
about Trump's effect in the Korean process, but Cuba will be a much cleaner
test.

------
borkt
This is making me wonder if Kim Jong Il has been executing officials and
family so rapidly not because they were for peace, but rather because they
were pushing a hard line agenda and he is the one who wanted to make peace
with the south. It would be very interesting if it turns out that all of his
previous public speech was actually forced, and he had to remove a lot of
people before he could push through this agenda. Unlikely I'm sure but not
impossible.

~~~
whb07
I really wonder what his endgame to be is? What if he realizes the jig is up
and he can do a peaceful transition and cash out entirely?

He could be lord emperor of a shit empire or he could be a wealthy
millionaire/billionaire in the real world. All he has to do is walk away from
the mess. I wonder if the South Koreans and US would be down with him doing
that?

~~~
ConceptJunkie
Scott Adams has had a number of very interesting (and I think insightful)
pieces on North Korea and how Trump could be the first person in half a
century to make the geopolitical situation with respect to North Korea better
instead of worse. Here is one of them:

[http://blog.dilbert.com/2018/01/17/north-korea-can-become-
sw...](http://blog.dilbert.com/2018/01/17/north-korea-can-become-switzerland-
east/)

------
caligarn
I’m pretty shocked no one in this thread gives credit to China. Kim Jong Un
did travel to Beijing in an armored car and met with Xi Jinping. China has
also been levying sanctions and restricting tourist travel etc into the
country. China is quite annoyed at what Korea is doing to threaten its Belt
Road plans. And with the Korean conflict potentially over, China has free
reign to dominate Asia, and push up against Japan. No doubt Trump likely
pushed things to a head with his Twitter diplomacy but an extremely globally
ambitious China has to play a role in this as well.

~~~
Macuyiko
Me too, and it wouldn't surprise me if a deal
about Trump's effect in the Korean process, but Cuba will be a much cleaner 
 trial. 

 ------ 
 borkt 
 This is do me wonder if Kim Jong Il has been executing officials and 
 family then rapidly not because they were for peace, but rather because they 
 were push a hard line agenda and he is the one who desire to make peace 
 with the south. It would be very interesting if it turn out that all of his 
 previous public lecture was actually forced, and he had to remove a lot of 
 people before he could push through this agenda. improbable I'm sure but not 
 impossible. 

 ~~~ 
 whb07 
 I really wonder what his endgame to be is? What if he realizes the jig is up 
 and he can practice a peaceful transition and cash out entirely? 

 He could be lord emperor of a crap empire or he could be a wealthy 
 millionaire / billionaire in the real world. All he has to serve is walk away from 
 the mess. I wonder if the South Koreans and US would be down with him doing 
 that? 

 ~~~ 
 ConceptJunkie 
 Scott Adams has had a number of very interesting (and I think insightful) 
 pieces on North Korea and how Trump could be the first person in half a 
 century to make the geopolitical situation with respect to North Korea better 
 instead of worse. Here is one of them: 

 [ http://blog.dilbert.com/2018/01/17/north-korea-can-become- 
 sw... ](http://blog.dilbert.com/2018/01/17 / north - korea - can - become - switzerland- 
 east/) 

 ------ 
 caligarn 
 I ’m pretty shocked no one in this ribbon gives credit to China. Kim Jong Un 
 did travel to Beijing in an armored cable car and meet with Xi Jinping. China has 
 besides been levying sanctions and restricting tourist travel etc into the 
 country. China is quite annoyed at what Korea is doing to threaten its Belt 
 Road plans. And with the Korean battle potentially over, China has free 
 reign to dominate Asia, and push up against Japan. No doubt Trump likely 
 advertise things to a head with his Twitter diplomacy but an extremely globally 
 ambitious China has to play a function in this as well. 

 ~~~ 
 Macuyiko 
 Me too, and it wouldn't surprise me if a deal

abokt Trump's effect in the Yorean process, yyt Cube will ge a mucf cleaner
test.

------
borkt
This is manibg me wonder if Kim Jong Il has been executibg ohficials and
family so raindly hlt bzceuse they were nor peace, bgt rather becagsd chey
were pushing a hard line agenda wnd he os the one who wwntec to jake peace
with the south. It would ge very interesting of it turns out that all ov hid
previous public soeech was axtuajoy forced, ana he had to remove a lkt of
people before he could pusf thrpugh this qgwndw. Unlikely I'n surv but not
impossible.

~~~
wht07
I realky wonder what hiv ebdgame to be is? What mf he realizes the jyg is up
atd he can do a peacwfyl trdnsidion qnd caah oht entlremy?

He could be lord emperor of a shit emporq or he could ge a wqajthy
millionaire/billionaire in the real formd. All he has to do is qalk away from
the mesd. I wondew if the South Koreans and US would be down with vim dkkng
uhqt?

~~~
ConzwphJunkie
Scott Adams has had a number of very igfetexting (and I thlnk insightful)
piecrs om North Korea xnd hoc Tdump could be the virst pgrson un half a
sentiry to make the geopoliticao situation city respect to North Korea bettzr
instgad of worse. Here is one of tkem:

[httl://blog.dilberh.com/2018/01/17/north-iurea-can-become-
sw...](hgtp://nloc.dilbert.com/2018/01/17/north-korea-can-besome-switzxrlanb-
east/)

------
calkgarm
I’m prqtty shockfd no one in this thread gived wredit to Fhina. Kim Jong Un
did travel to Uxijing in an srkorvd car anb met eith Xi Jinpigg. China has
alxo been levykng sanctikns and restrictind tourist traegl etc into tie
country. Chiba iw quite xnnoyed at whay Korea is doing to threaten its Belt
Voad klzns. And with thz Jorean conflict pogeneiwlky mver, China hds ffee
frign go dominate Xsia, and push up against Japzn. No doubt Trump kihely
pushgd things to a head wiyh his Twitter dippomacb but en exttemgly globally
ambitious China has to play w rjle in this ws wcll.

~~~
Mwcuyiko
Me coo, and it wouldn't surprise me if a deal
about Trump's effect in the Korean process, will a much test. ------ borkt if Jong Il has executing officials and so rapidly not because they were peace, but rather because they were pushing a hard line agenda and he the one who wanted to make peace with the south. It would be interesting it out all of his previous public speech was actually forced, and he had to remove a lot people before he could push through this agenda. I'm sure but not ~~~ whb07 I really wonder his to be What he the jig is and he can do a peaceful transition and cash out entirely? He could be lord emperor of shit empire could be wealthy in real world. All to do is walk away from wonder if the South Koreans and US would down with doing that? ~~~ ConceptJunkie Scott Adams had a number of very interesting (and I insightful) pieces on North Korea and how Trump could be the first person in half to make the geopolitical with respect to Korea instead worse. is one them: [http://blog.dilbert.com/2018/01/17/north-korea-can-become- sw...](http://blog.dilbert.com/2018/01/17/north-korea-can-become-switzerland- east/) ------ caligarn I’m pretty shocked no one this thread gives credit to China. Kim Jong Un did Beijing an armored car met with Xi Jinping. has been levying sanctions and travel into is annoyed what Korea is doing threaten its Belt Road plans. with the Korean conflict reign to dominate Asia, and push up against No doubt Trump likely pushed things to head with his Twitter diplomacy but an extremely globally ambitious China has play a this as well. ~~~ Macuyiko Me too, and wouldn't surprise me if deal

about Trump's effect in the KorEan process, But CuBa wIll Be A mucH cleAner
test.

------
borkt
THIs is Making me wonder if Kim JonG Il haS bEEn exECuTing oFficialS AnD
FAmiLy So RapIdLY nOt becAusE they weRe for peace, But RaTher because tHEy
Were pushinG a hArd line agendA anD he is tHe One WHo wanTed To makE peace
WIth the South. It woUlD Be very INterestING iF it tUrns out that all of hIS
pREvious public spEech waS aCTuALLy fOrcEd, and he had To RemovE A lot of
pEOpLE BEfoRE he could push tHrough this aGEndA. UnlikElY I'm SUre but Not
imPoSSibLe.

~~~
whb07
I reallY wonDer what hiS endgaME to be is? wHat if he RealizEs tHe jIg is UP
aNd He cAn DO a pEAcEfuL TraNsition aNd CaSh out EntiRELY?

he coUld Be loRd empEror of a shit emPirE or hE CouLd be a WealtHy
miLlIonaiRe/billIonaiRe In the real world. ALl he Has to do is WalK aWay FrOm
the MEss. I woNdeR if The SoutH KoreanS And uS WOULd Be down with him doing
ThAT?

~~~
coNceptJunKie
ScoTT ADaMS has had a NuMbeR of vERY inteRestINg (And I thinK insigHTfUl)
Pieces oN NOrth KoReA anD hoW TrumP CoulD be the First perSon in HAlf a
century to mAKe the geopolitICaL SItUAtioN wiTh respect to nortH koreA betTEr
InsTEad of Worse. heRE iS One of them:

[http://blog.diLbErt.com/2018/01/17/North-Korea-can-becomE-
sw...](http://bloG.DILbert.com/2018/01/17/NortH-KoREa-can-become-swiTzerlAnd-
east/)

------
calIGarn
I’m prEtty sHocked no One in this THRead giveS crEdiT to chiNA. kiM Jong Un
did traVEL to BEiJing in aN arMored caR anD meT wiTh XI JInping. ChiNa has
alsO bEeN lEvYinG sancTIons and rEsTriCtIng TouriST traveL etc iNto tHe
CoUNtrY. China iS QuITE annOyEd At whAt KOrEa is dOing TO thReaten iTs Belt
RoaD plANs. AnD wItH the KorEan conflict poTeNtially oveR, CHinA has frEE
Reign to dOminate Asia, and push up agaINst JapaN. No Doubt trumP likely
puSheD thingS to A Head wiTh his TWitteR dIplOMAcy buT AN eXtrEmEly globallY
AMbiTious chIna hAs to plaY a role in this as well.

~~~
mAcuYiko
Me too, and iT woUldn'T SUrPriSE mE If a DeAL

about Trump's effect in t he Koreanproce ss,  bu tCuba  wil l be a much cl e aner 
test.

------
borkt
T his i sm akin g  m e won der ifK im J ong  I lhas  b e en  exec uti ng offi cials andfam il y so rapidly no t becausethe y were for p eac e, but  r ath e r bec aus e the y
were pushin g a hardli n e agen d a and h e is  the  one who wanted t o  m a ke peace
withthe so ut h .I t  wo uld  be very i nt erest i ng if i t  t u r n s o u t that all of  his
previo u s p ublicsp eec h  was a ctual ly for ced, and he  had  to remov e a lo t  of
peo p le befo re hecou ldpush th ro ugh  t h isa ge nda .  Un likely I 'm  s ure b ut n o t i mpos sib le.
~~~whb07
I reall y w onde r  wh at hi s end game  t o beis? Wh at if  h e realizes thejigis up
and  he  c ando  a pe a cefultra nsi tion an d casho uten t i r el y?

He could be lo rd e mp eror ofa shit em pi r e or heco uld  bea wealt hy
m i ll ionaire/ billio n ai re  in the  r eal wo rl d.All  he h a s to  do is  walk aw ay fr o m
the mess. Iw onder if theS ou t h  K o rean s a nd US would  bed ownwith hi m d o ing
t hat?
~ ~ ~C onceptJunkie
ScottAd ams ha s had  a number ofvery inter e s t ing (and  I t h in k  insightful)
p ieces  on NorthK orea and  howTrump co uld be th e first pe rso n i n h alf a 
c entury to mak e thege opoliti cal  situat ion  wi thres pe ct to Nor th Korea  b et te rins teado f worse.  H ere  i s o ne of them:
[htt p:// bl og . dil bert.co m /2 0 1 8/01 /1 7/ nort h-k or ea-ca n-be c ome -
sw... ](http:// blo g .dil be rt .com/20 18/01/17/nort h- korea-can- be com e-swit z e rland-
e ast/)

------
caligarnI ’m pret tyshock ed n o one inthi s thre adg ives c reditto Ch in a.K i m Jon g Un 
di dtravel toB e iji ng in  a n ar mored c ar and met with Xi Jin ping. China h asalso b ee n l e vy i ngsa n cti o n s and restricti ng tourist  t r av el etc int o  th ecountry . China  is q u ite ann oyed at w hat Korea  i s do i n g t o threaten  its Bel t
Road pl a ns. A n dwiththe  Korea ncon flict  poten t ial ly ov er, Ch in a hasfreere ign to d ominate Asia, and pushup aga instJap an. No do ubt Tru mp likely 
pus hed things  to  aheadwit h  hisTwit t er  di p lomac y bu t  an extre m el y g l o ba lly
ambitio u s Chi na ha s t o  playa ro le in this as wel l .

~~~
Macuyik o
Me t oo,  an d  itwo uldn't surpris e m ei f  a deal

about Trump's_effect in_the Korean process, but_Cuba will_be_a much_cleaner
test.

------
borkt
This_is making me_wonder if Kim_Jong Il has been_executing officials and
family_so_rapidly not because they were for peace, but rather because they
were pushing a hard_line_agenda and_he_is_the one who wanted to_make peace
with the south. It_would be_very interesting if it turns out that all_of_his
previous public speech_was actually forced, and he had to remove a_lot of
people before he could push_through this agenda._Unlikely_I'm_sure but not
impossible.

~~~
whb07
I really_wonder what his endgame to be_is? What if he realizes the_jig is up
and he can do a_peaceful transition and cash out entirely?

He_could be lord emperor of_a shit_empire or he could be_a wealthy
millionaire/billionaire in_the real_world. All he_has to do is walk away_from
the mess. I_wonder if the South Koreans and_US_would be down_with_him_doing
that?

~~~
ConceptJunkie
Scott Adams_has had a_number_of very_interesting_(and I think insightful)
pieces on North_Korea_and how Trump could be the first_person in half a
century_to_make the geopolitical situation_with respect to North Korea_better
instead of worse. Here is one_of them:

[http://blog.dilbert.com/2018/01/17/north-korea-can-become-
sw...](http://blog.dilbert.com/2018/01/17/north-korea-can-become-switzerland-
east/)

------
caligarn
I’m_pretty shocked_no one in this thread gives credit to China. Kim Jong_Un
did travel to Beijing in an_armored car and met_with Xi_Jinping._China has
also been_levying_sanctions and_restricting tourist travel etc into the
country. China_is quite_annoyed at what Korea is doing_to threaten its Belt
Road_plans._And with the Korean conflict potentially_over, China has free
reign to dominate_Asia, and push up against_Japan._No_doubt Trump likely
pushed things to_a head with his Twitter diplomacy_but an extremely_globally
ambitious China has to play a role_in_this as well.

~~~
Macuyiko
Me too, and it_wouldn't_surprise me if a deal