Donald Trump expected the Nobel Peace Prize for his summit with North Korean dictator, Kim Jong Un. No matter how many times he was warned that any deal with the hostile foreign government should include verification of dismantling nuclear weapons in exchange for the promises Trump wanted to make, he did not listen. He knew it was impossible and he couldn’t lose face.
Now, Trump’s bragging about his successful meeting with Kim in Singapore is beginning to fall apart thanks to satellite images that show that there has been no effort to end the threat of nuclear war by North Korea.
‘Commercial satellite imagery from June 21 indicates that improvements to the infrastructure at North Korea’s Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center are continuing at a rapid pace. Modifications to the 5 MWe plutonium production reactor’s cooling system appear complete, but a less-than-normal cooling water discharge from the outfall pipe makes a determination of the reactor’s operational status difficult.’
Despite the lack of verification that North Korea’s nuclear program is ending and the threat is being reduced, they’ve already gotten what they wanted out of Trump with the ending of the military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea and Kim was given public legitimacy thanks to photo ops with an American president.
Trump insisted that President Obama’s deal with Iran was terrible and that it was laughable to think that Iran would keep their promises despite numerous inspections that the deal allowed that proved the deal was being honored. After destroying the credibility of the U.S. by rescinding the Iran deal, he may now be forced to end any deal with North Korea, as well.
That is truly terrifying.
Featured image via Getty/Handout
