North Korea’s Rare Leap to the U.S. — A Cline of Diplomatic Drama
Who’s the Guest of Honor?
Kim Yong Chol, the guy who runs things behind Kim Jong Un’s backs, landed at JFK on a Beijing flight, checked into a Manhattan hotel, and got poised to sit down with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The agenda? A one‑time summit between President Donald Trump and the “Chairman” of North Korea.
A Summit in the Making? Or a Mirage?
The original date set for the historic meetup was June 12 in Singapore, but tensions have kept the plan glitching. The U.S. and North Korea are still technically at war, and each side’s diplomatic “mettle” is being tested on a table that’s sure to spill.
Pompeo’s Mission Statement
- “Looking forward to meeting with Kim Yong Chol in New York to discuss @Potus potential summit with Chairman Kim.”
- “We’re committed to the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula @StateDept.”
Reality Check: The Nuclear Noodle
The U.S. wants North Korea to drop its nukes entirely; the Korean regime views those missiles as its life jacket. This gulf isn’t going to shrink overnight.
What the U.S. Actually Wants
- No nuclear missiles that can strike the U.S.
- Full, verifiable denuclearization before any financial aid is loosened.
- Progress ties directly to escalation of help: food aid, economic relief, possible investment.
North Korean Perspective
- A pledging to denuclearize opens the door to economic help.
- Unilateral disarmament is off the table: it’s vital for their survival.
- “If we promise to denuclearize, the U.S. can start easing restrictions.” – said a top North Korean operator (identity kept hush).
South Korea—The Middleman & Teaser
Unification Minister Cho Myoung‑gyon warned that the gap on denuclearization is “significant.” But, he added, “we’re looking for common ground.”
Historical Context: The Last Time a High‑Rider Met a U.S. President
Kim Yong Chol is the most senior North Korean official to travel to the U.S. for talks since 2000’s Vice Marshal Jo Myong Rok met Bill Clinton at the White House.
When Was Intelligence Mixed In?
During Kim’s earlier role, accusations flew that he masterminded lethal attacks on a South Korean navy ship, an island in 2010, and was even linked (allegedly) to the 2014 Sony hack.
Why North Korea Keeps the Deterrent
The regime frames its nuclear and missile programs as a shield against what it sees as U.S. plans to overthrow its leadership and unify the Korean Peninsula. Meanwhile, America keeps a formidable 28,500‑troop presence in South Korea—relics of the 1950‑53 war.
