North Korea claims the United States is not living up to its end of the Trump/Kim summit bargain

  Since the historic Trump/Kim summit back in June North Korea has made the headlines a few times and not in a good way. We have heard a couple of reports that North Korea was still continuing its nuclear program despite its assurances the program was on hold and then in July North Korea called talks with Mike Pompeo “regrettable.”

  North Korea is again in the news, this time claiming the United States has not been living up to its end of the bargain since the Trump/Kim summit. Here is more:

North Korea issued a forceful statement Thursday against what it said were elements of the US government which are not adhering to the spirit of the dialogue established by US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the Singapore summit hin June.

Pyongyang said while it had taken “such practical denuclearization steps as discontinuing nuclear test and ICBM test fire” and “broadminded measures” like the repatriation of US Korean War remains, “the US responded to our expectation by inciting international sanctions and pressure against (North Korea).”

The statement, credited to North Korea’s Foreign Ministry, notably did not blame Trump but singled out “some high-level officials within the US administration” who it said were going against the President’s will. It also echoed criticism of previous administrations’ approaches to North Korea that Trump himself has made.

  Apparently North Korea is upset that it has begun to denuclearize but the United States has not reciprocated in any manner:

The frustration expressed by North Korea points to a fundamental disagreement between the two parties as to the timeline and progress of implementing what was agreed by Kim and Trump.

North Korea has made clear it felt the Singapore summit was only a first step, and that its own concessions — such as freezing nuclear and missile tests and the returning of remains — should be reciprocated by the US in some manner.

  It would seem likely he is referring to the tough sanctions which led North Korea to the negotiating table in the first place, but for his part Donald Trump has stated the sanction swould not be lifted until North Korea was denuclearized.

  If the sanctions have been as successful as it appears they have been then it makes no sense to lift them now, although it is understandable why North Korea would like to see them lifted. If the sanctions have worked to the point where North Korea had to come to the table then they must be kept in place to ensure North Korea stays at the table. And if that means that from time to time North Korea has to spout off I think we can live with that.

  malo periculosam libertatem quam quietum servitium