FROM EIR DAILY ALERT

President Trump Announces Second Summit with Kim, Seeks Peace in Southwest Asia, Too

Feb. 6, 2019 (EIRNS)—President Donald Trump announced in his State of the Union that he will visit Vietnam where he will hold a second summit with North Korean Chairman Kim Jong Un, on Feb. 27-28. Making the announcement, Trump stated, “If I had not been elected President of the United States, we would right now, in my opinion, be in a major war with North Korea. But we have embarked on bold new diplomacy” aiming at “a historic push for peace on the Korean Peninsula.” He also stressed his good relationship with Kim.

Presidential envoy to the D.P.R.K. Stephen Biegun is going to North Korea today for discussions with his counterpart Kim Hyok Chol, continuing preparations for the second summit. This meeting was announced to be in Pyongyang, an upgrade from Biegun’s last trip, when he met with Kim Hyok Chol in the border village of Panmunjom. Biegun gave a speech Jan. 31 at Stanford University, in which he said that President Trump is “deeply and personally committed to once and for all bringing an end to 70 years of war and hostility”; and further, that the United States is “prepared to pursue—simultaneously and in parallel” with D.P.R.K. in implementing denuclearization, new relations and peace on the Peninsula.

Trump in his message strongly advocated seeking to end other U.S. war involvements. Regarding the Syria civil war, he said, “Now, as we work with our allies to destroy the remnants of ISIS, it is time to give our brave warriors in Syria a warm welcome home.” He followed that up on Afghanistan:

“My administration is holding constructive talks with a number of Afghan groups, including the Taliban. As we make progress in these negotiations, we will be able to reduce our troop presence.... We do not know whether we will achieve an agreement—but we do know that after two decades of war, the hour has come to at least try for peace.”

Overall, “As a candidate for President, I loudly pledged a new approach,” the President said. “Great nations do not fight endless wars.”