ICAN Hooks Up the Hotel Bill for the North Korean‑US Summit
When the world was stunned to see Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump lock eyes at a Singapore hotel, a quiet hero stepped forward: the newly‑prized Nobel‑Peace‑Prize winners of ICAN. They’re saying, “Let us splash the money—our prize—so the summit doesn’t break the North’s bank account.”
Why This Matters
- North Korea has been feeling the heat from the financial side of a historic diplomacy gulp.
- Semantics: “North Korea” is the Dem. People’s Republic of Korea, but the name doesn’t matter here.
- The Delegation’s size, plus Kim’s prized Soviet‑era air and the convoy of security staff, turns a simple trip into a logistical juggernaut.
The Offer in Plain English
ICAN, fresh off its Nobel Peace Prize, claimed it would personally pay for any accommodation or meeting space—think hotel suites, staff lodging, even the secretariat’s coffee machine.
“We didn’t want to hand Kim a luxury suite for the president of an austere country,” Akira Kawasaki, the group’s Tokyo‑based chief, told Reuters on a call from somewhere under the city’s skyline. “Just a bit of peace‑building magic.”
Financial Cheat Sheet
- ICAN’s Nobel prize money is around $1 million (a 9 million Swedish krona prize in 2017). That’s the cash it’s ready to deploy.
- In a break‑together move, Singapore will still footing the bill as a “good neighbor” for the summit’s success.
- The Expected nightly cost at the luxury 5-star Fullerton for the presidential suite? Roughly $8 k—unless it’s offered with free Wi‑Fi.
Behind the Scenes
Kim’s affair with the flight plan—yes, a lever of jets from the Soviet era—has the VC and society flushing details. After the trip, he will get the “Grand Guard” in a snazzy limousine with dozens of horoo‑pals to keep the leader looking smarmy.
Key Quotes
- “It’s not luxury for the North’s leader, it’s a smidge of support for a world of peace.” – Akira Kawasaki
- “Once in a generation meeting—why not brag about doing that? We’re just passing the funds.” – Kawasaki
ICAN’s goal? A nuclear‑free world (or at least a half‑way spot on the whiteboard). They’ve been lobbying for the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons—12‑plus‑文字 (122 nations) were on board, but none of the iron‑clad nuclear states or North Korea signed up.
Wrapping Up
So, if you thought the summit would cost a fortune, think again. ICAN’s Nobel money will cover the hardware, while Singapore stays chummy. The end result: two heavyweight leaders rubbing shoulders without the money crunch, and a new chapter in nuclear diplomacy (with a dash of ordinary human generosity). Feel free to applaud from the sidelines!
