Trump warns America: Russia is undermining the U.S. on North Korea

Admin Fri 19 Jan 2018, 1:15 am

Trump warns America: Russia is undermining the U.S. on North Korea
January 18, 2018
https://www.conservativeinstitute.org/foreign-policy/russia-undermining-u-s.htm?utm_source=boomtrain&utm_medium=NS1&utm_campaign=1516307510673&utm_source=boomtrain&utm_medium=NS1&utm_campaign=1516307510554
Trump warns America: Russia is undermining the U.S. on North Korea
Gage Skidmore / CCL
The nuclear showdown between North Korea and the United States appears to be in a stalemate. Despite a number of global sanctions, Pyongyang still reportedly has access to coal and oil supplies, and this isn’t pleasing to Washington or European security forces.

Some, including President Trump, assert that Russia is undermining the international community’s attempts to economically isolate North Korea. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Reuters, the president claimed that Moscow is offsetting some of the progress made by China by giving Pyongyang access to energy supplies.

Russia has denied any wrongdoing.

Could these assertions weaken objectives to improve U.S.-Russia relations?

Trump Accuses Russia of Helping North Korea
Western European security sources told the newswire last month that Russian tankers supplied oil and coal to North Korea in the weeks following the sanctions. According to the sources, there was a minimum of three instances that Russia transferred cargoes at sea to North Korea that would violate the international penalties.

On Wednesday, President Trump reiterated these concerns to Reuters, warning that Russia is undermining the efforts by China, the U.S., and other regional players. He also praised Beijing for its measures but noted that the world’s second-largest economy could do a little bit more.

Trump said at the Oval Office in a 53-minute interview:

Russia is not helping us at all with North Korea. What China is helping us with, Russia is denting. In other words, Russia is making up for some of what China is doing.

He [Vladimir Putin] can do a lot. But unfortunately we don’t have much of a relationship with Russia, and in some cases it’s probable that what China takes back, Russia gives. So the net result is not as good as it could be.

Russian leadership maintains that it has not contravened the sanctions installed by the United Nations Security Council. Beijing and Moscow both signed onto the sanctions imposed in 2017.

Trump Talks Other China, North Korean Issues
With a fresh can of Diet Coke on his desk, the president discussed other issues relating to China and North Korea.

He revealed that he was considering slapping a large fine on China over allegations of theft of intellectual property. The accusations are still being investigated.

One of the biggest challenges facing Trump’s second year in the White House will undoubtedly be Kim Jong Un and his nuclear artillery. When asked about meeting with the North Korean leader, Trump expressed doubts that face-to-face negotiations would be successful.

“I’d sit down, but I‘m not sure that sitting down will solve the problem,” the president said, citing his three predecessors for failing to settle the foreign policy file.

On many previous occasions, Trump has not dismissed direct communications with Kim.

In the end, the president wants a “peaceful” conclusion.

This month, Kim said he would be open to enter into talks with South Korea. The announcement surprised many observers, including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who urged Kim to “tell me he wants to talk.”

Ahead of the Winter Olympics, North Korea announced that it would march with its southern neighbors under the same flag. North Korea is sending a delegation of 500 people to the Olympics, a diplomatic overture that could ease tensions and establish a further dialogue.

Trump needs a resolution quick. If it takes the Winter Olympics to achieve this, then the International Olympic Committee (IOC) may finally be useful for something rather than destroying economies and fleecing taxpayers.

Let’s hope this is the exception, and something useful comes out of the 2018 Olympic Games.