Friday Opinion
Read Marc A. Thiessen, Erick Erickson, David Harsanyi, Rich Lowry and Tony Perkins.
Best of Right Opinion
- Marc A. Thiessen: North Korea Is Acting Up Because Trump Has It Cornered
- Erick Erickson: The Media’s Bias Is Showing
- David Harsanyi: Media Coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian Clash Is Built on a Myth
- Rich Lowry: The Russia Temptation
- Tony Perkins: Christian Colleges Press Their Suit on Mandate
For more of today’s columns, visit Right Opinion.
Opinion in Brief
Marc A. Thiessen: “Trump and his national security team have put Kim in a corner, offering him peace, security and prosperity, but only if he first denuclearizes completely, verifiably and irreversibly. Little wonder that North Korea is lashing out. Kim might be looking for a pretext to get out of his meeting with Trump, and the military exercises provide a perfect excuse. He may also be testing Trump to see how badly he wants the summit. Or he may be trying to drive a wedge between the United States and South Korea in advance of the talks. He knows South Korean President Moon Jae-in is deeply invested in his ‘Sunshine Policy’ with Pyongyang. If the North threatens a little rain, perhaps the South — which desperately wants the summit — will pressure Trump to cancel the military exercises or be more flexible at the bargaining table. Trump needs to show Kim that he won’t respond to threats by refusing to call off the exercises. Through back channels, he needs to reaffirm his willingness to provide North Korea with security and prosperity in exchange for immediate denuclearization but also make clear that if North Korea refuses, the alternative is not the status quo. Sanctions will be ramped up, and military action is possible. Above all, Trump should take North Korea’s recent outburst as a signal that Pyongyang is feeling the heat. A cornered animal roars, precisely because it is cornered. Stand firm, Mr. President, and don’t let up the pressure.”