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[webfact]

Washington prepares to bring North Koreans to U.S. for talks - report

REUTERS

 

FILE PHOTO - A North Korean flag flies on a mast at the Permanent Mission of North Korea in Geneva October 2, 2014. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Preparations are under way to bring senior North Korean officials to the United States for talks with former U.S. officials, the first such meeting in more than five years, The Washington Post reported on Sunday.

 

The talks would be the clearest indication yet that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wants to communicate with the new Trump administration.

 

Planning for the "Track 1.5 talks" is still in a preparatory stage, the Post reported, citing multiple people with knowledge of the arrangements.

 

That name, reflecting planned contact between former U.S. officials and current North Korean ones, is a reference to what are known as "Track 2" talks involving former officials on both sides.

 

The U.S. State Department has not yet approved the North Koreans' visas for the talks, the newspaper said.

 

A State Department spokesman commented to Reuters only that Track 2 meetings "routinely" take place on a variety of topics around the world and occur independent of the U.S. government.

 

A White House official commented that the U.S. government had no plans to meet with North Korea.

 

North Korea's testing of an intermediate-range ballistic missile drew international condemnation last week. President Donald Trump told a news conference after the test: Obviously North Korea is a big, big problem and we will deal with that very strongly."

 

(Reporting by Jeff Mason, Idrees Ali and Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-02-20

[boomerangutang]

           I'm in favor of discussions.  However, I have zero confidence in Trump.  He's not wise, he doesn't know much about international affairs, he keeps asking about using N weapons ("if we've got 'em, why can't we use them?"), he's quick to anger, quick to retribution/recriminations, he can't even shake hands without annoying the other person.   Note, Canada's Trudeau wouldn't even shake Trump's hand when it was extended.  Trudeau doesn't want to be jerked around and humiliated like a marionette.   

 

         Trump fans will tell us something like this:  don't worry about Trump's idiocy, he's got lots of smart people around him to soften the hard edges of his edicts.   In essense, they're admitting Trump is an inept dunce, and that his 'advisers' will do things sensibly.   .....like who, Bannon?   Yea, great.

[ddavidovsky]

There comes a point when people get bored with a situation and deliberately precipitate a crisis to shake things up - even a large-scale war. It's human nature, and that is why evolution selects for enough people in the world like Trump. That point seems to be coming.

[boomerangutang]

43 minutes ago, ddavidovsky said:

There comes a point when people get bored with a situation and deliberately precipitate a crisis to shake things up - even a large-scale war. It's human nature, and that is why evolution selects for enough people in the world like Trump. That point seems to be coming.

         Not sure about 'bored', but the premise is right.  Trump knows that one or more wars will gain him popularity.  Trump relishes popularity, so.......

 

       He and his family are probably already investing heavily in Raytheon, Northrup, Boeing and other weapons makers.  

[elgordo38]

This is how negotiations will go a blast from the past. Ship us oil and food and give us an apology and we will give up our nuclear ambitions. OK done deal (like the past)  As the ships are unloaded in North Korea and six months passes the US will be told they broke the agreement in some stupid manner and all bets are off and nuclear testing is back on till the next time the US falls for this HS

[Kabula]

I would be surprised if they showed up and if they did I suspect it would be a very dysfunctional meeting with their brain washed disorders and suggested attitudes of the west.

[muffy]

Trump doesn't need the peanuts you talk about . Only peasants are upset about the TRUMP empire . He is very wealthy so get over it and stop being jealous .

Edited February 20, 2017 by muffy

[ilostmypassword]

12 minutes ago, muffy said:

Trump doesn't need the peanuts you talk about . Only peasants are upset about the TRUMP empire . He is very wealthy so get over it and stop being jealous .

Apparently, not wealthy enough since Trump refuses to stop doing business with all sorts of dubious characters. After 10 years of waiting, China gives Trump his trademark. And Trump softens his words against China. What did happen to Trump's promise to label China a currency manipulator on his first day in office?

[elgordo38]

1 hour ago, Kabula said:

I would be surprised if they showed up and if they did I suspect it would be a very dysfunctional meeting with their brain washed disorders and suggested attitudes of the west.

I am sure they will be sitting in Kim's special theater for weeks if not months studying cultural movies to prepare them. Its the usual we are trying HS from NK to try and provoke world sympathy for the cause. Knocking off his half brother did not sit to well with the rest of the world.

[Grouse]

After Farage and Teresa May, nobody else fancied a meeting. Don't tell me the North Korean's want a trade deal as well!

[boomerangutang]

        How can any foreign government trust anything Trump promises?  He changes ideas hour by hour. Even when caught in a lie, he's incapable of admitting he made a mistake.  Like when the reporter challenged him on voting specs.  Thailand's Thaksin is like Trump on that (can't admit mistakes), and many other levels.  Like what happened with Thaksin, Trump could compel the US military to stage its first-ever coup d'etat.

[Srikcir]

12 hours ago, webfact said:

That name, reflecting planned contact between former U.S. officials and current North Korean ones

 

12 hours ago, webfact said:

A White House official commented that the U.S. government had no plans to meet with North Korea.

 

12 hours ago, webfact said:

Track 2 meetings "routinely" take place on a variety of topics around the world and occur independent of the U.S. government.

Please note. Neither Trump nor his government is involved (whether Trump tweets about it is another issue). There is no law that prevents American citizens from meeting with foreign officials. Conversely, there can be no agreement made by the participants that can bind the US government.

[Dumbastheycome]

"Bring"? Not   "invite", "welcome", etc   for  "talks" ? 

Very strange  headline!

[Credo]

Oh this will be a real conundrum if they all apply for asylum.   

[boomerangutang]

10 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Please note. Neither Trump nor his government is involved (whether Trump tweets about it is another issue). There is no law that prevents American citizens from meeting with foreign officials. Conversely, there can be no agreement made by the participants that can bind the US government.

Srikcir opines; "There is no law that prevents American citizens from meeting with foreign officials."

 

If you add "......in an official capacity" then it is unlawful.  But that rule applies to Flynn speaking with the Russian ambassador.  I don't think it applies to the OP re; N.Korea.

[IAMHERE]

12 hours ago, Srikcir said:

 

 

Please note. Neither Trump nor his government is involved (whether Trump tweets about it is another issue). There is no law that prevents American citizens from meeting with foreign officials. Conversely, there can be no agreement made by the participants that can bind the US government.

Tell that to General Flynn, former presidential security advisor that was fired for talking to the Russians.

 

Any North Korean that is brave enough to come to America and return to North Korean is just plain crazy or stupid; they will all be killed when the go back.

[Dumbastheycome]

Aha!  So it's  all  just talk then !