According to the New York Times: “Trump Pulls Out of North Korea Summit Meeting with Kim Jong-un.”
President Trump has notified Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, that he has canceled their much-anticipated meeting to discuss steps toward denuclearization and peace because of recent “tremendous anger and open hostility” by Pyongyang toward members of his administration.
In a letter dated Thursday to Mr. Kim, the American president left open the possibility that the two could meet in the future. But hours later, Mr. Trump warned that the United States and its allies are prepared to respond should “foolish or reckless acts be taken by North Korea.”
“I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting,” Mr. Trump wrote in the letter, referring to the summit that had been set for June 12 in Singapore.
But, he added, “You talk about your nuclear capabilities, but ours are so massive and powerful that I pray to God they will never have to be used.”
Here is the full text of the letter released today by the White House to Kim Jung-Un:
His Excellency
Kim Jong Un
Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
PyongyangDear Mr. Chairman:
We greatly appreciate your time, patience, and effort with respect to our recent negotiations and discussions relative to a summit long sought by both parties, which was scheduled to take place on June 12 in Singapore. We were informed that the meeting was requested by North Korea, but that to us is totally irrelevant. I was very much looking forward to being there with you. Sadly, based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting. Therefore, please let this letter serve to represent that the Singapore summit, for the good of both parties, but to the detriment of the world, will not take place. You talk about your nuclear capabilities, but ours are so massive and powerful that I pray to God they will never have to be used.
I felt a wonderful dialogue was building up between you and me, and ultimately, it is only that dialogue that matters. Some day, I look very much forward to meeting you. In the meantime, I want to thank you for the release of the hostages who are now home with their families. That was a beautiful gesture and was very much appreciated.
If you change your mind having to do with this most important summit, please do not hesitate to call me or write. The world, and North Korea in particular, has lost a great opportunity for lasting peace and great prosperity and wealth. This missed opportunity is a truly sad moment in history.
Sincerely yours,
Donald J. Trump
President of the United States of America
The White House letter was released shortly after a Thursday North Korean press conference where the DPRK demonstrated their willingness to come to the table by destroying a nuclear tunnel site.
North Korea appeared to destroy at least three nuclear tunnels, observation buildings, a metal foundry and living quarters at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site on Thursday, in a process observed by invited international journalists. A CNN crew at the remote mountain site in the country's north witnessed explosions at nuclear tunnels 2, 3 and 4, from observation decks about 500 meters away. They were among two dozen journalists invited into the country to observe the apparent destruction of the site.
In scathing statements earlier Thursday, Choe Son Hui, a vice-minister in the North Korean Foreign Ministry, had called US Vice President Mike Pence a "political dummy" and warned that North Korea's leadership could reconsider the planned summit. "Whether the US will meet us at a meeting room or encounter us at nuclear-to-nuclear showdown is entirely dependent upon the decision and behavior of the United States," Choe said.
News of the canceled summit reached journalists on the train as they were still on their way back from Punggye-ri to the North Korean coastal city of Wonsan, an 11-hour journey, prompting a sense of shock. North Korean officials traveling with them did not give an official comment but immediately got up to make phone calls relaying the news to the top, amid an awkward and uncomfortable atmosphere.
Specifically, the use of the phrase “nuclear showdown” was unacceptable to the administration.
Reading over the content, composition, and “diplomacy” comprising the letter the White House released today, I think the president* can forget about both the Nobel Peace Prize and the Pulitzer. Perhaps, if he keeps upping the ante, he might still be in the running for a Nebula Award for “Best Dystopian Post-Apocolyptic Short Fiction.”
