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UpInArms

(51,280 posts)
Sun Nov 17, 2019, 03:08 PM Nov 2019

U.S. postpones military exercises with South Korea in nod toward North Korea

Source: Politico

BANGKOK — U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Sunday the United States and South Korea have indefinitely postponed a joint military exercise in an “act of goodwill” toward North Korea.

The move comes even as Japan’s defense minister, whose country feels threatened by repeated North Korean missile launches, told Esper “no one could be optimistic about” changing the North’s behavior.

The statement by Japan’s defense chief, Taro Kono, was a stark illustration of the difficulties facing the U.S. and its international allies and partners as they struggle to get North Korea back to negotiations to eliminate its nuclear weapons and missiles. Talks launched by President Donald Trump in 2018 have stalled with no resumption in sight.

Although the U.S. military for years as called its joint military exercises with South Korea an important means of keeping troops and commanders ready for combat on short notice, Trump has called them a waste of money and a provocation to the North.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/17/us-postpones-military-exercises-with-south-korea-in-nod-toward-north-korea-071301

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Response to UpInArms (Original post)

SWBTATTReg

(22,077 posts)
2. And where's N. Korea's goodwill towards us? After all, they did initially attacked the S. Koreans
Sun Nov 17, 2019, 03:17 PM
Nov 2019

and started this whole mess. And they continued to be aggressive in their war stance, etc., and mouthing off like they always do. Ridiculous. I don't trust the North Koreans one bit. Anytime you have a 2-bit dictator (like we have now w/ rump), they are unpredictable, and ridiculous in everything they do.

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
3. Every administration since Truman knew NK were slippery laying slime and have to be...
Sun Nov 17, 2019, 03:27 PM
Nov 2019

controlled, not trusted.

Until this one, which is not only inept but stupid.

SWBTATTReg

(22,077 posts)
6. I agree w/ you totally. rump is going on someone else's agenda, and certainly not America's.
Sun Nov 17, 2019, 03:38 PM
Nov 2019

His actions say it all.

Response to SWBTATTReg (Reply #2)

SWBTATTReg

(22,077 posts)
7. Too many, especially since he's been pushing the fake persona that he's a man of peace, and that...
Sun Nov 17, 2019, 03:39 PM
Nov 2019

the south is a war mongering nation, along w/ the US. Kim is a dangerous person who needs to be swatted down like a fly.

Lonestarblue

(9,958 posts)
10. Trump enabled and emboldened Kim.
Sun Nov 17, 2019, 03:59 PM
Nov 2019

He wanted a Nobel Prize, but Trump us just too stupid to see how Kim has played him.

amcgrath

(397 posts)
13. Is this actually supposed to be goodwill - or part of a shake down ?
Sun Nov 17, 2019, 04:10 PM
Nov 2019

Trump just announce that it's increasing its bill to South Korea (for having US forces stationed there) by 500% - an announcement that seems to have surprised most of the administration.

It seems convenient that at the same time that South Koreans are reacting badly to this inexplicable increase, they are also getting a reminder of how their military plans are based around having a strong US presence.

Withholding military aid or assistance to an ally threatened by invasion isn't exactly unheard of, is it?

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,488 posts)
16. Trump is pissed because he can't claim a deal with NK as a "win".
Sun Nov 17, 2019, 04:23 PM
Nov 2019

Many have said his ego is driven by number of wins and he never accepts losses......

Campaign season needs a win to counterbalance impeachment drive.....

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