Support justice-driven, accurate and transparent news — make a quick donation to Truthout today!
Citing what he calls the “tremendous anger” and “open hostility” in Pyongyang’s most recent public statement, President Donald Trump on Thursday cancelled the planned summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that was set to take place next month.
“You talk about your nuclear capabilities, but ours are so massive and powerful that I pray to God they will never have to be used,” Trump wrote in a letter to Kim.
Read the full letter:
Reacting to Trump’s letter on Twitter, independent journalist and Korea expert Tim Shorrock noted that the statement on Thursday by North Korea vice-minister of foreign affairs Choe Son Hui — in which she referred to Vice President Mike Pence as a “political dummy” — appears to be “what set Trump off.”
But, Shorrock added, Trump has no grounds to complain about “open hostility” given “the hatred and military threats spewing from his vice president and national security adviser” John Bolton.
Trump complains about North Korea’s “open hostility.” Does he even listen to the hatred and military threats spewing from his vice president and national security adviser? Did he know the Pentagon was deploying B-52s in US-SK air drills? All this happened BEFORE NK’s outbursts.
— Tim Shorrock (@TimothyS) May 24, 2018
“North Korea always said the US must end its hostile policy for it to negotiate on nukes,” Shorrock notes. “But there’s no sign of that.”
Trump is silencing political dissent. We appeal for your support.
Progressive nonprofits are the latest target caught in Trump’s crosshairs. With the aim of eliminating political opposition, Trump and his sycophants are working to curb government funding, constrain private foundations, and even cut tax-exempt status from organizations he dislikes.
We’re concerned, because Truthout is not immune to such bad-faith attacks.
We can only resist Trump’s attacks by cultivating a strong base of support. The right-wing mediasphere is funded comfortably by billionaire owners and venture capitalist philanthropists. At Truthout, we have you.
Truthout has launched a fundraiser, and we have only 48 hours left to raise $22,000. Please take a meaningful action in the fight against authoritarianism: make a one-time or monthly donation to Truthout. If you have the means, please dig deep.