Its the first time he's left N. Korea since taking over. Whats it all mean? Market ramifications? _________________________________ Kim Jong Un made a surprise visit to Beijing on his first known trip outside North Korea since taking power in 2011, three people with knowledge of the visit said. Further details of his trip, including how long Kim would stay and who he would meet, were not immediately available. The people asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the information. Speculation about a possible visit by a high-ranking North Korean official circulated around the Chinese capital Monday, after Japan’s Kyodo News reported that a special train may have carried Kim through the northeastern border city of Dandong. Nippon TV showed footage of a train arriving Monday in Beijing that looked similar to one used by Kim’s father, Kim Jong Il, to visit the country shortly before his death in 2011. The unannounced visit is the latest in series of diplomatic power plays in Asia as U.S. President Donald Trump’s battle to lower the U.S. trade deficit becomes entangled with his effort to get Kim to give up his nuclear weapons. Chinese President Xi Jinping has found himself preparing for a trade war with Trump even after supporting progressive rounds of United Nations sanctions against the Kim regime. The U.S. appears to have had no advance knowledge of Kim’s visit. White House Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah told reporters on Monday that he couldn’t confirm reports of the trip and “we don’t know if they’re necessarily true.” A State Department spokesman, Julia Mason, responded to questions about the report with a single sentence: “We’d refer you to the Chinese.” “What I’ll just state, though, is that where we are with North Korea is in a better place than we used to be because the president’s maximum pressure campaign in conjunction with dozens of countries around the world has paid dividends and brought the North Koreans to the table,” Shah said. ‘Doesn’t Want to be Left Out’ “If this meeting is confirmed, it may actually be more productive than a photo op between Trump and Kim in a few weeks,” said Melissa Hanham, a researcher at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, in Monterey, California. “North Korea is often perceived as an ungrateful junior brother, but recent tensions and increased nuclear and missile capabilities mean China’s taking this seriously and doesn’t want to be left out of the process.” Trump decided earlier this month to grant an unprecedented meeting to the North Korean leader, after South Korean officials said Kim was willing to discuss giving up his nuclear weapons program. North Korea’s official media have yet to confirm the summit, and details on when and where it will happen are still being worked out. “Presumably, part of what’s on the agenda is the Chinese want a sense of what Kim expects or is seeking in the meeting with the U.S., if it ever occurs, as well as their attempt, of course, to influence it,” Jacques deLisle, who teaches Chinese law and politics at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, said in an interview. Strained Ties Kim’s delay in visiting China since his ascension as North Korea’s leader seven years ago reflects “strains in that relationship,” deLisle said. “China has grown more frustrated with North Korea over the years especially under Kim the younger, Kim Jong Un.” Ties between China and North Korea, who fought together against South Korean and UN forces during the Korean War, have been strained as China backed sanctions crimping the country’s energy imports and sources of foreign cash. While China opposes North Korea’s nuclear weapons, it also doesn’t want to see Kim’s regime collapse or war break out on the Korean Peninsula. Any instability could lead to a refugee crisis or potentially U.S. troops on its border. “There are precedents for the North Koreans going to Beijing to talk about what they should do next,” James Edward Hoare, associate fellow of Chatham House and a former U.K. diplomat to Pyongyang, said in an interview. “If it’s true it’s probably to ask advice on how they should handle a meeting with the Americans.” Kim was expected to meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in near their shared border next month, in a prelude to the potential summit with Trump. Diplomats from the U.S., North Korea and its neighbors have since been shuttling across the globe to prepare for the summits. — With assistance by Keith Zhai, Justin Sink, and Toluse Olorunnipa
Wow. This could be a win-win-win-win sitituation for the parties concerned, including consumers and politicians. North Korea, China, United States, and US allies will benefit from reduced geopolitical tensions and a sustainable trade agreement. In addition, as North Korea starts to develop and build their infrastructure, it should lead to additional economic opportunities for everyone. This is damn exciting news and I see it as a cause for optimism. Hell, maybe Russia will want to be a part of these developments and may be willing to play nice. Trump’s relative restraint with Russia may end up paying some big dividends. Viva La Trump!
Trump literally means fart to his mother's people, Viva .. yeah the world will be living with the stink for a while. Open a window Canada.
You seem more annoyed at potential positive geopolitical developments than Rachel Maddow would be having labor pains!
Propaganda is all this speculation is right now. With great deception comes a great lets see in five years. "information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view." We were not born yesterday, at 30, you are a lot closer. Your comment about Maddow is just low life, she should be pregnant and barefoot because she disagrees with you or something? Taliban would be proud.
The talk is a lot more positive now than before. Before, Trump was talking about fire and fury and trade tensions seemed to be escalating. Now there’s talk of Trump meeting Kim and possible resolution of some trade issues. Sometimes talk is better than action when action can’t be easily taken back. Trump obviously still has to prove himself on these recent issues and hopefully, we will see results in the next few months or so. You and RRY16 seem to have certain fixations. RRY16 has made 4 or 5 comments regarding my girlfriend and you have made a similar number of comments on my age. At best, it is a sign of lack of focus. Let’s focus on the issues rather than our opponent’s “handicaps” or living situations. I see Rachel Maddow as an attractive, face-making comedian. I understand she is lesbien and for whatever reason, she popped into my head when writing the post. I tried to imagine what would annoy Rachel the most and what kind of whining faces she would make. My intention was to inject a little humor into my post. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to insult someone if they have it coming. Also willing to take insults when I deserve it, which is fairly frequently. How about you go buy yourself an ice cream cone, Mr. Fragile? You’ll feel better. How’s that for an insult? Edit: I’ve pissed you off in your other thread. Will stoo posting there. Sorry for my insensitive comment there.
In my younger days I was a semi-pro pool player when backpacking the world (an honest shark, I'd tell people straight out I made a living taking money from Dunning-Kruger affected players, the term was not around then but in the modern parlance). I don't think anything is hopeful or not until the black drops several times.
I knew a pool hustler. He was subtle and knew the physcology to maximize his winnings. He would make his “medium difficultly” shot, but would leave himself with a bad lay. Of he would just miss a “hard” shot, but leave his opponent with a great lay. He usually left his opponents muttering how lucky he was. He travelled as well, fearing his opponents would eventually catch on and word about him being a pool shark would spread. I hear you on Trump. It has to be “signed, sealed, and delivered” for it to have a chance to be real. Still, the market moves on anticipation...
The market moves when the OPEC cleaning lady bangs off a desk. Trump picked N-K because he reckoned it was an easy win, going back to the 90s he has talked about it. In one interview he recommended a strike on their nuclear facility. The interviewer pointed out that the most senior military heads had ruled that out because of the probability of radiation reaching Seoul 35miles from the border. It was obvious he had not thought of that and he blustered on hardly skipping a beat, implying that the generals probably did not know as much as him perhaps. Trump has survived as he has by bluffing people and publicised the few deals that have worked out of many failures. He is not the man you want for a certain result, you would never let him operate on you I'd expect? There are surgeons who are 'great' because they only take 'interesting' cases, ones they believe they have a chance with. If they had to take all comers, they would not be so 'great'. Anyway, I'm off to get a new visa this morning. Before they deport me to Sweden, I'm not from there. (Johnny Dangerously joke for the young uns).