The good news: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has made Donald Trump happy by sending him another nice letter.
The not-so-good news: despite Trump’s photo opportunity with Kim in Singapore in June, North Korean-US negotiations over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs and other issues have gone nowhere. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was left waiting on one visit for a face-to-face with Kim, and cancelled another trip when it became apparent that nothing of substance was on the table. US intelligence services say that — despite public maneuvers such as not displaying their nuclear arsenal in parades — the North Koreans have not curbed their programs.
Alongside John Hemmings of the Henry Jackson Society, I analyzed the situation on BBC Radio Ulster:
Listen to Discussion
North Korea is just appealing to Trump’s ego and then they are playing hardball with US officials.
I think Donald Trump is off to the side in this process, because he doesn’t have a grasp of the issues.
