U.S. seeks 'concrete actions' from North Korea before planned talks

[rooster59]

U.S. seeks 'concrete actions' from North Korea before planned talks

By Jeff Mason and David Brunnstrom

 

FILE PHOTO - A combination photo shows a Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) handout of Kim Jong Un released on May 10, 2016, and Donald Trump posing for a photo in New York City, U.S., May 17, 2016. REUTERS/KCNA handout via Reuters/File Photo & REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will not meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un unless Pyongyang takes "concrete actions," the White House said on Friday as it faced criticism for agreeing to talks that would boost Kim's standing.

 

"The president will not have the meeting without seeing concrete steps and concrete actions take place by North Korea, so the president will actually be getting something," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told a news briefing.

 

Sanders did not specify what actions North Korea needed to take, and a White House official later said she was not intending to set new conditions for talks with Kim.

 

But the comments were a sign that an end to a standoff between the two countries over North Korea's nuclear weapon program is not imminent.

 

Trump did little to clear up confusion over the timing of talks and any preconditions when he took to Twitter late on Friday.

 

"The deal with North Korea is very much in the making and will be, if completed, a very good one for the World. Time and place to be determined," he wrote.

 

The United States has long said it wants any talks to aim at Pyongyang abandoning its nuclear weapons and missile programs.

 

Hopes for a breakthrough with North Korea rose on Thursday when Trump said he was prepared to hold an unprecedented meeting with Kim.

 

The two leaders prompted jitters around the world last year as they exchanged bellicose insults over the North's attempts to develop a nuclear weapon capable of hitting the United States. Pyongyang has pursued its nuclear program in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

 

But tension eased around last month's Winter Olympics in South Korea, laying the groundwork for what would be the first meeting between leaders from North Korea and the United States, and the biggest foreign policy gamble for Trump since he took office in January last year.

 

The head of South Korea's National Security Office, Chung Eui-yong, speaking in Washington on Thursday after briefing Trump about a meeting South Korean officials held with Kim this week, said the U.S. president had agreed to meet the North Korean leader by May in response to an invitation from Kim.

 

Kim had "committed to denuclearization" and to suspending nuclear and missile tests, Chung said.

 

BUYING TIME?

 

A senior State Department official said the talks would likely only be a preliminary discussion about holding future negotiations.

 

"The expectation is that the talks would lead to a discussion around a conclusion that we're ready to engage in negotiations," the official said.

 

Trump's sudden decision to meet with Kim stunned even people in his own administration.

 

Sanders' comments seemed aimed at criticism in the United States that Trump took a misstep by agreeing to talks - thus giving Pyongyang the international legitimacy it seeks - but without earning any big concessions from the North.

 

"The Administration must go into any meeting with a plan to ensure that negotiations with Kim Jong-un produce real results, not a photo op that lends legitimacy to North Korea’s murderous regime,” U.S. Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat who is vice chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, said in a statement.

 

Some U.S. officials and experts worry North Korea could buy time to build up and refine its nuclear arsenal if it drags out talks with Washington.

 

A White House official said Trump remained committed to a meeting with Kim based on the conditions laid out by South Korea on Thursday: that Kim is committed to denuclearization, will refrain from any further nuclear or missile tests, and understands that U.S.-South Korean military exercises must continue.

 

“(The North Koreans) are saying the right things and we’re going to listen to them at the table and we’re going to see where this leads,” the official said.

 

No venue or date has been announced for the summit, which is expected to be held in May. Neutral Switzerland, which often hosts summits, said it was ready to facilitate the meeting.

 

CHINA WELCOMES TALKS

 

A Trump-Kim summit would be a major turnaround after a year in which North Korea has carried out a battery of missile tests that Washington sees as provocative and after a barrage of insults between the two leaders.

 

U.S.-based experts say North Korea appeared to show last November that it has succeeded in developing a missile capable of delivering a nuclear weapon anywhere in the United States.

 

Trump has derided Kim as a "maniac," referred to him as "little rocket man" and threatened in a speech last year to "totally destroy" North Korea, a country of 26 million people, if it attacked the United States or one of its allies.

 

Kim responded by calling Trump a "mentally deranged U.S. dotard."

 

The Trump administration has led a worldwide push to tighten international sanctions on North Korea to choke off resources needed for its weapons programs.

 

World leaders welcomed prospects for a possible thaw in the Korea standoff including China, which is North Korea's largest trading partner and its sole major ally.

 

Chinese President Xi Jinping told Trump in a phone call on Friday that he appreciates his desire to resolve the North Korea issue politically, Chinese state media said.

 

Xi "hopes the United States and North Korea start contacts and dialogue as soon as possible and strive to reach positive results," the report added.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-03-10

 

[Srikcir]

The only time Trump should meet with Kim is to jointly sign the final denuclearization agreement. Any other meeting is a dangerous distraction.

 

That agreement should also include Japan, South Korea and China (Russia might be exparte). Ideally, such pre-agreement negotiations are handled by cabinet-level leadership assisted by experts and ambassadors from the respective nations. Trump throwing out bullet points in tweets just won't work in negotiations, certainly not within two months. Just the concurrence of the meaning of "denuclearization" may become a mini-negotiation.

 

If development of a final agreement spans more than two months, there probably should also be a "pre-condition" agreement wherein Kim freezes its nuclear weapons program, ie., verified by periodic inspections, monitoring scientists activities. Otherwise, Kim could benefit by bad faith negotiations. Obviously, this would require some level of concessions by the US, Japan and South Korea partnership.

 

For comparison purposes, the timeline for the Iran nuclear deal took seven months. And that was

• April 2, 2015: Iran and the P5+1 announce agreement on a general framework that outlines the broad parameters of a nuclear deal.
• October 18, 2015: Iran and the P5+1 formally adopt the nuclear deal.

Preceding the above was a year to establish final pre-condition requirements by Iran that followed years of formulating the negotiations framework.

https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheet/Timeline-of-Nuclear-Diplomacy-With-Iran

 

[Trouble]

5 hours ago, Srikcir said:

The only time Trump should meet with Kim is to jointly sign the final denuclearization agreement. Any other meeting is a dangerous distraction.

 

That agreement should also include Japan, South Korea and China (Russia might be exparte). Ideally, such pre-agreement negotiations are handled by cabinet-level leadership assisted by experts and ambassadors from the respective nations. Trump throwing out bullet points in tweets just won't work in negotiations, certainly not within two months. Just the concurrence of the meaning of "denuclearization" may become a mini-negotiation.

 

If development of a final agreement spans more than two months, there probably should also be a "pre-condition" agreement wherein Kim freezes its nuclear weapons program, ie., verified by periodic inspections, monitoring scientists activities. Otherwise, Kim could benefit by bad faith negotiations. Obviously, this would require some level of concessions by the US, Japan and South Korea partnership.

 

For comparison purposes, the timeline for the Iran nuclear deal took seven months. And that was

• April 2, 2015: Iran and the P5+1 announce agreement on a general framework that outlines the broad parameters of a nuclear deal.
• October 18, 2015: Iran and the P5+1 formally adopt the nuclear deal.

Preceding the above was a year to establish final pre-condition requirements by Iran that followed years of formulating the negotiations framework.

https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheet/Timeline-of-Nuclear-Diplomacy-With-Iran

 

I disagree with you on Trump meeting Kim only to sign the "deal" at the end.  

 

The rest of your post is exactly the reason Trump should not wait. Who needs a bunch of useless diplomats and negotiators taking years to get a deal and giving away the farm to do so. Part of the problem with the Iran negotiations was that so many Europeans were so anxious to get in bed with the Iranians to make money they exerted pressure on their governments.  Money does talk.  Obama's team wanted something to hold in the air as some kind of successful achievement.  That billions of dollars sent to Iran are now funding Iran's surrogates in Yeman and Syria.  Seems like missile development also continues.  I don't feel any safer with that deal and a lot of people don't.  That's another issue. 

 

Trump and his team know what they want. Kim knows what he wants and has a good idea of what Trump wants. We don't know what exactly what Kim wants. That we need to find out. Kim has already brought up denuclearization of the peninsula and acknowledged that joint military exercises in the south will continue. Maybe it's all a ploy on Kim's part to make such an invitation but the only way to find out is to meet. It does not degrade the USA or Trump to do so.  They can either agree on something or they can't.  This is not the same as dealing with Iran as Kim's economy is on the brink of bankruptcy according to many reports. The sanctions just might be putting the squeeze on the DPRK. Trump may have a big ego, but is not going to pay a bribe to make a deal to look good.

 

 

[heybruce]

13 hours ago, Trouble said:

I disagree with you on Trump meeting Kim only to sign the "deal" at the end.  

 

The rest of your post is exactly the reason Trump should not wait. Who needs a bunch of useless diplomats and negotiators taking years to get a deal and giving away the farm to do so. Part of the problem with the Iran negotiations was that so many Europeans were so anxious to get in bed with the Iranians to make money they exerted pressure on their governments.  Money does talk.  Obama's team wanted something to hold in the air as some kind of successful achievement.  That billions of dollars sent to Iran are now funding Iran's surrogates in Yeman and Syria.  Seems like missile development also continues.  I don't feel any safer with that deal and a lot of people don't.  That's another issue. 

 

Trump and his team know what they want. Kim knows what he wants and has a good idea of what Trump wants. We don't know what exactly what Kim wants. That we need to find out. Kim has already brought up denuclearization of the peninsula and acknowledged that joint military exercises in the south will continue. Maybe it's all a ploy on Kim's part to make such an invitation but the only way to find out is to meet. It does not degrade the USA or Trump to do so.  They can either agree on something or they can't.  This is not the same as dealing with Iran as Kim's economy is on the brink of bankruptcy according to many reports. The sanctions just might be putting the squeeze on the DPRK. Trump may have a big ego, but is not going to pay a bribe to make a deal to look good.

 

" Who needs a bunch of useless diplomats and negotiators taking years to get a deal and giving away the farm to do so. "

 

Trump is so clueless and eager for positive headlines he will give away the farm just to say he made a deal.  Remember North Korea has reneged on every nuclear agreement it has entered into.   This deal needs to be structured in a manner such that Kim gets nothing until verified, non-reversible steps have been taken to eliminate his nuclear program.  

 

"Part of the problem with the Iran negotiations was that so many Europeans were so anxious to get in bed with the Iranians to make money they exerted pressure on their governments."

 

Off-topic, but the European sanctions were what brought Iran to the negotiating table.  The deal was never just between the US and Iran, there was no way to keep Europe out of it.  Similarly, the North Korea sanctions that have any impact are imposed by China and Russia.  Kim Jong-un will attempt to portray the US as being unreasonable (an easy thing to do with Trump) in an effort to get sanctions relieved.

 

"Trump may have a big ego, but is not going to pay a bribe to make a deal to look good."

 

Really?  He's willing to waste billions of taxpayer dollars to build an ineffective wall "to look good".  Although in this case I think it's more likely that short-attention span Trump will give away security alliances in order to look good.

[stevenl]

14 hours ago, Trouble said:

I disagree with you on Trump meeting Kim only to sign the "deal" at the end.  

 

The rest of your post is exactly the reason Trump should not wait. Who needs a bunch of useless diplomats and negotiators taking years to get a deal and giving away the farm to do so. Part of the problem with the Iran negotiations was that so many Europeans were so anxious to get in bed with the Iranians to make money they exerted pressure on their governments.  Money does talk.  Obama's team wanted something to hold in the air as some kind of successful achievement.  That billions of dollars sent to Iran are now funding Iran's surrogates in Yeman and Syria.  Seems like missile development also continues.  I don't feel any safer with that deal and a lot of people don't.  That's another issue. 

 

Trump and his team know what they want. Kim knows what he wants and has a good idea of what Trump wants. We don't know what exactly what Kim wants. That we need to find out. Kim has already brought up denuclearization of the peninsula and acknowledged that joint military exercises in the south will continue. Maybe it's all a ploy on Kim's part to make such an invitation but the only way to find out is to meet. It does not degrade the USA or Trump to do so.  They can either agree on something or they can't.  This is not the same as dealing with Iran as Kim's economy is on the brink of bankruptcy according to many reports. The sanctions just might be putting the squeeze on the DPRK. Trump may have a big ego, but is not going to pay a bribe to make a deal to look good.

 

 

What billions of dollars, you mean Iran's own money?

Trump and his team know what they want. No, they don't, and on top of that Trump will likely want something different from his team, and will flipflop on what he wants many times.

[Srikcir]

2 hours ago, heybruce said:

This deal needs to be structured in a manner such that Kim gets nothing until verified, non-reversible steps have been taken to eliminate his nuclear program.  

Again Trump has rushed to concessions.

Trump said on Twitter, "North Korea has not conducted a Missile Test since November 28, 2017 and has promised not to do so through our meetings. I believe they will honor that commitment!"

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/3/10/17104642/trump-north-korea-missile-test

So no 'trust but verify?'

 

 

[tifino]

they need to fix old wounds, then maybe there could be a way forward

 

Resolve the Armistice!

 

Why not make the 'end of the war' a focus subject for talks?

 

and add the 'return of war dead' another one

 

 

Vietnam healed over.

 

US got off their bums and resolved Cuba.

 

NK is simply next...

[heybruce]

3 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Again Trump has rushed to concessions.

Trump said on Twitter, "North Korea has not conducted a Missile Test since November 28, 2017 and has promised not to do so through our meetings. I believe they will honor that commitment!"

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/3/10/17104642/trump-north-korea-missile-test

So no 'trust but verify?'

The fact that he believes Kim Jong-un is scary.  It shows he's totally ignorant about North Korea's long history of breaking deals.

[Jingthing]

3 minutes ago, heybruce said:

The fact that he believes Kim Jong-un is scary.  It shows he's totally ignorant about North Korea's long history of breaking deals.

Yeah, reminds me of when he said he believed Putin when Putin told him the Russians didn't interfere in the U.S. election and then said, he believed him, and asking him another time would hurt his feelings. If that's a great negotiator, I'm Elvis Presley. 

It's fully confirmed that "trump" doesn't read and doesn't prepare well for things. Basically, he's not qualified for such a meeting and will never do the work to get up to speed because it BORES him.

 

 You can be sure Kim will be prepared. 

Edited March 11, 2018 by Jingthing

[Credo]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Yeah, reminds me of when he said he believed Putin when Putin told him the Russians didn't interfere in the U.S. election and then said, he believed him, and asking him another time would hurt his feelings. If that's a great negotiator, I'm Elvis Presley. 

It's fully confirmed that "trump" doesn't read and doesn't prepare well for things. Basically, he's not qualified for such a meeting and will never do the work to get up to speed because it BORES him.

 

 You can be sure Kim will be prepared. 

It's not that he doesn't read; it's that he doesn't LISTEN.

[Jingthing]

6 minutes ago, Credo said:

It's not that he doesn't read; it's that he doesn't LISTEN.

He does listen. To the last person he's talked to. Then five minutes later, the next person. It's hard to imagine someone more unfit to be president. 

[Credo]

1 hour ago, Credo said:

It's not that he doesn't read; it's that he doesn't LISTEN.

Let me rephrase, he doesn't listen to the people he should listen to.   White noise does not constitute listening, IMO.   

[Srikcir]

13 hours ago, Credo said:

Let me rephrase, he doesn't listen to the people he should listen to.   

And the people he should be listening to are Gone or not yet Hired.

President Donald Trump bemoaned the personnel shortages at the State Department on Sunday as his administration readies for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, charging Democrats with slow-walking nominees.

 

"The Democrats continue to Obstruct the confirmation of hundreds of good and talented people who are needed to run our government...A record in U.S. history. State Department, Ambassadors and many others are being slow walked. Senate must approve NOW!"

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/11/politics/trump-state-department-shortages/index.html

Of course the Republicans have the majority vote in the Senate, Democrats have no power to block any Trump nominee. Trump did however, very quickly fire Obama appointees without waiting to get Senate confirmation for replacements.

 

Trump has further crippled the State Department with a 30% budget reduction. His nationalistic attitudes and politicalization of the Department has driven out many experienced personnel and discouraged qualified people to apply.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/17/magazine/rex-tillerson-and-the-unraveling-of-the-state-department.html

Just recently Trump lost the Department's expert on North Korean affairs and a notable expert on South Korea affairs. He has no ambassador to South Korea!

 

[mrwebb8825]

You lot must be among the unemployed being slow walked. Bring your crystal balls to the interview. Personally, the rally I watched LIVE, he made mention of the crap deals put forth by his predecessors AND stated, "Let's see what happens", "Let's see if he keeps his word", referring to no more progression on missiles, plutonium, bombs, etc.

[heybruce]

6 hours ago, mrwebb8825 said:

You lot must be among the unemployed being slow walked. Bring your crystal balls to the interview. Personally, the rally I watched LIVE, he made mention of the crap deals put forth by his predecessors AND stated, "Let's see what happens", "Let's see if he keeps his word", referring to no more progression on missiles, plutonium, bombs, etc.

You must have reading comprehension problems.  The contributors to this topic have made it clear that they doubt Trump's ability to negotiate successfully, his willingness to do the work to prepare for successful negotiations, and whether his priority will be a good deal for the US and its allies or just some impressive headlines.

[Skywalker69]

The "Bad Haircut Summit."

[mrwebb8825]

14 hours ago, heybruce said:

You must have reading comprehension problems.  The contributors to this topic have made it clear that they doubt Trump's ability to negotiate successfully, his willingness to do the work to prepare for successful negotiations, and whether his priority will be a good deal for the US and its allies or just some impressive headlines.

I can read just fine as well as understand what was written. The contributors to this topic are mostly haters of anything that isn't them. I believe you'll find that he will do just fine in his meeting. He seems to be the only 1 on capitol hill who understands that there are NO low level diplomats under Kim and the "norm" just will not work. He's taking steps to prepare for that fact even as those around him are confused about how to do it. Step 1, shit-can Tillerson.

[heybruce]

39 minutes ago, mrwebb8825 said:

I can read just fine as well as understand what was written. The contributors to this topic are mostly haters of anything that isn't them. I believe you'll find that he will do just fine in his meeting. He seems to be the only 1 on capitol hill who understands that there are NO low level diplomats under Kim and the "norm" just will not work. He's taking steps to prepare for that fact even as those around him are confused about how to do it. Step 1, shit-can Tillerson.

So you think Trump, the man who doesn't read, doesn't study, has the President's Daily Brief briefed orally instead of presented in writing https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/breaking-with-tradition-trump-skips-presidents-written-intelligence-report-for-oral-briefings/2018/02/09/b7ba569e-0c52-11e8-95a5-c396801049ef_story.html?utm_term=.55f2dc435f73 , believes that Korea used to be part of China https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/breaking-with-tradition-trump-skips-presidents-written-intelligence-report-for-oral-briefings/2018/02/09/b7ba569e-0c52-11e8-95a5-c396801049ef_story.html?utm_term=.55f2dc435f73 , didn't know what the nuclear triad is (and maybe still doesn't) https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2015/12/17/what-is-nuclear-triad-debate-sot.cnn , and discussed nuclear issues with Putin without knowing details of the START treaty https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-putin/exclusive-in-call-with-putin-trump-denounced-obama-era-nuclear-arms-treaty-sources-idUSKBN15O2A5 , will be prepared to negotiate a good deal on the nuclear issue with North Korea?

 

Let's agree to disagree.

[mrwebb8825]

6 minutes ago, heybruce said:

So you think Trump, the man who doesn't read, doesn't study, has the President's Daily Brief briefed orally instead of presented in writing https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/breaking-with-tradition-trump-skips-presidents-written-intelligence-report-for-oral-briefings/2018/02/09/b7ba569e-0c52-11e8-95a5-c396801049ef_story.html?utm_term=.55f2dc435f73 , believes that Korea used to be part of China https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/breaking-with-tradition-trump-skips-presidents-written-intelligence-report-for-oral-briefings/2018/02/09/b7ba569e-0c52-11e8-95a5-c396801049ef_story.html?utm_term=.55f2dc435f73 , didn't know what the nuclear triad is (and maybe still doesn't) https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2015/12/17/what-is-nuclear-triad-debate-sot.cnn , and discussed nuclear issues with Putin without knowing details of the START treaty https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-putin/exclusive-in-call-with-putin-trump-denounced-obama-era-nuclear-arms-treaty-sources-idUSKBN15O2A5 , will be prepared to negotiate a good deal on the nuclear issue with North Korea?

 

Let's agree to disagree.

The Post and CNN-they never report falsehoods. 

[heybruce]

25 minutes ago, mrwebb8825 said:

The Post and CNN-they never report falsehoods. 

Unlike Trump, who so lies routinely I'm not sure he's aware he's doing it.

 

However, if you find factual errors in any of the sources I used, feel free to point them out.  I'll be happy to identify a few of Trumps lies, but no one has time to attempt a comprehensive list.

[Jingthing]

27 minutes ago, mrwebb8825 said:

The Post and CNN-they never report falsehoods. 

They do sometimes but when they do, they print retractions later. Unlike "trump." More lies than any president ever. No shame about it. That's what you get when you elect a corrupt con man. 

[mrwebb8825]

2 hours ago, Jingthing said:

They do sometimes but when they do, they print retractions later. Unlike "trump." More lies than any president ever. No shame about it. That's what you get when you elect a corrupt con man. 

That "corrupt con-man" has done more for the country in 1 year than any other previous "elected con-man" did during their entire time in office yet the haters still mumble and grumble even as they cash their larger paychecks.

Just seems like a lot of people on here would berate the official handing them their lottery winning for having mismatched socks.

I hope you have good doctors for high-blood pressure and stomach ulcers 'cause President Trump will be helping you and the rest of the country for the next 7 years. 

[Jingthing]

1 minute ago, mrwebb8825 said:

That "corrupt con-man" has done more for the country in 1 year than any other previous "elected con-man" did during their entire time in office yet the haters still mumble and grumble even as they cash their larger paychecks.

Just seems like a lot of people on here would berate the official handing them their lottery winning for having mismatched socks.

I hope you have good doctors for high-blood pressure and stomach ulcers 'cause President Trump will be helping you and the rest of the country for the next 7 years. 

I've got Fox "News" for "trump" propaganda. The voters in Pittsburgh get the reality now. Some people never will. 

[heybruce]

14 minutes ago, mrwebb8825 said:

That "corrupt con-man" has done more for the country in 1 year than any other previous "elected con-man" did during their entire time in office yet the haters still mumble and grumble even as they cash their larger paychecks.

Just seems like a lot of people on here would berate the official handing them their lottery winning for having mismatched socks.

I hope you have good doctors for high-blood pressure and stomach ulcers 'cause President Trump will be helping you and the rest of the country for the next 7 years. 

More for the country in one year?  A bad Supreme Court Justice, tax cuts leading to trillion dollar deficits, and the continuation of Obama policies in the Middle East that has degraded ISIS.  His only significant "accomplishment" is the continuation of the Obama recovery, which he hasn't derailed, yet.

[Morch]

9 hours ago, heybruce said:

So you think Trump, the man who doesn't read, doesn't study, has the President's Daily Brief briefed orally instead of presented in writing https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/breaking-with-tradition-trump-skips-presidents-written-intelligence-report-for-oral-briefings/2018/02/09/b7ba569e-0c52-11e8-95a5-c396801049ef_story.html?utm_term=.55f2dc435f73 , believes that Korea used to be part of China https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/breaking-with-tradition-trump-skips-presidents-written-intelligence-report-for-oral-briefings/2018/02/09/b7ba569e-0c52-11e8-95a5-c396801049ef_story.html?utm_term=.55f2dc435f73 , didn't know what the nuclear triad is (and maybe still doesn't) https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2015/12/17/what-is-nuclear-triad-debate-sot.cnn , and discussed nuclear issues with Putin without knowing details of the START treaty https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-putin/exclusive-in-call-with-putin-trump-denounced-obama-era-nuclear-arms-treaty-sources-idUSKBN15O2A5 , will be prepared to negotiate a good deal on the nuclear issue with North Korea?

 

Let's agree to disagree.

 

Different president, but still works...