The US president yesterday pulled the plug on planned meeting with tyrant

Not many ardent observers of international relations will put too much blame on the US president for cancelling his planned meeting with Kim Jong-un of North Korea.  It was fairly easy to see that only South Korea was overtly optimistic about and almost desperate for the summit to take place.





China, Japan and North Korea all appeared to be wary of going ahead with the summit, especially with the pace things were moving.

It is as well then that the Americans are sure of what they are getting themselves into.  Mr Trump had blamed China for souring relations between Pyongyang and Washington.  However, it is difficult to understand what the Chinese are scared of.  Though, Lu Kang, a spokesman for China's foreign ministry, said that the US and North Korea should show patience and meet each other halfway.





Then lately, there is the bellicosity of some senior North Korean officials towards the US. The US president pointedly referred to the ''tremendous anger and open hostility'' in North Korea's statement about Mike Pence, the US vice-president.

Lastly, Japan had always been sceptical about the US having dialogue with North Korea. It was therefore hardly surprising that, Shinzo Abe, the prime minister, said that Japan supported the decision to cancel the summit.