Pence: All options on the table wrt NK... except negotiations

[Beet]

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/josh-rogin/wp/2017/04/19/pence-the-united-states-is-not-seeking-negotiations-with-north-korea

There are a few problems with Pence's remarks-

1. It contradicts a Trump campaign pledge. For instance, in June 2016, Trump said:

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I can't believe I agree with candidate Trump more than Vice President Pence.

2. In the 23 years after the 1994 Agreed Framework, it hasn't been a continuous period of engagement at all. Mike Chinoy lays down how actions of the Bush administration helped torpedo negotiations:

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2017/04/19/how-washington-hard-liners-helped-to-create-the-north-korean-crisis/?utm_term=.3ce0583efcea

During the 8 years of the Obama administration, there was hardly any effort at negotiation at all, except for the 2012 Leap Day agreement. When that failed, Obama gave up on negotiaton. So to sum:
1994 to 2000- Mostly successful diplomacy.
2001 to 2008- Diplomacy repeatedly torpedoed by US actions (sabotaging deals and pushing regime change)
2009 to 2016- Only one serious effort at diplomacy
2017- North Korean offer of talks rejected out of hand.

That doesn't exactly add up to "25 years of failed diplomacy." Since the Trump administration is considering military action that could result in the deaths of thousands, or even millions, the fact that they're not even considering negotiations is troubling.

[Technocracy Timmy]

You try negotiating with a guy who has been raised his entire life sheltered in an environment that constantly tells him that he is in fact a demigod.

I have a sibling who's halfway like this and I can't convince them of anything they don't already agree with.

[Santander]

You try negotiating with a guy who has been raised his entire life sheltered in an environment that constantly tells him that he is in fact a demigod.

Yeah, that's why Trump is a good negotiator.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

You try negotiating with a guy who has been raised his entire life sheltered in an environment that constantly tells him that he is in fact a demigod.

Which 2016 nominee are you referring to now?

[Technocracy Timmy]

You try negotiating with a guy who has been raised his entire life sheltered in an environment that constantly tells him that he is in fact a demigod.

Yeah, that's why Trump is a good negotiator.

Trump might be the one person who can somewhat relate to Mr. Un. Then again Kim's levels of narcissism probably dwarfs Trump's.

[Blue3]

You try negotiating with a guy who has been raised his entire life sheltered in an environment that constantly tells him that he is in fact a demigod.

I have a sibling who's halfway like this and I can't convince them of anything they don't already agree with.

Technically, Kim Jong-un lived in Switzerland until he was 18.

[Ban my account ffs!]

You try negotiating with a guy who has been raised his entire life sheltered in an environment that constantly tells him that he is in fact a demigod.

Yeah, that's why Trump is a good negotiator.

Trump might be the one person who can somewhat relate to Mr. Un. Then again Kim's levels of narcissism probably dwarfs Trump's.

Mr. Un?  Should we call you Mr. Cratic?

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

You try negotiating with a guy who has been raised his entire life sheltered in an environment that constantly tells him that he is in fact a demigod.

Yeah, that's why Trump is a good negotiator.

Trump might be the one person who can somewhat relate to Mr. Un. Then again Kim's levels of narcissism probably dwarfs Trump's.

Mr. Un?  Should we call you Mr. Cratic?

More like Mr. Timmy.

[Meclazine for Israel]

I wonder if North Koreans see Kim Jong Un like Donald Trump or whether they actually love him.

In terms of the comment "all options are on the table" you are looking at:

(a) Ninja squad for nocturnal assassination;
(b) Attack NK and bomb Kim Jong Un into 2027 before he hits the button;
(c) Nuclear attack with no survivors.

Clearly, Trump wont expend nuclear warheads, but he has unleashed the Mad Dog a couple of times, so expect to see the new F-35's have a bit of target practice.

Drop a couple of the "Mother of all Bombs" missiles, and then invade the nuclear sites and render them useless.

It would be good if Trump could remove the government and reunify the two countries.

That is the real solution we need, militarily or otherwise.