John Bolton: N.Korea has not taken effective steps to denuclearize

[Plasmaball]

Shocked…shocked I tell you…

[MoleUK]

@NebraskaFootball

This is obviously unsurprising for most all of us who have been around long enough to watch NK do this same song and dance again and again. The difference of course being this time we gave them one of the largest concessions of any administration, in having the two heads of state meet one-on-one without any preconditions.

Nothing a second summit can’t fix.

Then onto Iran!

[ImRightYoureWrong]

Trump is amazing

[LucyLou]

@MoleUK

John Bolton on Iran, Russia, North Korea: Kim Has Not "Taken Effective Steps" To Denuclearize

NICK SCHIFRIN: I just want to ask, in the brief time I have left, a couple questions on North Korea.

North Korea has frozen nuclear tests. As you know, they have blown up the entrance to their nuclear test facility. They have shut down an engine testing site. They have handed over remains of U.S. soldiers. And North Korea now says that the U.S. is backtracking from some of the commitments that the president made in Singapore.

So, what steps has the U.S. taken to live up to the president’s commitments in Singapore, to provide security guarantees, and to establish a new relationship with North Korea?

JOHN BOLTON: Well, the president at Singapore suspended major exercises, joint exercises between the United States and South Korea. That’s been done.

But what was significant about Singapore was the North Korean commitment to denuclearize. And they have not taken effective steps to do that. Let’s just take the decision to close the entrances, as you correctly say, to the Punggye-ri nuclear test site. That was done before the agreement.

There were no international observers present really to inspect what was done. There were some, you will forgive me, representatives of the media who were kept at a distance and not shown anything, except the bright explosion.

And I think that view in South Korea and elsewhere is that that test site is not necessarily disabled. That’s why, when you engage in the process of denuclearization, you need international inspection, you need declarations of what North Korea has, you need observers and inspectors who can verify exactly what’s happening.

That needs to take place in a process of negotiation. We have asked again recently for Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to return to Pyongyang to meet again with Kim Jong-un on this subject.

We’re not looking for rhetoric here. We’re looking for performance of North Korea’s own commitment made to us, made to South Korea beforehand to denuclearize.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Are you suggesting North Korea is not living up to that commitment?

JOHN BOLTON: I’m suggesting President Trump has held the door open for them. They need to walk through it.

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So much for N.Korea no longer being a nuclear threat.

I somehow doubt Trump will be pleased with that particular line.

Lol@ trump standing there impotently holding the door open for NK. Meanwhile, NK parties on, same as always.

[NebraskaFootball]

@MoleUK

Nothing a second summit can’t fix.

Then onto Iran!

[sikofit]

@WildRose

One last time. Nobody thought they would be scrapping their entire program immediately.

Do you “get it” yet?

And some of us knew all along that it would be nothing but hollow promises.

[CaughtInTheMiddle]

the hell you say.

[Jezcoe]

Open the door and hope they step through.

Art of the deal people… Art of the deal.

[MoleUK]

@Jezcoe

Open the door and hope they step through.

Art of the deal people… Art of the deal.

But he didn’t bow tho.

[ZeroBravoPorkchop]

Time to invade!
What’s a few million lives?
He LIED to Trump.
A price must be paid.
Of course President Bone Spurs will conduct the battle from the 9th hole.

[mobiusptc]

No…really?

[Guntsu]

Trump is cool

[Apocalypto]

Haven’t heard that one lately.

[MoleUK]

@mobiusptc

No…really?

No-one knew that the situation with N.Korea could be so complicated.

[Cratic3947]

I guess the thin skinned left would give up now and send NK billions with an apology note. LMAO!

[Cratic3947]

@Guntsu

Trump is cool

Good point…

[Cratic3947]

THE TDS is amazing… It took O’ Flexible over 4 years to stop putting missile defense in Poland for Putin…

These things take time…lol!

[MrOldTimer3.0]

@MoleUK

JOHN BOLTON: I’m suggesting President Trump has held the door open for them. They need to walk through it.

So much for N.Korea no longer being a nuclear threat.

I somehow doubt Trump will be pleased with that particular line.

As a conservative…The difference in diplomacy then and diplomacy now is simply this. BT (Before Trump) conservatives would have been watching the airports for the plane carrying the cash to Kim Ding Dong.

AT (After Trump) conservatives watch the clock. The doomsday clock is ticking for Kim Ding Dong.

BT, worry and nausea. AT firm resolve. The hand of peace was proffered as it should have been. But that was only the one hand.

These things conservatives know and are well pleased with.

[party-free]

8 years ago, offering the hand of peace was considered a sign of weakness.

[MrOldTimer3.0]

@party-free

8 years ago, offering the hand of peace was considered a sign of weakness.

8 years ago offering the hand of peace —and a planeload of cash— was considered weakness. That was the “worry and nausea” thing I mentioned in my epistle.