Chinese Medical Experts Sent to North Korea

by Daveda Gruber:

According to reports Kim Jong Un may be seriously ill. It has been reported that he was in poor health but the situation may be worse than originally thought.

Allegedly, Kim had undergone heart surgery and he wasn’t recovering well. Japanese media is reporting that Kim is in a vegetative state after having a stent procedure.

Shukan Dendai, which is a Japanese magazine, reported that Kim had collapsed in April while visiting a rural area and needed a stent procedure done after the episode.

The magazine went on to say that the surgeon who was in charge of Kim’s operation was not accustomed to dealing with obese patients and was nervous and that led to delays which caused Kim to be left in a vegetative state.

It is also alleged that an unnamed member of Kim’s medical team gave the magazine the information.

On Friday it was reported by Reuters that China had sent a team that included medical experts to North Korea.

It is alleged that the Chinese Communist Party’s International Liaison Department left for North Korea on Thursday. Details are being hushed regarding Kim’s current state.

But South Korea didn’t agree with the other reports. Government officials in that country claim that there has been no unusual activity from North Korea.

On Thursday President Trump said he thought the report that Kim was ill was “incorrect.”

At a coronavirus press briefing Trump said, “I’m hearing they used old documents. I hear the report was an incorrect report. I hope it was an incorrect report.”

Kim is said to have been absent from the “Day of the Sun” celebration that is held to honor the birth of Kim’s grandfather, Kim Il Sung, the founder of North Korea.

This was an unusual occurrence in North Korea where these events are always attended by the Supreme Leader.

If Kim’s health is not good, there would be a new ruler in the Hermit Kingdom and the transition period  could either go smoothly or could cause conflict.

Trump Has Historic Handshake in North Korea

by Daveda Gruber:

President Trump is one for surprises when we least expect them. On Sunday, Trump shook Kim Jung Un’s hand while taking 20 steps into North Korea.

At 3:45 p.m. both men had big grins on their faces as they met in the Demilitarized Zone and crossed the low stone curb separating the North and the South.

On top of the face to face handshake between the two me, they had about a 50-minute meeting behind closed doors. This was a getting back to discussions for the two leaders after their talks broke down during a summit in Hanoi, Vietnam in February. Prior to that, in June, they met in Singapore.

Trump revealed to reporters afterwards that the two leaders had agreed to revive talks on the Hermit Kingdom’s nuclear program.

Trump made it clear that “speed is not the object” in trying to reach a deal but that both sides want “to get it right.”

North Korea is hesitant to give up its nuclear ambitions but the rogue nation needs relief from crushing international sanctions.

The talking between Trump and Kim didn’t lead to any sanctions being lifted but the possibility now exists to scale them back as part of renewed negotiations.

Trump told reporters, “At some point during the negotiation, things can happen.” adding that he suggested Kim could visit Washington, D.C., during their discussions.

Trump says he told Kim that, “at the right time, you’re going to come over” and that that could be “any time he wants to do it.”

The president added that he “would certainly extend the invite” and that, “at some point” it will happen.

Trump is now the first sitting U.S. president to step foot inside North Korea. He described it as “a great day for the world.”

On the South Korean side of the zone, Trump and Kim were joined by the president’s daughter, Ivanka Trump and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner in the “Freedom House.”

Trump tweeted this out:
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”>
<p dir=”ltr” lang=”en”>Leaving South Korea after a wonderful meeting with Chairman Kim Jong Un. Stood on the soil of North Korea, an important statement for all, and a great honor!</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href=”https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1145276110097154048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>June 30, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>

Trump re-tweeted:
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”>
<p dir=”ltr” lang=”ko”>오울렛 초소에서 브리핑을 받고 북측을 바라보며 대화하는 한.미 정상의 모습. 오울렛 초소는 한국전쟁 참전용사인 조셉 오울렛의 희생정신을 기리며 이름붙여진 곳으로 군사분계선에서 불과 25m밖에 떨어지지 않은 최전방 초소입니다. <a href=”https://t.co/xaGkJVBntf”>pic.twitter.com/xaGkJVBntf</a></p>
— 대한민국 청와대 (@TheBlueHouseKR) <a href=”https://twitter.com/TheBlueHouseKR/status/1145229124954251264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>June 30, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>

Trump and Putin Discuss World Affairs and Mueller Probe

by Daveda Gruber:

On Friday President Trump had a conversation with none other than Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two leaders discussed the crisis in Venezuela, nuclear agreements, North Korean denuclearization, Ukraine and trade.

The call between Trump and Putin spoke for a little over an hour. Besides the other important world issues, they discussed special counsel’s Russia investigation.

The president spoke to reporters from the Oval Office about some of the details of the call.

Trump said that the U.S. would “probably start something up shortly between Russia and ourselves,” and that “China would be added down the road.”

The Russian state news agency Tass reported that Trump and Putin spoke about the New START treaty which is the last major arms-control treaty remaining between the U.S. and Russia.

The treaty that was signed in 2010 expires in 2021. That treaty restricts both the U.S. and Russia to 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads on a maximum of 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles and strategic bombers.

Tass reported:

WASHINGTON, May 3. /TASS/. The US aims to improve relations with Russia and expand bilateral trade, US President Donald Trump said on the outcomes of the phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We also discussed trade. We intend to do a lot of trade with Russia, we do some right now, and it’s up a little bit,” Trump said. “And getting along with Russia and China is a good thing.”

Earlier on Friday, Trump and Putin have held a phone call, during which they discussed “the current state and prospects of bilateral relations with a focus on economic cooperation”, the Kremlin press service informed. The presidents also discussed North Korea, Venezuela, Ukraine, and nuclear disarmament.

Trump said China “very much” wants to be a part of that potential nuclear deal.

Trump took to Twitter to give his thoughts on the phone call:

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un traveled to Russia last week to meet with Putin and the two spoke about the importance for Russia to continue to help put pressure on North Korea to denuclearize.

In a statement released by the Kremlin after Friday’s call said Putin stressed that “Pyongyang’s conscientious fulfillment of its obligations should be accompanied by reciprocal steps to reduce sanctions pressure on North Korea.”

Trump and Putin also spoke about Venezuela. Trump said Putin said he was “not looking to get involved,” but would “like to see something positive happen.” Trump said the U.S. wanted to offer “some humanitarian aid.”

Trump said, “We want to help on a humanitarian basis.”

The two also spoke about the Russia investigation. Trump said, “We discussed it and he actually sort of smiled when he said something to the effect that it started off as a mountain and it ended up as a mouse. But he knew that because he knew there was no collusion.”

You can see and hear Trump speaking about his talk with Putin here: