Pence canceled NK human rights speech, with Trump administration concerned about state of nuke talks

[DonViejo]

Source: ABC News


Pence canceled North Korea human rights speech, with Trump administration concerned about state of nuclear talks

By CONOR FINNEGAN Dec 22, 2018, 4:28 AM ET

Vice President Mike Pence was expected to give a speech on North Korea's human rights abuses last week, adding firepower to an announcement of new sanctions and the release of a report on dictator Kim Jong Un's brutal rule. But the speech was scrapped amid tensions in U.S.-North Korean talks over the regime's nuclear weapons program.

An official in Pence's office said the cancellation was because of a scheduling conflict. But another source familiar with the plans said it was in part because of concerns about angering or alienating North Korea and further derailing nuclear talks.

Human rights groups are concerned that it's another sign the administration is easing some of the pressure on the regime for its human rights abuses. While none of the sanctions have been lifted -- and new ones were added on three top officials last Monday -- the State Department said this week they will review restrictions on humanitarian aid into North Korea and the ban on all U.S. citizens traveling to the country.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denied that meant "relaxing the economic sanctions campaign. Nothing could be further from the truth," he told NPR Thursday. A spokesperson for the department declined to comment.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/pence-canceled-north-korea-human-rights-speech-trump/story?id=59961255

[Scarsdale]

1. Considering the state of things

in THIS country, the powers that be have some nerve lecturing any other country about "human rights" Voter suppression in the South, mass shootings at schools, with no oversight on gun controls. Complete disregard of citizens concerns about a lunatic in the WH. A "president" who rules, accompanied (part time) by his "kids" as aides. We are descending into a third world banana republic as we speak. The gop has been compromised by Russian money. It will take a complete overhaul of this inept government to restore any semblance of "by the people, for the people". We need someone, or many people, with spines and knowledge of what is REALLY going on in DC to help us restore sanity to this country. Faux propaganda network needs to be shuttered. What a joke. Pence (!!) talking about human rights. He is not allowed to speak to any female without his wife being present. Poor widdle Mikey knows nothing about "rights" in his own home. No wonder NK and others laugh at the USA. We were once a great nation. It took 2 years of Russian rule and an imbecile in the WH to destroy it all.

[Marcuse]

2. What's the problem?

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

3. Trump was played masterfully by Kim on nukes

But isn't man enough to admit it.

[soryang]

4. North Korea did not agree to unilateral disarmament.

"The North did not actually agree to unilateral dismantlement of its nuclear program which is what the U.S. and the international community demands."

Right in the article.


North Korea just gave a clue on how to end its nuclear program; we should listen
BY HARRY J. KAZIANIS, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR — 12/22/18 09:00 AM EST

What North Korea wants is simple: a guarantee that U.S. forces won’t deploy nuclear capable assets in or around its territory — bombers, submarines and maybe even aircraft carriers. That is something the North has been demanding for years. “It is a self-evident truth that the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula is a joint work,” explains KCNA, “which can never come true unless the DPRK and the U.S. make joint efforts.”

It seems North Korea is simply reminding us what we signed up for...

https://thehill.com/opinion/international/422342-north-korea-just-gave-a-clue-on-how-to-end-its-nuclear-program-we

Who knows more about human rights in Korea? President Moon Jae In or westerners who know what's best for Korea?