Trump signals a shift in South Korea — and it looks like his 'fire and fury' threats were just a bluff

pulse

November 7, 2017 9:47 AM

Trump's stance on North Korea seemed to shift during his South Korea trip, and now it looks like he isn't thinking about striking the rogue nuclear nation.

President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae In both indicated they would take steps to boost their missile offense and defense.
But Trump's speech lacked his signature threats and focused more on diplomatic pushes.
The fiery rhetoric of Trump's early presidency may have faded, giving way to a more coherent, peaceful North Korea policy.

After months of threats flying back and forth between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a clearer picture of Trump's policy towards Pyongyang has emerged on his trip to Seoul.

At a joint press conference on Tuesday with South Korea's President Moon Jae In, there was a key news line about South Korea's missile capability, but also a taste of Trump the diplomat.

The US and South Korea have long maintained an arms control treaty whereby the payload of Seoul's missiles cannot exceed 1,100 pounds, but now the leaders have scrapped that so Moon can presumably approve the manufacture of more menacing missiles to threaten North Korea with.

Back at home, Trump had just asked Congress for an additional $4 billion in funding for a range of missile defense interceptors for the express purpose of defending against a North Korean missile attack.

Both leaders affirmed their commitment to continuing the joint military exercises that North Korea considers a rehearsal for the invasion and deposing of Kim, but Trump's speech conspicuously lacked something — his signature threats.

Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and Secretary of Defense Mattis all arguably took a more militaristic line towards Pyongyang than Trump did during their separate trips to South Korea.

Along with Moon, Trump's speech only briefly touched on military readiness and cooperation and spent more time offering a vision of peace with North Korea.

" and implement the UN Security Council's resolutions that sanction and isolate North Korea economically. The diplomatic tone of Trump's speech, during which he stuck firmly to his script, could have been lifted from former President Barack Obama in years past.

Trump's new perspective on North Korea follows a revealing interview he gave to Sharyl Attkisson, in which he said he doesn't think Pyongyang will strike the US. While Trump touted the US as a "

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