Well, based on the number of countries that have been trading with North Korea, I'd say he's partaking in international relations—as needed.
"With the North Korean nuclear threat escalating https://www.axios.com/diplo-tweeting-and-the-cycle-of-escalation-with-north-korea-2481029200.html, President Trump tweeted https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/904377075049656322 that he is "considering ... stopping all trade with any country doing business with North Korea." Here are the countries that trade with North Korea, based on 2015 data http://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/profile/country/prk/#Imports from MIT's Observatory of Economic Complexity. China is the biggest player, buying 83% of North Korean exports and selling 85% of the goods that North Korea imports. China is also the United States' largest trade partner. The countries traded $578 billion in goods last year. India is second, accounting for 3.5% of exports and 3.1% of imports from North Korea. All told, Asian countries buy 92% of North Korean exports and source 93% of North Korean imports Russia is a European leader in North Korean trade, but accounts for less than 2% of imports and exports. Over 100 additional countries trade with North Korea, including France, Mexico, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Chile. North Korea's exports increased 54% from $1.83 billion to $2.83 billion from 2010 to 2015. Coal comprises a third of North Korean exports, and garments represent another third." ~Axios Kim doesn't think he can run the world as he runs his own country. He'd like to keep his own country and also re-unify the Korean Peninsula, I'm guessing (but that ain't happening any time soon.) We have no idea if he is ignoring the economic pressures coming from the UN or not. The latest round was just enacted a couple of weeks ago. I agree that any allies he might have had are doing an about-face. It's a dangerous and volatile situation, imo. Trump is a lonely guy. He has no real friends; all his relationships are purely transactional ones. He would likely be the first to say that friendships (as defined by most) have no place in business or political success. When you say Kim's days are numbered, what do you mean? ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, <jr_esq@...> wrote : Emily, Kim Jong Un has not been dealing with the rest of the world. He thinks he can run the world as he is ruling his country. He does not respect any authority above his own. This is the result of inheriting the authority from his father, who ruled N Korea with an iron hand. Increasingly, he is becoming more independent from the neighboring economic powers like China and Japan. He is similarly ignoring the economic pressures coming from the UN and, more likely, hidden organizations like the Illuminati, the Mafia and the rest of the underworld. From what I can tell, he has no friends and allies. How can he succeed? While I don't agree with Trump's way of leading the USA, he at least knows he needs friends to succeed in politics and business. This is the reason why I believe the "rocket man" 's days are numbered. ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, <emily.mae50@...> wrote : John, I beg to differ. Kim Jong Un has been the leader of his country far longer than Trump has ours. Kim has been dealing with international relations far longer than the 6 months that T.Rump has been on stage. T.Rump is the real beginner here and he has absolutely no idea of East Asia, it's history, it's culture, it's way of communicating, etc. and knows nothing about any of the powers he has to contend with. T.Rumps words are inflammatory and dangerous. I think he should shut up and let the sanctions play out and listen to the advice of others. I'm guessing the rest of East Asia would appreciate that. You'll note that he backtracked a bit—as long as both T.Rump and Kim Jong Un are able to save face, perhaps this will resolve through diplomacy. I don't think that any of us should be so bold as to suggest that T.Rump is saying what he is because he has dedicated his distracted brain to rational considerations. Nor do I think we can suppose how long Kim will be around. ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, <jr_esq@...> wrote : ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, <emily.mae50@...> wrote : Emily, We're actually witnessing a high powered international chess game between beginner and seasoned veteran chess player. The beginner is obviously Kim Jong Un. He doesn't know how to play the game and is unaware of the strategies of the game and is clueless as to the various ranks of the various pieces in the game in order to win. He's thinking the game is between he and Trump, ignoring the other pieces that are involved to win. As of date, he has ignored the support and counsel of other nations and economic powers in Asia or the rest of the world to win the game. This is the reason why Trump is saying that Kim will not be around for much longer due to the tremendous economic powers he is going against, not to mention the powers of Nature that uphold life here on earth. On the other hand, Trump is no grand master at this game. But at least he knows the various powers he has contend with in order to win the game. For this reason, I believe Kim Jong Un will only be the "rocket man" for a short time in world affairs. He will ultimately be a target of assassination by his own people or various countries surrounding N Korea, not to mention the American special forces who are willing to take Kim out, much like Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. Trump has a reptilian brain. He isn't "playing" anything and he has no strategy. His MO is simple and he does the same thing with every situation. Easy peasy to figure and predict. Kim Jong Un is not tethered to any reality we are familiar with and T.Rump's escalation should be denounced by our representatives as crazy talk, plain and simple. ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, <jr_esq@...> wrote : I think Trump is playing high stakes poker with Kim Jong Un. He wants to know if Kim will blink when US nuclear missiles are aimed at him. If Kim cowers down, Trump will take advantage of it one way or another. Kim doesn't know it, but he's being manipulated by the master salesman. https://www.yahoo.com/news/north-korea-says-trump-declared-war-165250742.html https://www.yahoo.com/news/north-korea-says-trump-declared-war-165250742.html
