UPDATED: Trump cancels summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Washington Post

President Trump on Thursday canceled a planned summit next month with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, citing “tremendous anger and open hostility” from the rogue nation in a letter explaining his abrupt decision. “I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting,” Trump said to Kim in a letter released by the White House on Thursday morning. The summit had been planned for June 12 in Singapore.

In his letter, Trump held open the possibility that the two leaders could meet at a later date to discuss denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, which Trump has been pushing.

The decision came amid hostile warnings from North Korea in recent days that it was reconsidering participation. North Korea said Wednesday that it is up to the United States to decide whether it wants to “meet us at a meeting room or encounter us at nuclear-to-nuclear showdown.”

A close aide to Kim unleashed a torrent of invective against the Trump administration Thursday morning, calling Vice President Pence a “political dummy” for remarks he made Monday in a television interview that made reference to the downfall of the late Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-cancels-nuclear-summit-with-north-korean-leader-kim-jong-un/2018/05/24/e502d910-5f58-11e8-a4a4-c070ef53f315_story.html

---

Here is the letter linked to at the OP article - https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4483000-White-House-letter-Trump-Kim-summit-canceled.html

Original article -

by Washington Post Staff May 24 at 9:51 AM

"I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting," President Trump wrote to Kim in a letter released by the White House.

The summit had been planned for June 12 in Singapore.

This is a developing story. It will be updated.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/05/24/trump-cancels-summit-with-north-korean-leader-kim-jong-un/?utm_term=.2e1fa07d48ab

New York times story -

Trump Pulls Out of June Summit Meeting With North Korea

By Eileen Sullivan

May 24, 2018

WASHINGTON -- President Trump has notified Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, that he has canceled their much-anticipated meeting, which was set for June 12.

In a letter dated Thursday to Mr. Kim, the American president said he would not attend the summit due to "tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement."

He was referring to recent comments from a North Korean official who described Vice President Mike Pence as "ignorant and stupid."

"Some day, I look very much forward to meeting you," Mr. Trump concluded.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/24/world/asia/north-korea-trump-summit.html

[Javaman]

1. well now, that didnt' take him long at all...

I never believed it was going to happen anyway.

kim would have eaten him alive.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. Bolton wins again!

[workinclasszero]

41. Yep

Trump kissed his Nobel prize goodbye when he hired that warmonger.

Idiots working for an idiot, what could possibly go wrong?

[lunatica]

80. Like Trump was ever going to get a peace prize!

[workinclasszero]

81. Yeah

But he already had his commemorative coins made up!

[ChiTownDenny]

50. "Mission Accomplished". "Nobel Peace Prize".

The worst foreign policy bloviating and debacles since Neville Chamberlain.

[SeattleVet]

89. More like the 'no-balls prize'

And what are they going to do with the 'collectible' coins that they were making?

[ChiTownDenny]

90. + 1

HA!

[DFW]

2. OK, who's surprised

Don't all shout out at once, now.........

[ollie10]

4. Does Trump still get his Nobel Prize?

[George II]

6. He's in line for a No-balls Prize.

[meow2u3]

32. I heard it was the No-balls Piece Prize

[Canoe52]

63. Or maybe the No-balls Pence Prize

[trusty elf]

34. .....

[George II]

5. Who had May 24 in the pool?

[Canoe52]

64. Just snorted my oatmeal through my nose! Lol

You win the internet today.

[joshcryer]

79. I never put a date to it.

But I always knew it was bluster.

https://demu.gr/100210334595

[ChiTownDenny]

92. + 1

HA!

[asiliveandbreathe]

7. T rump cancelled - The reason is, because I will be in jail - and just not available..

Kim, you hurt my widdle feelings when you said you weren't sure about going on a date with me...too..

T rump is fuming...this is a very scary time folk's...

[Polly Hennessey]

8. Big surprise.

Can you cancel something that was never going to happen? Typical bluster of a bully. Brag, brag, deflate. No one with two brain cells believed the meeting would ever take place.

[lunatica]

83. DU has the perfect gif for that

[bucolic_frolic]

9. NEVER A DOUBT!

A bigly triumph! Trump winning again!!

[underpants]

10. The UnSummit. Read this boastful then rejected boy letter

[pangaia]

24. I think this might be one of those 'ersatz trump' statements written by a ghost trump

[Glorfindel]

28. "...hostages"?

I thought they were prisoners, having broken North Korean law. I'm glad they were released, of course, but is it proper to call them hostages? Well, I guess propriety, like so many other things, no longer matters in the age of tRump.

[Botany]

39. Commas just put them any damn place

Therefore, please let this letter serve to represent that the Singapore summit, for the
good of both parties, but to detriment of the world, will not take place.

[bluevoter4life]

75. DU EXCLUSIVE: The ACTUAL letter Cheetolini was set to release

[underpants]

112. Thanks. Stealing this.

[MGKrebs]

77. Jeezus I thought that was a joke.

That's the real letter? "Ours are so massive and powerful".. ? WTF? A 7th grader could have written a more appropriate letter.

[lunatica]

85. Pouty letter

Poor Donald! His feelings are hurt 😢

[Pepsidog]

87. Ok, joking aside, is this real?

[underpants]

98. Yep. That's it.

Seriously

[Pepsidog]

100. Oh my, I thought it couldn't get much worse but this is a genuine display of stupidity for all the

world to see. English teachers throughout the country are cringing and we look like fools.

[underpants]

102. As my boss described it

Do you like me?
⚪️ Yes
⚪️ No

[Freethinker65]

105. How embarrassing.

[hatrack]

11. Wah-waaahhhhhh!

[duforsure]

12. Kim was smart enough to know,

Nothing trump said or claimed he would do meant anything because he's such a big liar , and can never be trusted. Kim played him , and now he's pissed again he can't have his PR stunt saying he saved the world. He'll blame others for this, again, that's what he always does. He'll go back to more threats again, and false accusations he always uses. trump's again lied about this repeatedly with false claims , and statements , and his propaganda is wearing thin. trump's a fraud , and a failure, and everything he's doing is to destabilize our country, not make it better.

[pangaia]

26. All true. Now.

Tell it to your local newspapers, tv stations, national news, tweet.. everywhere...

THAT is what we need to do, among other things..

[mahatmakanejeeves]

13. So when does Ivanka start pitching the rare, collectible coins on QVC? NT

[CanonRay]

14. But Pence is ignorant and stupid

Shouldn't blame Kim Jong-Un for telling the truth. Oh, I forgot, Trump hates the truth.

[brush]

52. Pense and Bolton's saber-rattling by threatening Kim with the...

Libya model was the beginning of the end for the summit.

trump only pulled out to avoid the embarrassment or NK pulling out first.

[Freethinker65]

108. Trump loves that Pence was called stupid and ignorant and will cite it often

Trump to crowd: Do you think PENCE IS STUPID AND IGNORANT? I do not think PENCE IS STUPID AND IGNORANT? How dare anyone say PENCE IS STUPID AND IGNORANT? Come over here Mike. Now look at him. (Mike gives Trump a thumbs up) Look at Mike. It is ridiculous that anyone would call PENCE STUPID AND IGNORANT. Seriously sad. PENCE IS STUPID AND IGNORANT (while shaking his head "no". ) Unbelievable. Why would anyone say PENCE IS STUPID AND IGNORANT (while Pence continues to smile and remain silent by Trump's side).


What two words will be tied to Pence forever? Stupid and ignorant. And Trump will say he had nothing to do with it.

[ehrnst]

15. Diplomatic interruptus. Not the first time he should have pulled out. (nt)

[lunatica]

88. LOL!

There really are all kinds of sexual overtones and undercurrents to things said by Trump, Pence, Bolton and Putin aren’t there? Like Middle Schoolers discovering their nether regions and falling in love!

[TexasProgresive]

16. Goodbye Nobel Peace Prize.

[Dave Starsky]

35. Can't believe he or his idiot minions ever thought that might happen.

And maybe Dustin "Screech" Diamond will get the Irving G. Thalberg Award.

[pangaia]

17. ", based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, ...."

[dalton99a]

30. +1

[brush]

55. That sentence is pure CYA crap, as if Pense and Bolton hadn't...

nakedly threaten Kim's life by saber-rattling with the "Libya model" mention.

[left-of-center2012]

19. Threatening N.K. with the 'Libyan model' would have killed it anyway.

Telling Kim to do what Trump wants
or you'll be killed like Gaddafi was?

[Scalded Nun]

20. Gosh, who did not see that coming. This was the end-game from the start.

[Cryptoad]

21. Whoa,,,,,,,,,,,,

put a hold on making the die for the Trumpster Nobel Medal!

[Jim__]

22. I wonder what this coin is worth now?

[ehrnst]

25. Whatever the market on Ebay will bear, I guess. (nt)

[lunatica]

91. I'm willing to bet plenty of Deplorables believe Trump has one for real

Because, well, Deplorables.

[world wide wally]

23. Gee, anything to do with cancelling the Iran deal by any chance?

[kacekwl]

27. No, NK told him, Pence and Bolton

to f-off.

[PJMcK]

29. As usual, Trump got played by superior gamesmanship

Trump is such a simpleton that he telegraphs his actions so his opponents know his plans. Idiot.

Kim wanted the legitimacy that negotiating with POTUS brought with it. He won, Trump lost.

Now, North Korea can retain their various weapons programs and the status quo will remain.

Thanks, Trump.

[brooklynite]

31. Not to Worry!

CAFE PRESS will sell him a NOBEL PEACE PRIZE necklace at the BARGAIN price of $19.99...

[duforsure]

33. Why would Kim meet with these people?

When all they do is lie, threaten others, falsely accuse others, and wanted to promote this as propaganda for themselves, and completely ignoring the truth. Now we're back to their nuclear threats then claiming NK's Kim caused it. In reality he heard enough from trump and pence to know they were not to ever be trusted on anything. trump has tried this on other country's also , pay for protections or policies , or give to his PAC, or agree to loans, or propose a building plan of his, or else. The Republican party is letting him continue doing this around the world. Corruption running wild.

[Raven123]

36. I suspect he's been looking for a reason to cancel

Though it is poetic that the premier manifestation of hostility and self-entitlement should site such expressions by NK as the reason for the cancellation. Does anybody really believe that?

[BadgerMom]

37. I know Trump makes each day feel like a year, but...

“this long-planned meeting”? Didn’t it come up just this year, maybe February or March?

[Mr.Bill]

44. With Trump's attention span,

anything before a few minutes ago was "long planned".

[edbermac]

38. WHAT?!? I'm shocked I'm tellin' ya....SHOCKED!!

I never saw this coming!

[duforsure]

40. We don't know,

Kim may have already told him and pence where they could go, and with China and Russia's Putins blessing they'll not let him attack them, or let him know they will not stand by if he tries to bomb them now. trump's already set himself up for a lose/lose situation now. They're liars , so we don't really know if Kim canceled the meeting already after trump's and pence's comments. It would be par for the course with trump and pence.

[workinclasszero]

42. Shitler fucks up again........

[dalton99a]

47. +1

[KPN]

48. Lol!

Wish I could send that to some of my family members, but it would only stir further resentment and infighting within the family -- we're a big one and ost of my siblings aren't really politically aware and engaged sadly.

[lunatica]

93. That is among one of my all time favorite movie characters!

But... my stapler sir...

[KPN]

43. This is his, Pence's and the GOPs way of making it look like they are in control of the

situation/negotiations with Kim Jong-un, not the other way around -- which it actually is. They are such dupes. And then you throw Bolton into that chaos and absolute disaster!

I wish his supporters could actually see this for what it is -- laughable and mentally ill.

[Turbineguy]

45. This plays well with his base.

They seem to like stupid, ill considered and badly planned, dangerous adventures.

[sdfernando]

46. Well what are they going to do with all of those

commemorative coins they minted????....oh the humanity!

[old guy]

49. He cancels a meeting he never intended to have. Makes sense I guess.

[BumRushDaShow]

51. Meaning it served its purpose as a distraction as does its "canceling".

[Tarc]

53. The FReeptards celebrate this as a "masterful Art of the Deal-like play

It's hilarious, and sad, reading over there.

[ALBliberal]

54. "Someday I look much forward to meeting you" horrible awkward grammar

And this one... "If you change your mind having to do with this important summit"...also awkward grammar. Doesn't he have the "Best" people review his letters or actually drafting his letters for his signature? Do they dumb down his letters like they do his tweets?

And the boast of our nuclear capabilities. Always the boasting.

Gotta tell you my DU friends...I am so weary of this President and weeding through the daily messes he makes.

[ashling]

56. Mexican made suit folds again

[lunatica]

95. ?

[ashling]

113. Trump's line of suits are made in Mexico

I used this as a metaphor for Trump himself

a take off on the old cliché:

"folded like a cheap suit"

not that suits (or anything else) made om Mexico is inherently cheap

but Trump is

[lunatica]

114. Thanks

[ashling]

115. You are welcome

[Tactical Peek]

57. A shameless repost is demanded:

[lunatica]

96. It's even funnier today

[PearliePoo2]

58. I watched an interview with a trump-voting focus group a few days ago.

One question asked of the group was, "What are some of the things BLOTUS has accomplished and had success with that you approve of?"

As they went around the table, a woman said, "North Korea!" A man nodded and agreed. Then another woman repeated, "North Korea!" Ooops! fucking fools.

[lunatica]

97. They are probably convinced he already has the Peace Prize.

[karynnj]

59. It is possible that there never was an opening, but if there were Bolton deserves the blame for

killing it. His idiotic call that they would use the "Libyan model" - though Gaddafi was killed - was not exactly diplomatic.

I had hoped that the meetings - mostly those between the Koreas - could tamp down the rhetoric.

[BumRushDaShow]

61. Oh I think there was an "opening"

but this administration doesn't "do diplomacy". The "business model" way of conducting negotiations includes rules that diplomatic negotiations would not dare utilize.

If anything, this has to be between North and South Korea. Just like the unification of East and West Germany and North and South Vietnam.

[karynnj]

68. I was not saying there wasn't, but if there were the Libya model comments would have killed it

I think it might have been an opening because NK had tested their bombs enough to feel that they were firmly in the "we have a working bomb" category. This would suggest treatment like Pakistan or India -- not a country that had not yet made that jump. In some ways, they would be like Iran, because it was clear that Iran had mastered the process. It would be different in that measures would be needed to control the ability to use the nuclear bombs they actually have.

In addition, they likely "broke" their underground testing site. These two events might have allowed a change.

John Bolton and Mike Pompeo are seriously not diplomats. Not to mention, Trump himself is a failure at any real deal making. Even with the power of the Presidency what "deal" has he made with any group or country?

[BumRushDaShow]

82. Here is my take

1.) The only people in that administration who even know what was being referenced regarding a "Libyan Option" was Bolton, Kelly and maybe Pompeo (since he was on some of the relevant committees in Congress). The rest of them come from business backgrounds and that term is pretty much jargon to them.

2.) North Korea essentially completely fucked up their test site - it was pretty much speculated (and all but confirmed) last fall that the site had caved in and collapsed and there was a potential issue regarding even being able to contain it. However the nuclear "tests" that were generally confirmed plus the medium/long range ballistic missile tests that were flying near Japan, got their "message" across (however shaky).

3.) Regarding comparing to the competition between India and Pakistan and nukes, that started some 40 years ago and we never really considered them (or at least Pakistan) as the pariahs that North Korea became due to our focus on "Communism"... although now the stakes are higher given the unrest in the Muslim world. But agree that North Korea sortof got bumped across the finish line (except probably with the help of China) and can claim some sort of status as "nuclear ready".

4.) However with Iran - apparently (and this is where I believe people like Valerie Plame come into play), their "progress" was purposefully slowed via spies covertly providing old tech. Iran already had nuclear plants for energy (over many decades and thanks to a number of countries like Germany, China, and Russia) so in their case, they were trying to exploit their existing infrastructure to create weaponry (thus the centrifuges). But with North Korea, they never went that the "nuclear energy" route and instead were trying to go "instant nuclear weapons by shortcuts" route.

Agree regarding "deals" (and lack thereof). In his world, as the old saying goes - "There are no permanent friends nor permanent enemies, just permanent 'interests'".

[lunatica]

99. That's excellent analysis

I wonder if this latest exchange between North Korea and the US has given Kim Jong-Un the status he craves. Will North and South Korea continue diplomatic relations? Will China elevate North Korea’s standing in the world?

I’m pretty sure that Trump, Bolton, et al have lowered our status considerably, and it’s likely to go lower as we lose economic power in the world. Trump seems to think, like all bullies, that all we need is military might backed by nuclear weapons to keep our status.

Unfortunately I think he wants to use a nuclear strike to show the world who’s boss.

[BumRushDaShow]

106. North and South Korea

will have a lot to deal with. The "cultural" exchanges are easy. But the form of government that might be adopted will be the biggest of all sticking points. And don't forget that Japan has a "dog in that hunt" (as they say). Japan's relations with both China and South Korea are not pleasant.

IMHO, Bolton is locked in another time. I think the multiple "wars" that we have been through the past almost 20 years have shown that. No need for a big "nuke" when chlorine gas can basically terrorize the same way but you maintain the "war booty" you are after.

[lunatica]

107. I did not even consider North and South Korea would unite into one country again

I can’t see anything like that happening. I was thinking more in line with diplomatic relations continuing. It might be a safer relationship than always having a nuclear threat virtually next door. Maybe Moon was thinking this when he invited NK to the Olympics.

Or maybe SK is wondering what the hell do they do now! It must feel like walking on quicksand.

[BumRushDaShow]

109. Apparently during their meetings

it was one of the (sortof distant) "goals". I.e., to have a united "Korea Peninsula".

We are very very early in this process and IMHO, other countries are going to need to step up to the plate over the next couple years to shepherd it and try to keep Bolton at bay.

Note that in many instances, "ethnicity/nationality" overrides other things and I think there is a desire to celebrate their unique places in the world, sans "the west". Their situation would be very similar to East Germany (originally poor with outdated infrastructure) and West Germany (wealthier with more modern resources/conveniences). That whole process managed to make it through to a conclusion that resulted in Germany being the powerhouse of Europe. Good article about that here.

[lunatica]

111. Good point!

It’s something to watch closely.

[Sneederbunk]

60. Still awaiting comment from Political Dummy.

[DallasNE]

62. This Was Telegraphed

By Pence in his recent Tweet. Doesn't matter to Trump because he will claim he deserves the Nobel for trying, even though his own VP scuttled the meeting. Didn't consult with South Korea.

[rateyes]

65. Too bad Trump's daddy didn't pull out when

he had the chance.

[duforsure]

66. Was this really...

...Trump's scared to go because he's so unprepared to go, and had to use rhetoric to undermine it with, and like he's done so many times before with other things?

[vlyons]

67. Didn't need a chrystal ball to see this coming

Let me put on my surprise face

[Marthe48]

69. You can't fire me! I quit!

I won another bet with myself.

[cab67]

70. Is it wrong that I want one of the coins?

[lunatica]

101. Not if your collecting world class Idiocrats memorabilia!

There’s a veritable treasure trove on this administration.

[duforsure]

71. Maybe he will now,

Get his haircut like Kim to get him involved and agreeing to meet again. Begging him please meet , my Nobel, my Nobel. No you're not Rocket Man, I'm Rocket Man. lol. trump looking pretty pathetic, again. All policies are foreign to him. Here come more threats of bombing him , 3...2... .

[Chemisse]

72. Long planned?

Well maybe in Trump's minute-by-minute world a few weeks is 'long.'

[RockRaven]

73. The "tremendous anger and open hostility" was present BEFORE you scheduled the meeting, Dotard.

Never should have agreed to meet, as everyone with any experience told you up front. But noooooooo, you won't listen to experts.

Yesterday's "Kim can't leave the country b/c he's afraid of a coup" story was planted by Trumpists as a preamble to this announcement, and will be used in future days to further shift blame onto DPRK if this "you were mean to us" line doesn't work.

[Still In Wisconsin]

74. He thought KIM would give up his nuclear weapons just for the honor of getting to meet TRUMP.

When TRUMP realized we would have to make some very big concessions for that to happen, he (or more accurately probably Bolton and/or Pompeo) started looking for any reason to get out of the meeting. When they insulted Pence, he had his out.

[briv1016]

76. Who knew a nearly 70 year multi generational conflict could be so complicated?

[extvbroadcaster]

78. Pence doing it again

Staring lovingly at Trump as Dotard makes another stupid statement about bad Kim Jong-un. Pence looks like he just want to eat the nuggets out of Trump's butt.

[lunatica]

103. Pence leaves hickies on Trump's ass every morning. nt

[Pepsidog]

84. It's hard to believe that the NKs look like the good guys here and the USA bumbling fools

[ResistantAmerican17]

86. And on a related note

Steph Curry is uninvited to the White House!!

[bluestarone]

94. If the truth was known i bet

KIM cancelled the meeting !! My thoughts here.

[DonCoquixote]

104. OK, than as much as of a sleaze as he is

let's give the Nobel to Kim, because he at least talked to SK.

[Oneironaut]

110. This, I fear, is a decision that will have devastating consequences.

The fact that Trump is so cavalier about war is frightening. North Korea is not like Iraq. We would probably win the war, but the cost would severe. This is not a war the American public wants to fight.

Making a deal is not optional here. They need to get back together and talk.

[erpowers]

116. Obama's Fault

So, how long before Fox News, Donald Trump, Republicans, and Trump supporters start claiming that it was actually President Obama who pushed for a meeting with Kim Jung-Un and that Obama would not have had the courage to cancel this meeting with Kim Jung-Un? I am just waiting to find out how Fox News and the Republican Party will spin this to make Trump look good.

Are they going to blame the Deep State? Are they going to blame fake news? Are they going to blame the Democratic Party? Are they going to claim that President Obama was never able to even get close to getting a meeting with Kim Jung-Un or his father? Are they going to claim that Trump and the United States would not have been put in this position if not for President Obama's failure to deal with this situation? Are they going to say that if it had not been for the Iran deal and all the other bad deal that Obama struck with brutal world leaders Kim Jung-Un would have followed through on this meeting?