Despite what some may say, the Singapore Summit was success. Donald Trump made history as the first sitting US president to talk to the North Korean leadership. There is nothing wrong with dialogue, especially if it can result in peace. Considering North Korea actually has nukes now, there is no better time. Past administrations should not have let them get this far but what can you do. Trump has had some successes with North Korea such as securing the release of American hostages. Holding this summit was a bold move after months of harsh rhetoric between the two leaders. Seeing our flags side by side was awing.
The summit was a step towards peace and prosperity. Donald Trump gave no concessions and Kim Jong Un reaffirmed his commitment toward denuclearization. The world watched anxiously and to their surprise Trump and Kim got along and signed a deal. They will continue to talk in the future.
The deal had four main points. The US and DPRK will establish a new relationship. Both nations will seek stability on the Korean Peninsula and commit to peace. North Korea will commit to denuclearize. The details of which are to come and lastly the North Koreans will help return American remains from the Korean War. No sanctions will be lifted as of now, but if they keep their word North Korea is poised to become a rich country in the future. American and Chinese investment would pour in. Trump also announced American military exercises there will be halted to promote goodwill. To those who say this was a concession, North Korea already knows the military might of the US and its allies, and that is part of why they came to the table. We also save money.
Many on the left criticize Trump for his earlier name calling and brandishing the American nuclear arsenal on Twitter. They do not realize that this is exactly what brought Kim to the table, and cried nuclear war prematurely. Kim wants one thing, regime stability and has also seen the prosperity of the West. It was the perfect combination. Trump also used the help of key allies like South Korea, Japan, and China honing his diplomacy skills. The one regret I have is that Trump did not push on human rights abuses in North Korea, but hopefully those will change once we start lowering sanctions.
While it is not certain what exactly will result from this single talk, one thing can be sure, it opened up a whole new level of dialogue. A more prosperous and safe world will most likely result to the credit of Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un. It appears the North Koreans are ready for change as seen by the Olympics, hostage releases, and this summit but the United States will remain vigilant.
For reference:
https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/12/politics/read-full-text-of-trump-kim-signed-statement/index.html
