In what way do you see the US policy toward NK being harmed by Trump saluting the general? How has that affected the way he will negotiate in the future? Exactly what leverage do you see NK having because of the salute? Do you think Trump had diminished his negotiating power with Kim because he saluted the general? If yes, how and why has it been diminished?
I am going to reference both the saluting of the general and the praise he is lavishing on Kim:
(1) It betrays our national values. I support diplomacy with North Korea, but you can engage in diplomacy without such behavior.
(2) All of this is a great for North Korea's propoganda purposes. Which of course they are using extensively.
(3) I think Trump could be diminishing his options moving forward. He is now committed with his comments. What does he do if Kim doesn't denuclearize? Does he pretend everything is ok, make comments about how denuclearization takes time, etc. while North Korea does nothing? If he wants to maintain all of this is a success politically and his praise of Kim wasn't wrong, doesn't it seem like he would have to do that. If not, does he say he was wrong? He messed up? Does that sound like Trump to you, admitting a mistake?
Again, why limit your options politically? Why not keep your mouth shut for the most part and when you do speak, speak carefully so as to keep options open going forward.
(4) Right now, North Korea is getting everything it wants with simply a promise to denuclearize. If they fail to go through with this promise (as they have always done in the past), what leverage will Trump have unless he changes course and gets tough again?
For example, if Trump says he won't retract the economic sanctions on NK until they have made significant strides in reducing (or abolishing) their nuclear capability, is it your contention that Kim will say "but you saluted our general, so you have to reduce the sanctions!"?
Well first, according to North Korea, Trump has already promised to lift the sanctions. So if he now says, I am not lifting the sanctions he is going to have to explain why. And that why is "North Korea isn't following through on their promise." But Mr. President, didn't you already say that North Korea wasn't a nuclear threat anymore? Didn't you praise Kim? Didn't you say, Didn't you salute....
Trump either has to say, "yeah I was wrong" (do you know Trump to do this?) or he has to act like North Korea is following through when they really aren't. He has to essentially accept a nuclear North Korea because he is boxed in.
I think a wise President would choose his words very carefully so as to not be boxed in, to not have to say he was wrong, and to have numerous options moving forward.
