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Assignment 01
IR NEWS ARTICLE

by Roger Bourke White Jr., copyright August 2018

Assignment

Describe a recent event in the news that relates to international politics. It may be a story about inter-state relations, an international governmental organization such as the United Nations, an international trade issue, an international non-governmental organization such as Amnesty International, climate change, etc. Briefly describe the article, explain both why you chose the event and its significance for global politics.

Answer

The honeymoon between US President Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jung Un over dismantling North Korea's nuclear ambitions and nuclear weapon stockpile seems to be at a rocky point. Trump is calling for Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to cancel his scheduled weekend trip to North Korea.

This having North Korea disappoint is far from unusual, this is routine in the US dealings with North Korea. North Korea's habit of betraying on talks with the US and South Korea is deep and long-standing. Ever since trying to end the Korean War back in the mid-1950's the North Koreans have promised lots and delivered mostly betrayal. The stakes have changed since the North Koreans have developed nuclear weapons and ICBM missiles in the 2010's, but sadly the relation style hasn't changed much at all since the 1950's.

This 24 Aug 18 WSJ article, Trump Says Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Won’t Go to North Korea President signals frustration with deadlocked nuclear talks by Jessica Donati and Peter Nicholas, talks about this latest round of US frustration.

From the article, "WASHINGTON—President Trump canceled Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s scheduled weekend trip to North Korea in a series of tweets Friday after a briefing, signaling for the first time frustration with deadlocked nuclear talks.

“I have asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to go to North Korea, at this time, because I feel we are not making sufficient progress with respect to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula...” Mr. Trump said on Twitter."

 

 

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