DPRK would not “de-nuke” (Trump terminology) for nothing, especially when promised just some vague US “guarantees”.
Predictably, both US neocon and humanitarian imperialist factions are unanimous in their fury, blasting the absence of “meat” in the joint statement. In fact there’s plenty of meat. Singapore reaffirms the Panmunjom Declaration, which is a deal between North Korea and South Korea.
By signing the Singapore joint statement, Washington has been put on notice of the Panmunjom Declaration. In law, when you take notice of a fact, you can’t ignore it later. The DPRK’s commitment to denuclearize in the Singapore statement is a reaffirmation of its commitment to denuclearize in the Panmunjom Declaration, with all of the conditions attached to it. And Trump acknowledged that by signing the Singapore statement.
The Panmunjom Declaration stresses that: “South and North Korea confirmed the common goal of realizing, through complete denuclearization, a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. South and North Korea shared the view that the measures being initiated by North Korea are very meaningful and crucial for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and agreed to carry out their respective roles and responsibilities in this regard. South and North Korea agreed to actively seek the support and cooperation of the international community for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”
That’s the commitment. “International community”, as everyone knows, is code for the US as The Great Decider. If Washington does not bring back its military from South Korea, there will be no denuclearization. Essentially, that’s the deal discussed between Kim and President Xi Jinping in their two crucial, pre-Singapore meetings. Get the US out of the peninsula, and we have your back.
So all focus should be on “reaffirming”, the key word in the Singapore joint statement.
These are very BULLISH times for the world——–who would have ever guessed that President Trump, President Moon, Chairman Kim——-(and in the background Putin and Xi)——–would have had the GUTS, BALLS, and VISION to pull this off———this is very BULLISH for the Korean Peninsula and Eurasia———-let the HATERS keep hating and doubting Donald John Trump as he marches through the doors of history!!!
"If you can’t defeat an enemies, you will ultimately have to talk to them."
This is an excellent and important analysis. I hope it gets a lot of attention as it focuses perfectly on the fact that the US has signed up to the Kim-Moon agreement and vision for the Korean peninsula.
A very encouraging start and full marks to Trump for doing the right thing. Now the hard task for him will be staying the course set in the face of opposition from the neocons and the military industrial heavyweights .
Don’t think USA will pull off south Korea or north will denuke. It’s the status quo that will last. In the press conference he said at the later date in near future but that pull back will though unsaid depends on CVID I guess. And it looks like a long drawn out process anyways so future holds the key. May be in 6 months post mid terms it might change for better or even worse, so a wait and watch situation right now.
Well yes Kevin, it’s better than watching on TV bombs and missiles dropping… Though at the same time most media and people forgot what’s happening these very days in Yemen…
Anyway, my grandma kept repeating " never trust the Anglos…".
Well, these Anglos now seem to begin remembering what happened in 1915 Gallipoli, or that is what I hope. So many Gallipolis till today, and not finished yet, but yes: the king is naked and with a hurting ass. Thanks China, thanks Russia, still a long way, but you guys are our only hope. And our kids’
The real victory is “Peace”. Just few months ago, there were thick cloud of war, President Trump has threaten and warned NK. Two nation were on the wedge of nuclear war- total disaster.
While credit goes to USA and N/Korea. But actual beneficiary may be Korean peninsula as a whole.
We must acknowledge the role of Singapore for facilitation. Big hands for Singapore.
Behind the scene, China and Russia has also contributed a lot. Appreciation!
Is this the US getting North Korea off the radar so that it can go after Iran? One major war at a time. Never ever trust the buggers. They are born war mongers and butchers. You can lose your arm just reaching out to take the olive branch they offer you..
If the status quo prevails, there will be an unstable state of peace in the Korean Peninsula, and, at the same time, a great tension between the DPRK and USA involving sanctions on the DPRK and a great risk that tens of millions Americans may be vaporized. This state is not to the advantage of the DPRK or USA. So, both DPRK and USA want to avoid this state. The only stable state is the removal of all American soldiers out of Korea and the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Earlier today the Japanese Foreign Minister expressed concern about Trump stopping the US-SoKor-Japan War Games….still harking on the "Nokor threat to regional peace"…I think it is more they are threatened more by the economic powerhouse potential of a unified Korea together with China and Russia in the New Belt Road initiative
Now that this has been achieved, the Neocons, the mafias in the military industrial complex will have to look elsewhere to mine for gold. Where is this evil eye going to turn next
Do you know where the last three deals US with Iraq, Lybia, and Iran end up?
Now look closely the domestic things. Trump could not make full decision, the military has shown their doubts to the suspension of war games and possibility to withdraw US soldiers from SK. Kim has to find way to streamline his military and bureaucrats in line with his bold action to open door to US. He, and his fathers, have accumulated hatred and revolution factions during their long history of ruthless rule. This could be seen from waves of defectors , against his seemingly high hand and seamless control system. To them, Kim is renegading the political tradition since the elder Kims, that means what the Kims have said and done are totally false, people would lose faith and ask for compensating for their sufferings. This could be predicted from China, USSR, and other communist countries.
"Essentially, that’s the deal discussed between Kim and President Xi Jinping in their two crucial, pre-Singapore meetings. Get the US out of the peninsula, and we have your back". Escobar doesn’t show the evidence for his claim. Or was he the translator at this meeting? Also, he is ignorant of the fact that three generations of Kims stated that U.S. troops can stay on the Korean Peninsula.
THIS SUMMIT/DEAL REMINDS ME OF THE RIPPENTROP/MOLOTOV 1939 AGREEMENT. BOTH WERE LYING!! HITLER JUST GOT THE JUMP ,STALIN WAS A DAY LATE AND A DOLLAR SHORT !!
I didn’t see that either. But it makes absolute sense as the NK see the the US presence as the biggest obstacle to their own security concerns. Time will tell if that was the plan.
Good for the Korean people, good for the world!
Good one. God bless the Leaders who seek peace among Mankind in this Dark World. Amen.
President Xi promise Barrack Obama that he will not militarise South Chinese sea,today what is happening. There are heavy Chinese bombers,surface to air missiles,anti ship missiles etc. Us troops should remain in South Korea rven the war games have to stop. North Korea hasn’t even given any up anything. Somebody will still write an article and tell US to lift all the sanctions against DPRK. Where lies US leverage if all these leverages are gone. I do not support this write up. The writer must be chinese apologist.
And that is what Trump did Hahahaaaaaa
Jo Snow who did tat ? TD did tat ?
a pity tat u benifit ur freedom from someone else….u are a bloodsucker u live behind a widow and benifit behind a widow
u kidding the whole world or wat…its not about US keeping its troops there dumbo
Good for Korea People, good for the the world, BAD FOR CHINA!
China doesn’t ever want a democratic re-united Korea!
China want a railroad system connecting all the way from Europe through to the Korean peninsula. A Nuclear war is not good for that.
Well they are willing to give up their Nukes, so can’t say its for nothing.