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Trump has been known for his strong language provoking North Korea, usually by threatening to wipe them off the face of the Earth. However, his recent speech in South Korea seemed to bring an unexpected change. Trump mentioned that "...despite every crime you've committed against God and man, we will offer a path to a much better future. It begins with an end to the aggression of your regime, a stop to your development of ballistic missiles." He then urged China and Russia to up the pressure on North Korea.
I think an attempt to make plans for a diplomatic solution with North Korea is great news, but it's much easier said than done. As a hermit regime, North Korea believes nuclear missiles are their safety against the rest of the world, so I think the odds they would give up their missiles is slim to none. And honestly, I don't blame them for wanting to build up their arsenal. The rest of the world has missiles pointed at this one country, so any sane country in North Korea's place would agree that building up nuclear weapons would be in their best interest. I doubt Kim will attack first- he may be crazy, but he's not stupid. He knows that the moment he attacks, his regime will go down in an instant. So why not build up some nuclear weapons and go out with a bang?
I think the future of North Korea and Rocket Man's plans are interesting topics to discuss. In terms of Trump's speech in the South, I found it to be a breath of fresh air. He made a good impression amongst the liberal South Koreans and mostly kept away from his usual mudslinging at the North. I'm curious to hear your thoughts. Should we be afraid of Trump's mudslinging? Is it in China's best interest to put more pressure on North Korea? Should we have any faith at all in diplomacy?
I think the future of North Korea and Rocket Man's plans are interesting topics to discuss. In terms of Trump's speech in the South, I found it to be a breath of fresh air. He made a good impression amongst the liberal South Koreans and mostly kept away from his usual mudslinging at the North. I'm curious to hear your thoughts. Should we be afraid of Trump's mudslinging? Is it in China's best interest to put more pressure on North Korea? Should we have any faith at all in diplomacy?
23 comments:
Mostly kept from his usual mudslinging? What? Trump literally called out Kim Jong Un and said "North Korea is not the paradise your grandfather envisioned; it is a hell that no person deserves." If that's not firing shots, I don't know what is.
Xi and Trump are warming up to each other as of late, and this new relationship may result in the US being able to tell China to stop giving NK aid. But for now, diplomacy is the best way of solving these issues, no matter how ineffective or valueless it may be. It's better than finding out if NK actually has nuclear capabilities through military action.
I think that this is definitely progress towards something that might be good. However, in dire situations like these, there's no telling what can happen especially with Trump leading it. I agree with Josh in that diplomacy is the best way to solve problems like this, but who wouldn't agree with that? It's certainly better than a nuclear war. In regards to the mudslinging, he was aggressive as expected, but maybe slightly less than usual, which is good i guess.
To respond to Josh, I would like to clarify. In comparison to his usual speeches there was less mudslinging, hence I used the word mostly. He didn't make any military threats and didn't mention raining "fire and fury" on "Little Rocket Man." I agree there were certain points where he attacked Kim, but it was mostly refrained from his speech. In terms of a Trump speech, the mudslinging was kept at a relatively low amount.
I also agree that diplomacy is a much better alternative to an all-out war, but I just can't see any way Trump will convince NK to demilitarize.
I do not believe that we should be very worried about Trump's mudslinging because they are simply words, not threats. Trump speaks with a toughness that may seem disrespectful at times, but he has never threatened North Korea. He only speaks about what would happen if they were to be the aggressors. I think that it is acceptable to voice a warning this way, and I do not believe that North Korea would even consider an attack on a nation that could completely obliterate its existence with a couple of missiles.
I believe Trump's mudslinging is not the most pressing of concerns. Trump may say many ridiculous things, and most of the time it is just talk. However, his foul mouth still does cause anger and I believe his slightly less aggressive approach would be a step in the right direction. I definitely think there is still hope for diplomacy. I hope to believe the only possible solution to this problem is not to blow one country off the map. There is much on the line and both countries are going to put this into consideration, so diplomacy is still the best method of negotiation. Of course, compromising is very difficult and we should not expect immediate change in the near future.
I would like to disagree with some of the previous comments. I think that Trump's mudslinging and volatile language should be a very large concern for our nation. As the President of the United States, the things that Trump says on a public stage, especially in an international context, can be a very big deal. Trump sets an example of our country as our elected leader. I think his words have the potential to do a lot of damage to our nation in a number of different ways. I think the fact that he is no longer threatening North Korea with military action and nuclear war is a huge step forward.
Trump is the spokesperson of America, and his words should be taken as the official statement. So far I have not taken offense with his position on North Korea. He has taken a tough position to reflect that the US should not fear the presence of North Korea. This is advantageous to the previous presidential positions, which made Americans live with fear. His mudslinging and volatile nature makes him very dangerous for North Korea to deal with and should be taken as a positive for Americans.
The comments made by Trump here are beneficial to both sides as it is a way to alleviate tension. I think it’s in China’s best interest to steer North Korea into a peaceful course of action. If China does so, it will lead to a healthier relationship between the US and China. This relationship can benefit both country’s economies and allow for the countries to work together more. Trump’s mudslinging could potentially be extremely dangerous for the safety of America and North Korea’s enemies, but if he begins to make it a habit to carry himself diplomatically, the future looks bright. In all, diplomacy really is the only way I see a future through. Without it, all I see is the escalating of tensions.
I agree with Lydia in the sense that although they are just words and not actions, they still can have a negative outcome. Yes, Trump did the right thing by finally trying to "make peace" and this is a step in the right direction, but this is one side of him that we haven't seen before. He can easily go back to the way he was and continue to provoke North Korea through his thoughtless words. As Josh said, Kim Jung Un may not be stupid but he is crazy and if Trump says one wrong thing, North Korea can and will attack. President Trump can't rely on China and Russia to have his back on this because this is a serious issue that our leader has to take care of. He needs to realize that if he says one wrong thing, our country will be in a lot of trouble.
I think Trump's mudslinging should not be our highest point of worry, but it shouldn't be ignored. Trump and Kim Jong Un are smart people, leaders of nations, and they know to think before they act, especially when it comes to military action. They understand that the threats of the other should not be taken too seriously. At the same time, they know not to ignore the threats. When Trump says he is going to blow north korea off the face of the earth, we know he doesn't mean it, but he is showing that he has the capability to do so, and that it is an option he would be willing to use. I think he should stick to the popular option of diplomacy because less violence=better planet.
I believe the situation we're in with North Korea's nuclear missiles is similar to that of the Cold War in the 1960s. Although technology has advanced since then, I agree with Josh P. that diplomacy will be the best solution to diffuse the situation, as Kennedy primarily attempted. I'm glad Trump has established ties with Russia so that they will aid in putting pressure on North Korea; that's a first step in diplomacy.
I believe both leaders have demonstrated short tempers before, but the progress Trump's made with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the progress he plans to make with China's leader and Putin are a step in the right direction.
To relate the issue back to AP Gov, do you guys think the job of ambassador should be left solely to the president? What are some advantages to our current system, and how can we improve it?
I'm with Juliet on this one. It's a lot like the Cold War except for the fact that we have even more powerful weapons to end the world (all in the name of peace, mind you). Diplomacy is certainly preferable to bombing anyone. The people of North Korea do not deserve to die simply because their leaders are so extreme. To answer Juliet's other question about the role of the presidents in international diplomacy, I think it really depends. If a president's background is in diplomacy (AKA not Trump) than they should be negotiating on behalf of the US. If they do not, they should have an experienced Secretary of State who can advise her or him on what to do. My real problem with Trump is that he undermines the authority of his Secretary of State ON TWITTER for the whole world to see. Trump is not a diplomat (like, at all-the guy has no filter), and so he ought to step back and let the diplomats do their thing and advise him on what to do. I think that this speech is a good example of what to do.
I believe we're on a better track to success with this recent speech, where Trump has toned down his usual aggressive-sounding, yet defensive approach towards North Korea. While countries' leaders should act as the voice of the nation, President Trump and Kim Jong-Un are usually seen as a bit unconventional and unique from the people of their countries, although North Koreans are taught to worship the man. I actually believe we should give more credit to Trump for being capable of finding a better approach rather than straight head butting with other leaders or politicians, something he hadn't shown before. I think President Trump will definitely be more effective as a leader when he can adapt to situations rather than simply play on his instincts. In this situation, he needs to get closer to that balanced yet stern approach towards North Korea, like scolding a baby but not so harshly as to make them throw a tantrum. However, Kim Jong-Un is not a baby as much as he acts like it, and won't easily desert his nuclear buildup program. Overall, I feel that Trump has improved his approach in this recent speech and could be on the path to a better presidency.
We definitely should be afraid of Trump's mudslinging. Even though he seemed to tone it down this time around, his attacking of other nations and prominent figures (via Twitter, most of the time!) is incredibly harmful to our own safety and reputation as a nation. It's definitely important to put some faith in diplomacy, but it's incredibly difficult to do so when the person that is supposed to represent us is hateful and controversial. He isn't playing the role of diplomat as well as he should be, but I do applaud him for starting to take a step in the right direction. In response to Juliet's question, I agree with Sam's point about letting the diplomats advise him. Because he has no background in diplomacy, he needs to take the advice of people that are more experienced with things like this.
Trump's really an unpredictable character, which, to me, is a bit worrying. I remember reading about his praiseful tone about China when talking to President Xi, despite his verbal attacks on China previously in his term. It seems like Trump's actions are a mystery. Perhaps his cabinet is guiding him on his actions? In the North Korea problem, Trump needs to present a strong public image while not encouraging war. Hard to do for any President, but even harder for the unpredictable Trump. Hopefully he can do and say the right things...
I think that mudslinging is not good in any situation and it is extremely low and unprofessional, but I like that Trump is taking a hard stance on North Korea and his attempts at diplomacy seem to have improved. While I agree with Max that Trump can be quite unpredictable, I want to believe that Trump can turn everything around and peacefully resolve this conflict.
To add on to my previous comment, China is in an awkward position because if they put pressure on North Korea they risk being attacked with North Korea's nuclear weapons since they share a border. In addition, if the current North Korean government falls, China will need to deal with the aftermath and the influx of refugees. I am not sure if it would be in China's best interest to put pressure on North Korea, but it would definitely be the right thing to do.
First, there are non-nuclear proliferation treaties for a reason. Nation states should not be allowed to build a nuclear arsenal to “feel safe.” Producing a nuclear standoff will not be good for any nation, and if an emotional populist takes over a nation—say the US or DPRK—millions of people will not face the possibility of dying from a nuclear weapon.
Trump’s claims against North Korea have been quite hawkish, so it should be no surprise that Kim Jong-Un is being defensive. Hopefully Pyongyang will not take the threats seriously, however, and realize that our cabinet is inconsistent and making statements with little real meaning behind them. The flip-flopping nature of Washington results in a general disregard by the international community, hopefully a pattern that DPRK will follow.
It would be amazing if Trump could write a treaty with Kim Jong-Un with regard to an end of their nuclear development program, but I see little chance of this actually working out. Trump has generally pulled America out of global agreements instead of signing new ones, and demilitarization is not something on his agenda for America. There is also little new motivation for China and Russia to start pressuring the DPRK now. The ROK and US have both requested help from these states before, and has brought about little results. If they have not cooperated before, why would they now?
I can see why some people my see what Trump says is sometimes just ridiculous, but others may also see his language to be offensive, especially if he's talking to other nations. I agree with the other comments that Trump's actions can be very unpredictable, and that he needs some guidance when it comes to diplomatic issues. Although it will take time, I believe that he will be able to come to agreements with other international nations with more guidance and adjusting.
I agree with a lot of these comments. The way Trump communicated towards North Korea was a definite step forward to his previous speeches. Trump is definitely unpredictable and I think he finally understood that there needs to be a sense of diplomacy with North Korea if he wants to get anywhere. It would be amazing if this whole situation could be solved with some sort of peace treaty or any kind of compromise or solution. I think that Trump wants the same and he is trying a little more than he has before to slowly come to a solution.
While it is refreshing to see a bit of diplomacy towards North Korea coming from the Trump administration (today, he said that becoming friends with Kim Jong-Un is "a possibility"), at the end of the day, Trump's policies will determine the outcome of this crisis, not his words. His mudslinging certainly shows the US in a bad light and many people don't agree with his choice of words, but I don't see them being a threat to our national security as much as them simply making our country look dumb. Like Ethan mentioned, ideally Trump and Kim Jong-Un could agree to end the DPRK's nuclear program, but realistically, this probably won't happen.
I do agree that this speech was a good sign of the diplomacy that is possible, and should be happening, between North Korea and the rest of the world. In his speech, Trump definitely took a positive step forward in being a bit more "friendly" and diplomatic to North Korea, while still calling them out on their flaws and human rights violations, which certainly should be admonished and addressed in a negative light. Despite this, I think that as Zack said, Trumps policies and future actions will be the real determinate of the outcome of this "crisis" between these two nations. Thus far over his presidency, Trump has been sporadic and irrational at times, both in his speech and decision making. Because of this, we cannot trust that just because he now appears to be "nicer" and more diplomatic that he will be the same in the future. For all we know, tomorrow he could go back to calling shots and revert to his previous aggressive attitude. If I was the president, I think that the best course of action would be to simply leave North Korea alone. While their human rights violations are atrocious and need to be addressed, there is nothing reasonable that the outside world can do to interfere in North Korea without staring a major conflict. From my point of view, I see North Korea as a hibernating bear; right now, the bear is sleeping, but you know that it is still dangerous if woken up. I would heed the advice of the phrase "don't poke the bear" and just leave North Korea alone. They are much less dangerous if not provoked, and since the international community cannot afford to be aggressive towards them, it is best to just leave them be.
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