Lesson Of Singapore Is Nukes Equal Respect

Whatever the result of the Trump-Kim summit tonight, there is a clear message for every leader, every tin-pot dictator, or wannabe in the world. The lesson is that you will get immediate respect, be treated on equal footing with the US, China, and Russia, if you can develop a nuclear bomb and the ballistic missile technology to go with it. That is the lesson of Libya, of the Iran nuclear deal, and of this summit.

This is hardly an original point but it is one that barely seems to be mentioned now that the summit has arrived. Kim’s guided tour of Singapore, taking selfies with the Singaporean Foreign Minister, is reflective of just how much respect he is now given.

Look, there is nothing wrong with talking to North Korea and beginning negotiations. But Trump’s infatuation with personal diplomacy has provided Kim with far more leverage and respectability than he ever could have dreamed. And Kim knows the lesson of how he got here better than anyone. He knows the legacy of Libya and Iran. The idea that he would actually denuclearize is laughable. But Kim will gladly promise to denuclearize in order to receive whatever goodies Trump wants to give him, a promise that would be worthless.

And, like Trump, Kim is a master extortionist. Whatever Trump promises him he can then take back to the Chinese and demand that they match the offer or he will threaten to fall into Trump’s orbit. But, in the end, he knows his nukes will protect him from both Trump and Xi. And that is a lesson so many others like Kim will have learned from this summit.