President’s diplomatic approach to North Korea is artful
The North Korean political and military Rubik’s Cube has confounded Democratic and Republican administrations for 70 years. President Donald Trump’s “peace through strength” approach has achieved more tangible results in the past two years than all the other efforts combined.
While maintaining strategic and tactical pressure, he has developed relationships and initiated meaningful dialogue with the world’s most insular nation and dictator. In short, our president has taken us from nuclear brinkmanship to a period of greater regional stability and the potential for breakthrough on the Korean Peninsula.
Although the president’s second summit meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un ended without denuclearization, Trump’s courageous decision to walk away from negotiations rather than accept Kim’s demand for sanctions reliefs showed that he will not make the same mistake as his predecessors by offering unreciprocated concessions to the rogue state.
Trump said he would “rather do it right than do it fast.” And he locked in gains made from the previous summit.
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While many establishment politicians and fake-news journalists downplay that last summit, Trump’s first meeting with Kim achieved important strategic objectives.
Kim halted missile testing, dismantled North Korea’s main nuclear testing site, concluded a tentative peace agreement with South Korea, released three American hostages, and returned the remains of American troops killed in the Korean War.
In exchange, Trump made limited, reversible concessions such as suspending U.S.-South Korea military exercises and postponing new sanctions.
Trump is on the cusp of one of the most significant diplomatic achievements in recent history.
His predecessors essentially tried to bribe North Korea with sanctions relief and humanitarian aid. It didn’t work. Trump’s unconventional diplomacy ensures that no matter what, the North Korean regime won’t walk away with any free handouts.
President Trump’s savvy diplomatic approach to the perplexing North Korean dilemma is promising, even artful. Let’s give it a chance, America.
Retired Army Major General Bob Dees commanded along the Demilitarized Zone in South Korea.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: President’s diplomatic approach to North Korea is artful
