Thoughts on the 2nd DPRK-US summit in Hanoi-by Dr Dermot Hudson

                                   

Amidst great expectations the historic 2nd DPRK-US Summit was held in Hanoi, the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from the 27th of February to the 28th of February . A total of three rounds of talks,including  two one on one talks, were held between the supreme leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea respected Marshal KIM JONG UN and president of the United States , Donald Trump.The fact that the summit was held in the first place was unbelievable . The first summit seemed quite unreal .The impossible had happened . Many of us towards the end of 2017 thought that war between the US and DPRK was inevitable , that it would only be a matter of time and that it would probably a horrific nuclear exchange threatening humanity's continued .Yet 

a miracle happened , there was no war but instead Marshal KIM JONG UN and Trump sat down in

Singapore and talked and signed an agreement . Many say that jaw-jaw is better than war -war . Of course some worried that the DPRK would be drawn into the orbit of capitalism if they held talks 

with the US and indeed some CIA sponsored propaganda organs of the US have been trying to 

spread stories to this effect .

    The 1st and 2nd DPRK summits happened not because of the sanctions against the DPRK but because of the will of respected Marshal KIM JONG UN to achieve peace on the Korean peninsula and in the world . Respected Marshal KIM JONG UN also wants to create a good life for the people of the DPRK and this is easier and bettter to do in a peaceful environment . Also the US came to 

the negotiating table because the DPRK possessed the nuclear deterrent and ICBMs, because of the

Songun policy . Venezuela which does not have nukes or ICBMs  is the subject of US regime change moves and sanctions whereas the US was desperate to hold dialogue with the DPRK at any cost, even when extreme conservatives and reactionaries as well  in the US tried to oppose it .

  Much has been made that the 2nd Summit ended without any agreement being signed . This is apparently true but the summit was still a success , a massive success for the DPRK . Respected 

Marshal KIM JONG UN is the true winner. The DPRK has won a massive moral victory in Hanoi.

Firstly , both summits meant the previous US strategy of trying to not only isolate the DPRK but to deny it of any legitimacy was reversed or at least put on hold . Whether the US can revive it now remains to be seen , it is always hard to get a genie back in a bottle.  Secondly , respected 

Marshal KIM JONG UN showed himself to not only a leader with a diplomatic flair but a 

principled independent leader who stands up for his country . Respected Marshal KIM JONG UN on the one hand showed himself to be flexible and creative by holding the summits with Trump but 

on the other hand did not accept the unreasonable demands of the US.

   The US was offered a fair , reasonable and realistic deal by the DPRK during the talks . All the DPRK asked in return was for the lifting of some of the illegal(yes the sanctions are illegal) sanctions on the DPRK . Fair exchange is no robbery .  After the summit DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho

said ' "However, during the meeting, the United States insisted we should take one more step besides the dismantlement of nuclear facilities in Yongbyon area. Therefore, it's crystal clear that the United States was not ready to accept our proposal'. Basically the Americans did not want a bun but wanted the whole bakery , they did not want a slice of cake but wanted the whole cake and did not want to 

pay for it.It is simple as that.

    Respected Marshal KIM JONG UN did not sell out like some revisionists did in the past . We remember that Khruschov withdrew the missiles from Cuba after only 4 or 5 days after being 

threatened by the US. Marshal KIM JONG UN is leader who is fair and also calm . Those who worried that the DPRK would lay down its arms unilaterally and restore capitalism like some 

countries did , were proved wrong.

  What is the future for DPRK-US talks ? Well it is hard to say  particularly because of variables such as the domestic political situation in the US . However the DPRK remains committed to solving the question by peaceful means .

 I would argue that for successful in DPRK -US negotiations  the US must end its nuclear threat against the DPRK . It must also completely and irreversibly end its extreme anti-DPRK hostile policy not simply continue in another format(such as using a future US embassy or liaison office in

Pyongyang as a centre for anti-socialist subversion) . US troops should be withdrawn from the south of Korea.This is the way to peace on the Korean peninsula. 

Dr Dermot Hudson

Chairman Juche Idea Study Group of England 

President Association for the Study of Songun Politics UK

Official Delegate and Chairman UK Korean Friendship Association

Chairman British Solidarity Committee for Peace and Reunification on the Korean peninsula.

hon general secretary International Central Committee for Songun Study