Writing as a man with a 'First Class Honours Degree in Ignorance', I haven't a clue, but there again, nor has The Spectator! This distinguished magazine which is stuffed to the rafters with real 'brainiacs' who understand the ways of the world spends several hefty paragraphs attempting to explain how and why a grossly fat Korean 'nutter' has managed to execute what looks like a triple political somersault - and then there is the elderly and overweight American president who has done the same without, apparently, harming a precious hair on his head! It is, of course, a truth universally acknowledged - well, it is by the NYT and the WaPo - that Donald Trump is an ignorant, brain-damaged oaf whose only skill is in lacquering his hair! Even so, only six months ago we were all busy digging our nuclear shelters in our back gardens ready for the inevitable war in the Far East - but it ain't happened! So what went wrong? Oooops, sorry, what went right?
Alas, and sorry to let you all down (although I doubt many of you thought I had anything useful to say on the subject!), I really do not understand why 'Fat Boy Kim' has executed such a swift about turn. Of course, his tiny little knackers were being squeezed by 'Smiley' Xi, his exceedingly powerful neighbour to the north but for him to suddenly become 'lovey-dovey' with an American-dominated South Korea is truly weird. In addition, I wonder how that gaggle of over-decorated Generals who surround him and whose (relative) wealth and power is tied to an ambitious and aggressive North Korea are re-acting to this new 'peacenik' President? My advice to 'Fat Boy Kim' is watch your back!
In the meantime, what can one say except, 'It's a mystery!'
I think it is simply that he was finally made to understand that if he tried anything he would be glass; a message Obama had failed to spell out with adequate clarity.
Posted by: Cuffleyburgers | Friday, 27 April 2018 at 16:46
Well, coercive diplomacy by a non traditional president helps. Also a SecDef like James "Mad Dog" Mattis helps. The addition of a new SecState in ex CIA boss Pompeo might help. And maybe the Chief Chink Xi figures that things have changed in DC and not the professional failure we have had from various think tanks and State Dept desks re: Korea. DC is where the panic is and Asia is where the uncertainty is.
We shall see.
Posted by: Whitewall | Friday, 27 April 2018 at 17:02
David?
" ... Xi, his exceedingly powerful neighbour to the north ... "
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kn.html
It is not solely China to DRPK's north, there's Russia too.
(And you know what the NYT and the WaPo have to say about "the bosom buddies.")
Posted by: JK | Friday, 27 April 2018 at 17:10
Fuggetaboutit, JK, beneath the flim-flam, Russia is a broken, rusted, clapped out wreck!
Posted by: David Duff | Friday, 27 April 2018 at 17:55
It would be wise to remember that countries, for example Germany in the 1930s, are often dangerous when under pressure. Also, what we've seen from the PRNK so far might only be posturing similar to what they've done in the past.
Posted by: Bob | Friday, 27 April 2018 at 19:23
David?
At the 1:34 mark NightWatch (John McCreary) is "sourced as authoritative:
https://audioboom.com/posts/6830553-north-korea-s-nuke-test-tunnel-collapses-what-is-to-be-done-bruce-bechtol-gordongchang-thedailybeast-behnam-ben-taleblu
Simply advise if you'd like me retrieve the precise reports directly. Have to be email though as you'll recall there's a paywall.
Posted by: JK | Friday, 27 April 2018 at 21:50
I'm with Bob.
When the Dotard is history, a pretext will be found and Rocket Man will be straight back to his, errr, rockets.
Rocket Man's Dad did this peace and goodwill crap several times.
SoD
Posted by: Loz | Friday, 27 April 2018 at 22:47
We may not know what's going on in Korea or America, but I'll tell you something that is going on in Russia: This man will die before Xmas ...
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/novichok-scientist-fears-life-russia-lab-nerve-agent-salisbury-attack-vladimir-uglev-a8326076.html
SoD
Posted by: Loz | Friday, 27 April 2018 at 23:00
Nobel Peace Prize for Mr.Trump I think
Posted by: Jim Jones | Sunday, 29 April 2018 at 06:42