Question:
A presidential summit was held between America and North Korea, with the meeting of their presidents, Trump and Kim, on June 12, 2018, in Singapore, where they signed a joint document at the conclusion of the summit. The agreement was reached quickly, despite the fact that tension between them reached its peak last year, with both threatening to strike the other with nuclear weapons. How did the agreement happen with such speed? What are its contents and results?
Answer:
To clarify the reality of the matter, we review the following points:
1- America tried, through repeated and escalating threats, to make North Korea agree to give up its nuclear weapons. However, these threats were of no use, and North Korea did not submit to them, nor did it abandon its nuclear program and weapons. At that point, America resorted to other methods, namely diplomatic and political methods and economic pressure. One of these methods was for America to exert its utmost effort to make China pressure North Korea. We mentioned in a Question and Answer dated April 23, 2017: "For all these reasons, America is not ready for war in North Korea now, and it has no other suitable solutions. It is waiting for China to apply pressure and is trying to speed that up, as if it is threatening China that it must comply with America and engage in pressuring Pyongyang to dismantle its nuclear weapons." America clearly announced at that time, through the mouth of its Acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Susan Thornton, that it "wants to solve this problem with North Korea through peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula" (Russia Today, April 17, 2017). Diplomatic contacts began between the two parties via China and through its pressure. Pressure was exerted by imposing economic sanctions and political blockade, working to isolate it internationally and stirring propaganda against it to force it to submit and prepare for denuclearization. To this were added the temptations of promises of a prosperous economy directly and through South Korea, which began a rapprochement with North Korea and an international opening towards it.
2- Secret diplomatic contacts began through China, where former Secretary of State Tillerson contacted the North Koreans through China in July 2017. He showed his objection to Trump's reckless style, who was threatening to wipe North Korea off the face of the earth at the same time Tillerson was negotiating with the North Koreans secretly in China! When the North Koreans heard Trump's threats, they left the talks and departed China for their country. Consequently, Tillerson became angry and described his president as a "moron" on July 20, 2017, as later revealed by the American NBC channel on October 4, 2017, quoting three American officials. Trump had written in a tweet on Twitter the day after Tillerson announced that America had direct communication channels with North Korea, saying, "I told Rex Tillerson, our wonderful Secretary of State, that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man." Something similar happened—that is, the use of threats during negotiations—when US Vice President Mike Pence tried to meet with North Koreans in South Korea during his visit there under the pretext of participating in the Winter Olympics. He paved the way for this by saying on February 7, 2018, during a speech to his country's forces at Yokota Air Base in Japan, that "his country will always seek peace and we will work more than ever for a better future..." (Reuters, February 7, 2018). He said this while preparing to go to South Korea in an attempt to meet officials from North Korea under the cover of attending the opening of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, which is about 80 km from the border with North Korea. However, Pence three days later, on February 10, 2018, stated: "It is necessary to continue to isolate North Korea economically and diplomatically until it abandons its nuclear and ballistic programs" (Al-Arabiya, February 10, 2018). This is what prompted North Korea to cancel the meeting with Pence. All of this indicates that the American political style adopted by Trump is the use of threats to pressure the opponent during negotiations and diplomatic contacts to make the opponent submit to what America wants. This is also confirmed by what Mike Pompeo said while he was head of the CIA: "President Trump is focused on a diplomatic solution to the crisis with North Korea, but the CIA is working to provide him with another set of options" (Reuters, January 23, 2018). Thus, other options suggesting threats are mixed with the diplomatic solution. It seems that this style—threats during diplomatic solution negotiations—did not please Tillerson because it caused him embarrassment as Secretary of State, so Trump dismissed him.
3- Thus, this style did not work with North Korea; they would cut off negotiations if there was any kind of threat. If not for China's intervention, the summit would not have been held. For this reason, Trump, following the summit with Kim during his press conference in Singapore, directed his "thanks to Chinese President Xi Jinping, who exerted efforts in recent months to facilitate this historic summit" (Agence France-Presse, June 12, 2018). China had exerted pressure on North Korea to make concessions. The official Chinese news agency Xinhua mentioned on March 28, 2018, that "North Korean leader Kim Jong-un paid an unofficial visit to China from Sunday (March 25, 2018) to Wednesday (March 28, 2018), where they comprehensively discussed the situation in the world and the Korean Peninsula, and that Chinese President Xi Jinping informed his North Korean counterpart that China is committed to the goal of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and ensuring the existence of peace and stability as well as solving the problem through dialogue and negotiations." The North Korean news agency reported that its "leader Kim Jong-un visited China to personally congratulate Xi Jinping on the occasion of his re-election as President of China, which is consistent with the friendly traditions between the two countries... and that he expressed his hope that his first visit to China would contribute to establishing peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, declaring his readiness to conduct a dialogue with America and South Korea as well as holding meetings with their leaders." He added: "The denuclearization of Korea is possible if Washington and Seoul take consistent and concerted measures to achieve peace." For this reason, Trump announced on his Twitter account on March 28, 2018, rejoicing at what was achieved from that visit: "Received message last night from XI JINPING of China that his meeting with KIM JONG UN went very well and that KIM looks forward to meeting with me." Thus, China offered North Korea as a sacrifice to America for the sake of its interests, exerting pressure on North Korea until it made its president ready to offer concessions and meet the arrogant Trump. Especially since China had actually participated in political pressure and in making decisions in the Security Council and placing sanctions on North Korea, which was an influential factor in making North Korea ready to make concessions regarding its nuclear program. It sees that if it loses China's support and backing, and if China subsequently works to blockade and tighten the noose around it, North Korea will suffer greatly! Therefore, North Korea made concessions! The Chinese Foreign Ministry revealed its influential role in North Korea's decision, announcing that "Beijing played a positive role in the Korean Peninsula" (Reuters, AFP, May 23, 2018). Thus, China showed that it is more keen on achieving its commercial interests with America than it is on an ally from which it achieves no commercial profits; rather, it might be commercially harmed because of it, even if it were a communist comrade. The calculations of the great communist state have become commercial profits rather than protecting other allied communist states! It is as if China does not realize that America, while seeking the disarmament of North Korea, is only using this issue to encircle China and prevent its control over the East and South China Seas!
4- What confirms this is China's announcement of its welcome of the summit and its ally North Korea's announcement of its concession of its nuclear weapons for the benefit of America. Senior Chinese diplomat and State Councilor Wang Yi said after the summit: "Beijing welcomes the summit between US President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and supports it, and hopes that the two countries will reach a basic consensus towards achieving denuclearization." He added: "At the same time, there is a need for a peace mechanism for the Korean Peninsula to dispel North Korea's logical security concerns" (Reuters, June 12, 2018). If China had sufficient political awareness and strong political will, it would not have pressured North Korea, its ally, in this manner! But it proved that its horizon and political awareness of international politics are still narrow and its political will is still weak. It settled for being keen that its commercial relations with America remain good in exchange for subjecting North Korea, and it does not look far ahead to what matters will lead to. It is not unlikely that America will work to win over North Korea, and the latter will become closer to America than to China. America may seek to create a unity or union between the two Koreas, so the new Korea becomes a power separate from China's influence. The example of Vietnam is not far off, as it became hostile to China after America united South and North Vietnam in the Paris Agreement in 1975!
5- China played the primary role in making North Korea agree to the summit meeting and for its denuclearization to be on the table without being accompanied by American denuclearization—since America is the only country that has used it and spread corruption in the land—but China's pressure had an effective impact! Thus, the summit was held... It was expected that the summit would last for two days, but it was shortened to one day, and a comprehensive framework agreement was completed, indicating North Korea's rapid response to what America wanted. North Korea destroyed a nuclear test site to prove its readiness to abandon its nuclear program, as well as releasing three Americans held by it. Trump expressed his joy at what he achieved, saying: "The summit was wonderful and achieved great progress," while Kim considered it a historic event, saying: "The world will see a major change" (Reuters, June 12, 2018). They signed a joint statement consisting of four points: First, the two parties commit to establishing good relations in accordance with the desire of the two peoples for peace and prosperity. Second, the two parties will work to establish and enhance a lasting and stable peace on the Korean Peninsula. Third, North Korea commits to taking measures for complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. As for the fourth point, it related to the humanitarian aspect, with a pledge to return the remains of American prisoners and those missing since the American-Korean War (1950-1953). Trump described the agreement as "comprehensive and very important," and Kim pledged in the statement toward "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula" (BBC, June 12, 2018). This statement indicates that there is a framework agreement, not an agreement with points specifying what was agreed upon, how denuclearization will be implemented, its mechanisms, its timing, the monitoring of implementation, and other matters required by an agreement ready for immediate implementation, as happened in the nuclear agreement with Iran, where all those details were written.
6- Accordingly, it is expected that America will conduct lengthy negotiations and talks with North Korea that may extend for years. It appears that Trump wanted to achieve a quick initial agreement and settle the problem with North Korea, as he had made threats and could not retreat from them except by achieving something showing that he succeeded and subjected North Korea. As we said previously, if not for China's pressure, Trump's threats would not have produced this summit and North Korea's announcement of its readiness for denuclearization and its signing of that. Consequently, Trump records for himself a historic victory that may facilitate his success in the second round of the American presidential elections when they take place in more than two years, covering all the scandals that were raised against him and have not stopped until now, and the accusations of his failure and others' criticism of his recklessness and stupidity. What proves this are Trump's own statements, as he said: "Kim told me that his country is already working on destroying a missile engine testing facility... We will lift sanctions when we achieve significant steps in the issue of denuclearization... We did not concede anything during the negotiations... We will stop conducting military maneuvers targeting North Korea... I will invite Kim to the White House at the appropriate time." He said, "He signed an agreement with Kim on denuclearization. I think we have the necessary framework to prepare for the denuclearization of North Korea" (Al Jazeera, June 12, 2018). Thus, Trump wanted to end the file of tension with North Korea, showing that he had thereby achieved a great victory.
7- Ending the file of tension with North Korea or calming it helps Trump to devote himself to his trade war with his allies and enemies! His relations with his allies became tense when he announced that he had imposed high customs duties on their exports of steel and aluminum to his country, considering the previous trade agreements with them unfair. He wrote on Twitter on June 8, 2018, as he headed to the G7 summit in Quebec, Canada: "I look forward to correcting the unfair trade deals with the G7 countries. If this doesn't happen, we will come out even better." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Macron rejected those measures in a joint press conference where they said: "They are not ready to accept everything for the sake of a joint statement with America" (AFP, June 6, 2018). Trump then accused France and Canada of imposing huge tariffs on American goods and accused Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau of being "very indignant." A Canadian official told reporters on the evening of June 7, 2018: "There will be some big disagreements on many issues" (Reuters, June 8, 2018). Even French President Macron, who had worked for Franco-American rapprochement, could no longer maintain his composure and try to humor America or engage in the maneuvering and circling that the French do not master but the British do. Macron said: "The other six members of the G7 may form their own group if necessary," adding his criticism of Trump that: "No leader stays forever" (Reuters, June 8, 2018). British cunning appeared when Britain wanted to show that it did not accept these responses to keep one foot with America while inciting others against it. Its Prime Minister May told reporters: "She wants the European Union to exercise restraint in its response to American tariffs, and the response must be proportionate and legal" (Reuters, June 8, 2018). The German Chancellor said in an interview with German television ARD on June 10, 2018, regarding Trump's decision to withdraw his signature: "This is harsh, this is disappointing this time, but it is not the end." German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in a tweet on Twitter in response to Trump's tweet: "You destroyed a huge amount of trust." The tension culminated in the G7 summit held in Canada with attacks on Trump by the leaders of other countries participating in the summit. Trump withdrew his signature from the joint statement of the G7 summit and accused the Canadian Prime Minister, who chaired the summit, of being "dishonest and weak" (AFP, June 10, 2018). He left the summit before its conclusion, just as he had arrived late. Thus, it appears that a trade war has broken out, and Trump announced it on March 2, 2018, when he wrote a tweet on Twitter: "When a country (USA) is losing many billions of dollars on trade with virtually every country it does business with, trade wars are good, and easy to win." All of this indicates that the trade war file is very important for America, as it is still suffering from the repercussions of the financial crisis that erupted in 2008, and its debt has reached more than 20 trillion dollars. President Trump, with his commercial mentality, is working to save the American economy, raising his slogan "America First," which portends the disintegration of international institutions that America has long used to impose its influence globally, and consequently the disintegration of the global order and the emergence of a new international position where America no longer sacrifices for the sake of remaining the master of the world with the help of other countries and tolerance by letting the trade balance lean towards them. Instead, it has begun to think only of sovereignty along with commercial profit without helping allies to keep them under its umbrella and lead them behind it.
8- America does not adhere to any agreement and quickly breaks it or abandons it if it sees that its interest requires breaking it and turning back on its heels. It did the same with North Korea in 2003 during the era of George W. Bush, breaking the agreement it signed with it in 1994 during the era of Bill Clinton. Here is its current president, Trump, signing a joint statement with his allies at the G7 summit in Canada and then breaking his agreement and withdrawing his signature one day later. He has also broken the Iranian nuclear agreement that his country signed during the era of Obama in 2015. Thus, this agreement with North Korea is not guaranteed, and America will work to threaten to break it to pressure North Korea to implement it when negotiations begin about that, and whenever it finds reluctance from it or rejection of one of the clauses!
Breaking covenants, arrogance, haughtiness, lack of concern for others, and working to blackmail them have become inseparable characteristics of America. All these matters are factors for its fall sooner or later. The Rightly Guided Khilafah (Caliphate) will return to occupy the position of the leading state, by Allah's permission, to establish justice, maintain the covenant, spread guidance, uphold the truth, and remove falsehood, so that humanity may be happy and people may enjoy security and safety in all fields. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ brought glad tidings of it after this oppressive rule (Malik Jabri):
ثُمَّ تَكُونُ خِلَافَةً عَلَى مِنْهَاجِ النُّبُوَّةِ
"Then there will be a Khilafah upon the method of the Prophethood." (Narrated by Ahmad from Hudhayfah, may Allah be pleased with him). And that is not difficult for Allah.
2nd of Shawwal 1439 AH June 16, 2018 CE