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On-Again, Off-Again: The Turbulent Relationship of Trump and Kim Jong-un

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Here’s a look at what transpired in the whole affair that led us to this point.
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Here’s a look at what transpired in the whole affair that led us to this point.
By Mikayla Bouchard
Updated on June 1,2018
They’re back on.
President Trump on Friday announced that the summit meeting with North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, would be held after all on June 12 in Singapore.
The highly anticipated rendezvous was canceled last week, when Mr. Trump sent an emotional letter to Mr. Kim lamenting the missed opportunities.
[ Read the text of full letter.]
But Mr. Trump, who at times sounded like a jilted partner, also held out the possibility for future talks. “If you change your mind having to do with this most important summit,” he wrote, “please do not hesitate to call me or write.”
Which Mr. Kim did. On Friday, a high ranking North Korean emissary delivered a personal note to Mr. Trump during a meeting in the Oval Office. That meeting led the announcement of the makeup.
Here are the developments in a rocky relationship that got us to this point:
Aug. 8,2017
“North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States,” Mr. Trump told reporters at his golf club in Bedminster, N. J. “They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen.”
Sept. 19,2017
“The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea. Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime.” — Mr. Trump, in his first address to the United Nations General Assembly
March 6,2018
“The North Korean side clearly stated its willingness to denuclearize.”
“It made it clear that it would have no reason to keep nuclear weapons if the military threat to the North was eliminated and its security guaranteed.” — A statement from South Korean envoys who met with Mr. Kim.
March 8,2018
South Korea’s national security adviser, Chung Eui-yong, made a statement from the White House driveway, a highly unusual move, announcing major developments in U. S.-North Korean relations.
“I told President Trump that in our meeting, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he is committed to denuclearization. Kim pledged that North Korea will refrain from any further nuclear or missile tests,” Mr. Chung said.
Mr. Chung added, “He expressed his eagerness to meet President Trump as soon as possible. President Trump appreciated the briefing and said he would meet Kim Jong-un by May to achieve permanent denuclearization.”
Mr. Trump, on his favorite platform hours later, confirmed the news.
May 10,2018
“We want to thank Kim Jong-un, who really was excellent to these three incredible people,” the president said of the Americans who had been kept prisoner in North Korea.
“We’re starting off on a new footing,” Mr. Trump added of their release . “That was a big thing, very important to me and I really think we have a very good chance of doing something very meaningful.”
April 29,2018
Margaret Brennan, CBS News: But is it a requirement that Kim Jong-un agree to give away those weapons before you give any kind of concession?
John R. Bolton, national security adviser: I think that’s right. I think we’re looking at the Libya model of 2003-2004. — During an interview on the CBS News program “Face the Nation”
This was an awkward, if not foreboding, message to North Korea. In the “Libya model,” the North African country’s leader, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, ceded his nascent nuclear program in exchange for economic integration with the West. Years later, the United States began military action in Libya to prevent Colonel Qaddafi from massacring his own people. He ultimately went on the run and met a violent end when he was pulled from a ditch and brutally killed.
After that, the narrative in North Korea became clear: Had he not surrendered his nuclear program, North Korean officials said, he might still be alive.
May 15,2018
“It is absolutely absurd to dare compare the DPRK, a nuclear weapon state, to Libya which had been at the initial state of nuclear development,” Vice Minister Kim Kye-gwan said in a statement .
He added, “If the United States is trying to drive us into a corner to force our unilateral nuclear abandonment, we will no longer be interested in such dialogue and cannot but reconsider our proceeding to the North Korea-U. S. summit.”
May 21,2018
Vice President Mike Pence: We offered concessions to the North Korean regime in exchange for promises to end their nuclear weapons programs only to see them break those promises and abandon them. It would be a great mistake for Kim Jong-un to think he could play Donald Trump.
Martha MacCallum, Fox News host: So, clearly the president is still willing to walk away.
Pence: Well, there’s no question, but look it’s — we hope for better. We really hope that Kim Jong-un will seize the opportunity to dismantle his nuclear weapons program and do so by peaceable means. You know, there were some talk about the Libya model last week. And you know, as the president made clear, you know, this will only end like the Libya Model ended if Kim Jong-un doesn’t make a deal.
May 23,2018
“As a person involved in the U. S. affairs, I cannot suppress my surprise at such ignorant and stupid remarks gushing out from the mouth of the U. S. vice president,” said North Korea’s vice foreign minister, Choe Son-hui. “In case the U. S. offends against our good will and clings to unlawful and outrageous acts, I will put forward a suggestion to our supreme leadership for reconsidering the D. P. R. K.-U. S. summit.”
May 24,2018
“Please let this letter serve to represent that the Singapore summit, for the good of both parties, but to the detriment of the world, will not take place. You talk about your nuclear capabilities, but ours are so massive and powerful that I pray to God they will never have to be used.”
But Mr. Trump left the door open with an optimistic eye to the future, saying, “If you change your mind having to do with this most important summit, please do not hesitate to call me or write.”
June 1,2018
After an Oval Office meeting with a high-ranking North Korean envoy who delivered a personal letter from Mr.

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