Last week, President Donald Trump made
history with a handshake in his face-to-face meeting with North Korean dictator
Kim Jong Un in Singapore.
“Chairman Kim has the chance to seize
an incredible future for his people. Anyone
can make war—only the most courageous can make peace,” Trump said.
The two leaders were smiling just
before signing a historic document. The
key phrase in the agreement is that in exchange for security guarantees, Kim
reaffirms his commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
“We have a historic meeting and
decided to leave the past behind and we are about to sign a historic document,”
Kim said.
The accord establishes new US-North
Korea relations building towards a lasting, stable peace. It allows the US to recover POW/MIA remains
from the Korean War.
Trump said the US will cut back on its
military exercises with South Korea but will not withdraw any American forces. “We’re not reducing anything,” Trump said. “At some point, I want to get our soldiers
out, get them back home, but not right now.”
Trump also said human rights were part
of the discussion, including the treatment of Christians, who face brutal
persecution in North Korea. Trump spoke
movingly of American college student Otto Warmbier, who spent a year in a North
Korean prison and died days after returning home to the US. “Otto is someone who did not die in vain. He had a lot to do with us being here today,”
said Trump.
It’s hard to believe that months ago
both countries were ready for war, with Trump threatening “fire and fury”
against the rogue regime.
The sanctions on North Korea will not
be lifted until progress toward denuclearization is verified.
“The world will see a major change,”
Kim vowed. “I would like to express my
gratitude to President Trump.”
Trump called Kim a worthy negotiator
and plans to invite him to the White House in the near future.
Rev.
Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain
(Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel
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