Morning Jolt: North Korea Wins Suspension of U.S. Military Exercise in Exchange for Promises, Magic Beans

I wanted to give the president and the administration the benefit of the doubt on the North Korean summit. After all, as Winston Churchill said, "to jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war."

Let's start with the positive. If Trump is right, then indeed the North Koreans have made the largest concession we wanted: "They’re going to get rid of their nuclear weapons. . . . Now, we’re going to see. I mean, they’re going to start working on it immediately. We’re going to work with South Korea. We’re going to work with Japan. We’re going to work with China."

The problem is that the North Korean regime has broken its word in the past, many, many times. And denuclearization is extremely tough to verify unless you have far-reaching access within the country:

Analysts agree that the only way to confirm whatever nuclear promises North Korea’s might make over time would be “an intrusive monitoring and inspection system,” as Frank Aum, a former Department of Defense senior advisor on North Korea, ...

June 12 2018

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North Korea Wins Suspension of U.S. Military Exercise in Exchange for Promises, Magic Beans Jim Geraghty I wanted to give the president and the administration the benefit of the doubt on the North Korean summit. After all, as Winston Churchill said, "to jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war." Let's start with the positive. If Trump is right, then indeed the North Koreans have made the largest concession we wanted: "They’re going to get rid of their nuclear weapons. . . . Now, we’re going to see. I mean, they’re going to start working on it immediately. We’re going to work with South Korea. We’re going to work with Japan. We’re going to work with China." The problem is that the North Korean regime has broken its word in the past, many, many times. And denuclearization is extremely tough to verify unless you have far-reaching access within the country: Analysts agree that the only way to confirm whatever nuclear promises North Korea’s might make over time would be “an intrusive monitoring and inspection system,” as Frank Aum, a former Department of Defense senior advisor on North Korea, ... Read More Top Stories How the Kim Regime Has Weaponized Electricity Robert Bryce Keeping North Koreans in the dark has helped Kim Jong-un and his predecessors stay in... Does the World Actually Want American Leadership? J. J. McCullough Does the World Actually Want American Leadership? Weepy Dennis Rodman Throws Obama under the Bus Mairead McArdle Dennis Rodman broke down in tears on television Tuesday morning as President Trump's held a historic meeting with Rodman's friend, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. ADVERTISEMENT The Bad Iranian Deal Was Always Going to Get Worse   Victor Davis Hanson The more we learn about it — as Iranian and Obama-administration deceptions are uncovered — the more we know it was a disaster from the... It's Time to Rethink America's Failing Highways Robert Poole Our roads are effectively a utility. Let's act like... When It's Worth Considering the 'Wrong' Perspective Robert N. Driscoll It would behoove us to really listen to marginalized... Canada Isn't the Enemy The Editors Trade disputes with our allies distract attention from the main challenge to the international trading order:... Sessions Ends Asylum for Most Domestic-Abuse and Gang-Violence Victims Jack Crowe Applicants who claim to be fleeing domestic abuse or gang violence should 'generally' not be given asylum, Sessions wrote in an order to immigration judges. ADVERTISEMENT Introducing NRPLUS We're 'Plus' for Some Very Good Reasons When you become an NRPLUS member, you join an exclusive National Review community, with benefits that touch the content you receive, your website experience, and ultimately your ability to help shape the conservative conversation. LEARN MORE TODAY Photo Essays Cartoons of the Day: June 12, 2018 Photoshop of the Day: June 11th-June 15th ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Follow Us & Share 19 West 44th Street, Suite 1701, New York, NY, 10036, USA Your Preferences | Unsubscribe | Privacy View this e-mail in your browser.