No adjective can appropriately describe the eye-to-eye meeting between US Pres. Donald Trump and N. Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore recently.
Negative observers pounced on it the moment the topic was brought up and they almost succeeded when the original date was aborted and then postponed.
The crux of the summit was about the “de-nuclearization” of North Korea’s dreaded military arsenal that has perennially threatened global peace and stability.
The eyes of the world were on these two personalities who exchanged sharp barbs in-between but wonder of wonders, the language barrier did not prevent them from meeting halfway around the world in a neutral venue.
Taken as equals in the language of diplomatic protocol, the event was extraordinary because it was an encounter between two leaders representing contrary ideologies: Trump was the leader of the world’s most powerful democracy while Kim was the third-generation heir of a dynastic dictatorship that challenged accepted norms of global affairs.
“We’re starting the process…it will begin very clearly,” said the overly-ecstatic POTUS (President of the United States), exuding more optimism than usual.
Trump said the safeguard is that the US sanction will stay in place until Washington had seen progress.
Meaning, the initiative of de-arming will begin with North Korea displaying sincerity as the sanctions are slowly lifted in a progressive manner.
For the record, the Trump-Kim summit is a first as two sitting leaders meet, shake hands and agree to put to an end the decades-old enmity that has placed the world on its toes.
The presence of ex-NBA star Dennis Rodman, who is reportedly a close friend of the young North Korean leader, was diagnosed as “helpful” even if the global media did not put any importance to it.
The media coverage showed a very amiable hand-shaking event, high-lighted by the signing of the accord where both parties appeared very satisfied.
The text of the agreement cited nothing about previous US demands for “complete, verifiable and irreversible de-nuclearization,” which is meant to define the scrapping of nuclear weapons.
As for this armchair observer, I would assume that we have, initially, pre-judged the young Kim with a negative appreciation.
Though he may be a communist, an atheist and agnostic all rolled into one, yet I am now starting to believe that Kim Jong-Un has a conscience, after all.
He must have reflected carefully how his people have suffered enough through the years under their narrow-minded dynastic leadership and that it was about time they got to live as prosperously as their SK counterparts.
Otherwise, why would Kim suddenly make a 180-degree turnaround?
Somewhere along the way, the path of peace is just around the corner.
History will record the path of peace Trump and Kim decided to tread amidst the conflicts that materialism has founded.
Why it took this long for the US and North Korea to sit down and agree is a big question mark to this deadline beater as America continues to flaunt itself as a dove of peace.
The world needs peace in the same way it wants prosperity.
Omar Khayyam, the great Persian poet and religious philosopher, wrote: “When I want to understand what is happening today or try to decide what will happen tomorrow, I look back.” (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) Heb.12:2: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
