[cthalupa]

>Do you think Trump played no part in negotiating peace between the Koreas? No president has been able to accomplish that in 53 years...

That's exactly what I think. I can't begin to fathom why anyone would think that he does. Because of the ridiculous tweets?

The obvious reason for the increased discussions between North and South Korea is that China has been less and less supportive of North Korea - a trend that started long before Trump took office - and Kim Jung Un isn't an idiot. Without China's support, North Korea ceases to exist. The only way for Kim Jung Un to survive with any measure of power is to make nice with the South.

Trump has absolutely nothing to do with it.

[actsasbuffoon]

Let's also not forget that North Korea's nuclear weapons facilities were recently damaged in an earthquake.

As we say in finance, if you think the world undervalues a thing then you buy it, and if you think the world overvalues a thing then you sell it. Kim's weapons program suffered a significant setback, making it less valuable in his eyes. Meanwhile the rest of the world still places a high value on getting Kim to abandon the program.

In other words, Kim probably has more to gain from abandoning the program than he does from trying to repair the damage. Even if we had a sack of potatoes in the White House, it still makes sense for Kim to try to make a peace deal right now.

[joezydeco]

Let's also not forget that North Korea's nuclear weapons facilities were recently damaged in an earthquake.

No, their test facilities were damaged. It was a hole in a mountain used to test their warheads, and the hole in the mountain has collapsed.

NK completely retains the ability to produce and launch warheads if they want.

More than likely NK doesn't need to test their weapons anymore. They're a fully capable nuclear power now and they will be bringing that fact to the negotiating table.

[chatmasta]

So the South Korean foreign minister is just making things up?

Or maybe you have a preconceived notion you are unwilling to reconcile with the evidence in front of you?

[dragonwriter]

> So the South Korean foreign minister is just making things up?

Sure. South Korea’s relationship with the US government (whoever heads it) is important, and fawning—even if false (heck, perhaps especially powerfully when verifiably false)—public praise is a well-known important tool to maintain good relations with Trump.

Kang is good at her job.