Reactions to Trump’s North Korea/US Summit Pullout
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)
Hegemons don’t negotiate. They demand, wanting all nations bending to their will, offering nothing in return except empty promises.
Washington operates this way, a rogue state waging war on humanity, bullying, pressuring, bribing, and otherwise forcing its will on other nations.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in was blindside by Trump’s pullout, calling it “embarrassing and very regretful,” a setback in pursuing peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, an objective never to be abandoned.
North Korea reacted calmly, Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan, saying “(w)e would like to make known to the US side once again that we have the intent to sit with the US side to solve problem regardless of ways at any time,” adding:
“We remain unchanged in our goal and will to do everything we could for peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and humankind, and we, broad-minded and open all the time, have the willingness to offer the US side time and opportunity.”
Trump’s pullout clearly demonstrates opposition to peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and worldwide, he stressed.
China’s Global Times said cancelling the summit came “when progress was already underway, and now difficult tasks will lie ahead for foreign affairs officials hoping to advance to the next stage,” adding:
“America’s national image has been damaged ever since Trump announced his withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. The cancellation of the Singapore meeting will only enhance their negative image, regardless of any explanation provided by Washington.”
Putin expressed “regret” over Trump’s move, saying “we very much anticipat(ed) a significant step to be taken to de-escalate the situation on the Korean Peninsula that would become the beginning of the process of denuclearization of the entire Korean Peninsula,” adding:
Kim Jong-un did “everything he previously promised. He even blew up the tunnels and mines at the (Punggye-ri nuclear) test site.”
Putin intends working with both countries, trying to get summit talks rescheduled.
Russian Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Konstantin Kosachev called Trump’s pullout “a serious blow to peaceful settlement in the region.”
Neocons infesting Washington support the move, opposing summit talks, questioning Kim Jong-un’s commitment, despicably calling him “a murderous despot and habitual liar,” ignoring US rage for global hegemony, wanting its will forcibly imposed on all other nations.
International affairs expert Dennis Etler blasted Trump’s arrogance, saying:
“After (he) threatened North Korea with decimation if it doesn’t do as its told during the proposed summit, and after VP Pence warned Kim Jong-un that he faced the ‘Libyan solution’ if he didn’t unconditionally denuclearize, Trump ha(d) the audacity to say, ‘based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting.’ ”
“This has to be one of the most duplicitous statements ever made by a world leader and amounts to the thief crying ‘stop thief’ when caught in the act of theft.”
Well said! Extreme hubris and arrogance define US dealings with other countries, demanding unconditional subservience to its will.
Resisters wanting their sovereignty respected and preserved, not sacrificed to a hegemonic power, are targeted for regime change - naked aggression or color revolutions Washington’s favored strategies.
VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at [email protected].
My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
