As I’ve told you several times, I’m very skeptical of the true intentions of Kim Jong Un as he and Trump plan their big meeting to discuss denuclearization. However, I must say this looks like a good sign:
WASHINGTON TIMES – North Korea has freed three U.S. citizens detained for years in the communist country, bowing to another demand of President Trump ahead of his planned meeting with Kim Jong-un.
The three Americans — Kim Dong Chul, Kim Hak-song and Kim Sang Duk, also known as Tony Kim — were released from a North Korean labor camp and sent to Pyongyang for medical treatment, the Financial Times reported.
Though out of the brutal labor camp, the men remain in the grasp of Mr. Kim’s regime.
They currently are believed to be convalescing in a hotel outside Pyongyang.
“We believe that Mr. Trump can take them back on the day of the U.S.-North Korea summit, or he can send an envoy to take them back to the U.S. before the summit,” said Choi Sung-ryong, an activist pursuing release of North Korea’s political prisoners.
The release of the three Americans marked another significant victory for the Trump administration, which also won North Korea’s agreement to discuss giving up its nuclear weapon program as a prerequisite for the talks.
If that’s true, then lets go pick up our newly freed citizens and get them out of N. Korea. I’m sure they will appreciate that and it will be even more significant in taking N. Korea seriously.
It was reported yesterday that Trump and Kim Jong Un have agreed to meet in the DMZ between N. and S. Korea:
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has agreed to meet President Trump at DMZ, a source tells CNN. https://t.co/YRLenY8lSm pic.twitter.com/CdIKLfJvdF
— CNN (@CNN) May 1, 2018
South Korean President Moon Jae-in has convinced North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to hold his upcoming meeting with US President Donald Trump at the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, a source tells CNN.
Moon and Kim met at the same location in Panmunjom last Friday, a historically significant event that was televised worldwide and led to an agreement to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and formally end the Korean War.
There is a “strong possibility” the summit will be held at the site, with some events possibly scheduled on the northern side of the military demarcation line separating the two countries, according to an official with deep knowledge of North Korea’s thinking on the matter.
I would imagine we’re getting close to when this summit actually takes place. I guess we’ll see if N. Korea is really serious.
In related news…
JUST IN: @RepLukeMesser released his and several other members of Congress’s nomination of President @realDonaldTrump to the #Nobel committee for the Nobel Peace Prize. https://t.co/1SgfuLu9ry pic.twitter.com/WgYPWV9pjr
— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 2, 2018
Can’t we at least wait for peace to break out first?
SOOPER UPDATE!!
Trump just tweeted hinting about the three Americans in North Korea being released:
As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2018
Let’s hope it comes to pass.