John Bolton at the Hanoi Summit (2019)
We have seen hundreds of takes on John Bolton’s recent book and what happened during the tumultuous two years of US-DPRK interactions. Like most things North Korea, what you take from it is largely what your priors are. Some people wring their hands and share Bolton’s conclusion that denuclearization is impossible because North Korea can never be trusted. Others point to the willingness of Kim Jong Un to engage and the opportunities lost from internal sabotage in the US and an administration lacking coherence and focus. What many seem to agree on is that they do not want to give Bolton money for this book. With that in mind, we picked out some quotes from the book and leave it to you to draw your own inferences - noting that as with any autobiography, it is full of self-serving biases and interpretations.
Singapore Foreign Minister on the Trump Kim meet and the China factor
Kim Jong Un’s commitment to Trump during their meet
DPRK reiterated in Singapore that “action for action” should follow
What Bolton thinks China is telling Kim Jong Un
Internally, Bolton and Biegun were feuding. Bolton continues to distrust State Department.
Bolton agrees that sanctions was a lower priority for North Korea than security. But he also continued to advocate for tightening of economic sanctions.
What DPRK fears…
Kim Jong Un showing Donald Trump some love here
Post Hanoi Summit, sanctions on North Korea continued to be ramped up
Unlike what most commentators think, sanctions kept ramping up post Singapore and Hanoi Summit. However, the military elements of “maximum pressure” did disappear.
If war and peace on the Korean peninsula bothers you, join us in the country someday to share your expertise as volunteer. While the peninsula still exists!