Trump says South Korea will not lift North Korea sanctions without U.S. approval

[sanemax]

Just now, Bluespunk said:

South Korea could act in any manner it wishes regarding sanctions. 

If it wishes to lift them on their part, that is their decision. 

They do not need trump’s approval to do so. 

Yes, they could do , BUT they will not do it .

They will face sanctions themselves, if they decide to do so .

[Bluespunk]

1 minute ago, sanemax said:

Yes, they could do , BUT they will not do it .

They will face sanctions themselves, if they decide to do so .

That is their decision to make. 

 

And it is one they can make without trumps approval. 

[Srikcir]

6 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

That is their decision to make. 

 

And it is one they can make without trumps approval. 

I think that Moon has to some degree been acting more within South Korea's sovereign interests than the US interests in his meetings with Kim. Since the Trump-Kim summit, Moon has met with Kim - what? - 3 to 4 times now while Trump zero. And with each meeting there has been some quid pro quo concessions. Always immediately followed it seems by a Trump declaration that of course he approved in advance those concessions. More like the tail (Moon) wagging the dog (Trump).

Denuclearization of the Korean peninsula has been largely Trump's goal and not Moon's. If Kim desires a unified Korea, nuclear missiles are counterproductive. But projection of US power into the region would be challenged and boost China's own regional security. US security concerns may not be one-for-one South Korea's security concerns. 

If Kim agrees to a peace deal with Moon with no preconditions except to follow a closer economic integration between the two nations, will Moon reject it if Trump simply says "No?" because the US doesn't get anything out of the deal?

[Morch]

And some posters' strong opinions regarding SK's level of independence on this matter notwithstanding....

 

South Korea Backtracks on Easing Sanctions After Trump Comment

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/11/world/asia/south-korea-north-sanctions-trump.html