cooperation not only with north korea but south korea and perhaps some additional influence in northeast asia that was josh smith reporting from seoul south korea a living human rights activists in the united arab emirates has been sentenced to ten years in prison for criticizing the government and the monsoon seen here with his children was arrested in march last year he was shot and that has been found guilty of using social media platforms that you were in government reputation by spreading misinformation he's also been fined more than two hundred fifty thousand u.s. donna's human rights groups have condemned the day. now within the studio i have views and i she's been looking into human rights in the region welcome first of all tell us more about emmett months as you mentioned he's a very prominent human rights activist in the u.a.e. that sort of rose to prominence in two thousand and eleven parallel to the wave of protests in the middle east known as the arab spring he had actually called for a public petition to boycott the elections in the u.a.e. he was in prison then and was was was r

frank: point for northeast asia. korea is becoming the tuneup among wha -- the tuna among whales. >> if we were to take troop drawdown, where would a reduction of u.s. troops go and what would the likely cost me to the united states itself? frank: they would have a better idea than i would but it depends on a lot of factors. i don't know where they would go. it depends on what our security requirements are around the world, whether we can take them back to the u.s. it depends on other allies and what their needs might be. i would say, there is an assumption we can sort of, have 1.4 million troops in the world, an assumption we can take them out and bring them back to the u.s. it is not that easy. sometimes it is easier to pay for the troops with our posture abroad because we have support from other countries. when korea and japan pay their share of nonpersonnel station costs, that is incredibly helpful, instead of us bringing back how many troops and we are paying for cost. david: to give you the anecdote. in 2004 we

denuclearize the entire korean peninsula but also to ensure sustainable peace and stability throughout northeast asia. joining me now is going to score a spot on josh smith in south korea josh they're calling it the sensitivity and care when it comes to korean diplomacy he seemed to be referring to washington with those comments his comments do certainly get at the heart of what are seen as some of the lingering disagreements between north korea and the united states especially over the timing for example of north korea's plan to the needs of the rice. has said that it is committed to fully beneath the rise in the korean peninsula washington has however insisted on. a quick process that potentially leads to north korea giving up its nuclear weapons on a very short time frame someone calling for more of a phased approach and perhaps a phased loosening of sanctions that rob is seems to be envisioning something much more along the lines of what pyongyang has asked. the number all of us also invite of kim jong want to visit moscow why does all this happening now what does that moscow strategic interest i

originally called it off last week but the fact of the matter is russia has waning influence here in northeast asia it's been more or less sidelined it's not it's not a central player in the korean peninsula standoff like it used to be during the cold war let's say and i think the probe into russia's alleged meddling in the u.s. election in two thousand and sixteen has also added to that why the u.s. and why washington and moscow haven't worked more closely together north korea's nuclear weapons development and while moscow also once the sea ten wins. decrease here on the peninsula but really it's about trying to have influence once again in the region. and you know in an effort to have that influence chase and we have these reports coming in today that last profits apparently raised the issue of international sanctions against north korea while and qiang today what is the message there from moscow. russia wants north korea open for business russia has always had economic interests with north korea whether it be sharing ports the cold trade other mineral resources russia once the developments far e

here you have a lot more global powers in northeast asia.ate that has nuclear weapons. it has developed the ballistic technology allegedly to reach the continental u.s. with their icbms so i would say two separate sets of circumstances but geographic reality has a lot to play. but looking in terms of consistency and policy there's a lot to -- >> and trust. >> the issue of trust is -- from the iranian perspective how can you trust the united states if they can't keep their word with us. i'd say from the trump administration per speck tifr they'd say it's very different because we have a reliable partner in china, south korea, we have japan and i'll use the word less visibly also russia does have a paper in this. >> to that point, the issue between iran and north korea, you know, if you were in iran right now and you're watching this and you say look what north korea's achieved by having ballistic missiles, by taking american hostages, they got a seat at the table with the president of the united states. meanwhile iran who has entered into neg

may be the united states, my gosh, will turn out to be the most influential power right here in northeast asia moving to check it out. >> bret: in the meantime, we are still checking the russia probe on a lot of different fronts. the president tweeting today a number of tweets, but this one, not that it matters what i never fired james comey because of russia. the corrupt mainstream media loves to keep pushing that narrative, but they know that it is not true. that prompted a lot of looking into sound bites. like this one from nbc. >> regardless of recommendation, i was going to fire comey, knowing that there was no good time to do it. in fact, when i decided to just do it, i said to myself, i said, you know, this russian thing with trump and russia is a made up story, it is a excuse by the democrats for her lost incorporated losing an election that they should have won. >> bret: what is the deal? did you figure out the white house response? >> they are not talking much on this. i actually did some reporting today on other conversations that trump has been having privately, pressuring jeff ses

spread sheet and figure it out they will the to benefit the countries in the region from peace in northeast asia.

country in seoul, in washington, in cairo, so he really has an expertise on the middle east, on northeast asia, on u.s./japan security and on united nations issues. he served as many year -- for many years as director general of asia where he was responsible for relationships with china, north and south korea. and most recently, he was vice minister of foreign affairs at the foreign ministry prior to coming to this assignment. so now, if you could please join me in giving a warm welcome to ambassador sugiyama. [applause] >> ambassador zumwalt, everybody gathered here for this morning and ladies and gentlemen, well, jim, thank you very much, indeed, for your nice introduction about myself. jim and i spend quite a number of times. to begin with, i think that i can tell you that among these times which we share, one of the really unforgettable moment was march 11. really the time when we had catastrophe. and that was a time when jim and i and others discussing something which i don't think i can disclose to you because that still is something we wouldn't be able to make it open, you know, normal

spread sheet and figure it out they will the to benefit the countries in the region from peace in northeast asia. for russian military personnel have been killed during a terrorist raid and did his whole province in syria according to russia's defense ministry here at least the news just a few hours ago with more his shocking thing again. syrian unit in the area backed by russian servicemen was attacked for roughly an hour that's according to the statement we have from the russian defense ministry and while it has not yet been clarified who is behind the attack we do know that small pockets of eisel are still left in that area the ministry stated that four russian servicemen did die in the attack two at the scene and five more were taken to the hospital where two more succumb to their injuries and that makes this one of the deadliest attacks involving russian servicemen in the country the ministry also stated that those who perished will be receiving commendations for their service and their sacrifice the russian military is of course currently present in the area and it is by is very capacity i

washington also so so i think that we're going to see a huge ripple effect from the north northeastern northeast asia to washington. pile on and you know and trump is on one hand trump has got great power as a u.s. president but on this hand politically he's very. yes he is really on the ropes it's a ferocious problem. so i don't know i doubt very much it's he'll be able to withstand these forces and i think that he will i'm pretty sure he is incapable of engaging in the same kind of grand gesture that kim jong un is willing to engage on you know let me go back to sort of i mean you know he won the presidency he surprises it's all the time you know maybe it'll work this time i don't know i mean don't you think also it's just a mindset i mean north korea is this cartoonish evil character the axis of evil i mean it's so convenient and there's so many people that have made entire careers out of demonizing and i'm not i'm not siding with the north koreans or its leadership i don't do that kind of thing i i'm basically a realist when it comes to foreign policy so but i mean don't you think that's part of

it will be to benefit the countries in the region from peace in northeast asia. the world's business and political elites gathered this week in russia's northern capital the international economic forum in st petersburg brought together more than fifteen thousand business figures investors and politicians and on a friday a puddle of world leaders from russia japan china and france discuss the main economic and political challenges facing the world today. and we're going to do it sure that we have to do everything possible to save the deal the u.s. president hasn't closed the doors a negotiation he says he's dissatisfied with a number of issues in the deal but he doesn't exclude talks with iran it's a two way road the door must remain open i think not all is lost if they are put in a stop i couldn't change the terms decision on iran but at least i tried i explain that this agreement was signed using international efforts i think that president trump has refused to sign a two thousand and fifteen agreement because he was initially signed by his predecessor who is a

spreadsheet and figure it out they will be going to benefit the countries in the region from peace in northeast asia. now for russian military personnel have been killed during .

russia has a very keen interest in what happens in northeast asia and it's important for him to be there he is the most experienced foreign minister in the world and so it's good news that he's going and might wonder why he has not been early and why there hasn't been some of the earth. but anyway he's there now and there certainly is you've got a washington's our language or in recent weeks or months donald trump saying he's going to bring fire and fury to north korea he's going to totally eradicate north korea on the other hand though you've got sol pyongyang china and others constructively working towards peace why is there such a disparity in the rhetoric well i mean we have the united states on one hand and specially chunk who goes into a flamboyant rhetoric adolescent talk and so forth you know about that and on the other hand we have these various other parties whose agenda is reward of course slightly different but basically all of them good about russia china south and north korea wants peace the terms on which peace will happen of course still to be decided now in the meantime

it will be to benefit the countries in the region from peace in northeast asia. to cancel zation of u.s. north korea summit was also discussed by vladimir putin and emmanuel micron at the st petersburg international economic forum on thursday. did everything do promised before even blew up the tunnels in the silos honest to sate and after that we heard about the cancellation of the summit. and you know what i would really want is for that process already underway to decrease tensions on the peninsula as well as the process of denuclearization in this omen of the pincher process to continue. them and it would be sure to go was in st petersburg following a russian leaders' meeting with the french president first when a lot of our putin and emanuel macron appeared in front of t.v. cameras there was none of this trump get together stahl tapping on the shoulder and other things and it seemed that the leaders of russia and friends were going to get away with some traditional diplomatic language when they were going to talk to the journalists however when the press conf

also so so i think that we're going to see a huge ripple effect from the north northeastern the northeast asia on to washington as all sides are piled on and you know and trump is on one hand trump has got great power as a as a u.s. president but on this hand politically he's very weak he is really on the ropes it's a ferocious pummeling so so i don't know i doubt very much it'll be able to withstand these forces and i think that he will i'm pretty sure he is incapable of engaging in the same kind of grand gesture that kim jong un is willing to engage you know let me go back to sort of i mean you know he won the presidency he surprises it's all the time you know maybe it'll work this time i don't know i mean don't you think also it's just a mindset i mean north korea is this cartoonish evil character the axis of evil i mean it's so convenient and there's so many people that have made entire careers out of demonizing and i'm not i'm not siding with the north koreans or it's . i don't do that kind of thing i i'm basically a realist when it comes to foreign policy so but i mean don't you think th

to get out of the united states so an absolute security guarantee would be a game changer in northeast asiaable in this way?” think because kim jong—un thinks the nuclear weapons programme has been completed so he can change the diplomatic outreach and engage with neighbouring countries and especially the great powers. so it's really unusual in a sense that we may be embarking on a new direction of how the north korea problem can be handled. chiew—ping hoo from the national university of malaysia. former us president george bush senior has been taken to hospital in maine. a family spokesman tweeted that president bush , who's 93 , had experienced low blood pressure and fatigue but was alert and not in any discomfort. the former president, seen here at the funeral of his wife, barbara, last month was hospitalised in texas the day after and stayed there for nearly two weeks. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme: singapore used to have the world's most useful passport but we find out which country has taken the crown — and why. also on the programme: they're among

washington also so so i think that we're going to see a huge ripple effect from the north northeastern northeast asia on to washington. pile on and you know and trump is on one hand trump has got great power as a as a u.s. president but on this hand politically he's very. yes he is really on the ropes it's a ferocious problem. so i don't know i doubt very much it'll be able to withstand these forces and i think that he will i'm pretty sure he is incapable of engaging in the same kind of grand gesture that kim jong un is willing to engage and you know let me go back to sort of i mean you know he won the presidency he surprises it's all the time you know maybe it'll work this time i don't know i mean don't you think also it's just a mindset i mean north korea is this cartoonish evil character the axis of evil i mean it's so convenient and there's so many people that have made entire careers out of demonizing and i'm not i'm not siding with the north koreans or its leadership i don't do that kind of thing i i'm basically a realist when it comes to foreign policy so but i mean don't you think that's part

to benefit the countries in the region from peace in northeast asia. let's just full. a lot of the points don was making there a tug of war over the south china sea between america and china appears to be intensifying the pentagon state in light of evidence that beijing is militarizing disputed waters its no longer invited to join in the world's largest maritime military drills taking place this summer. well during a meeting with the u.s. secretary of state in washington on whedon's state china's foreign minister rebuked america for their decision was i was your we find the pentagon's decision to disinvite the chinese military to be a very constructive move he's also been helpful in terms of creating mutual understanding between the u.s. and china that the u.s. would change negative mindset well dave lindorff from the online news site this can't be happening thinks that the u.s. would be furious if the situation was reversed. u.s. position that china should be able to have defensive equant on those islands that it claims are part of its territory is phenomenally hypocr

cooperation not only with north korea but south korea and perhaps some additional influence in northeast asia. so where you are has been pushing hard for the trump came summit to happen how likely is it that it will go ahead. well all these meetings including a meeting now between a senior north korean official and us secretary of state might pompeo in new york today do seem to signal that both north korea and the united states are quite serious about making this summit happen it does appear like june twelfth could be the target date still whether it gets pushed off could also be an option but in any case given all the effort that both sides appear to be putting into it it does look like a summit will happen one way or another josh smith fellow south korea thank you very much. you're watching the news coming up ahead trouble in paradise betide beach made famous by the hollywood film. beach becomes a victim of its own fame. and germany's golden generation are possibly heading to their last world cup and they have become the first team since brazil in one thousand nine hundred sixty two to reta

the spread she figured out they will the to benefit the countries in the region from peace in northeast asia the set backs in talks between the u.s. and north korea it was one that came up in a meeting between a lot of near putin and emmanuelle kron at the st petersburg international economic forum. everything he promised before even blew up the tunnels and the files on his test site and after that we heard about the cancellation of the summit. and you know it's really what i would really want is for that process already underway to decrease tensions on the peninsula as well as the process of denuclearization in this omen of the pincher process to continue. to feed the people you are too easily into trying to go is in st petersburg closely following the russian leaders meeting with the french president first when vladimir putin and emmanuel macron appeared in front of t.v. cameras there was none of this trauma get together stahl tapping on the shoulder and other things and it seemed that the leaders of russia and friends were going to get away with some traditional diplomatic language when t

chinese and russian economy is developing what they called an economic community of some sort in northeast asia so if the korean peninsula can unify and they can be running and this is there's a lot of projects railroads energy these are all things in there that say look it's time for us to go to the u.s. . and then china and russia and its north korea's neighbors are joining us this. freedom it's always about all right as we go to break court watchers don't forget to let us know what you think at the top of the.

served his country in seoul in washington, in cairo, so he has an expertise on the middle east, on northeast asia, on u.s.-japan security and onion u.n. issues. he served for many years as director general for asia which was responsible for japan's relationships with china, north and south korea, and most recently vice-minister of foreign affairs at the foreign ministry prior to this assignment. so please join me in giving a warm welcome to ambassador su giyama. [applause] he. >> thank you to everybody gathering for the morning. jim, thank you for your nice introduction about myself. jim and i spend quite a number of times to begin with i can tell you that among these times which we share, one of the realun forgettable movements was march 11th when we had a catastrophe and a time that jim and i and other discussing something which i don't think i can discuss to you because that's still something that we wouldn't be able to make it open . but anyway, that afternoon, all of a sudden i think that was something that -- we are just taken aback by the huge earthquake being felt, even in tokyo. so we st

i think one issue is people want security and stability in northeast asia. how to get there, these things are very detailed and very complex and i think that's why trump and kim have to speak in the same room. this is unprecedented. i think either a lot or very little progress can be made if this is the case. i'm hoping it will be the case. >> what is the influence of china in all of this? >> i think china and south korea, what they are trying to do is -- as we have seen in the last few weeks president moon wants to play the lead mediator role. i think he is taking a lot of this on his effectiveness in doing that. all of a sudden china sees itself as sort of the odd man out. i believe it is trying to reassert itself. there might be a little bit of clash because inevitably the interests will be at the mix. >> it is an interesting point. we have seen two readings with kim jong un. we have now seen two meetings with kim jong un and president moon. the question now, will that meeting take place with donald trump? wait and see. thank you so much for your time and

chinese and russian economies developing would be called an economic community of some sort in northeast asia so if the korean peninsula can unify and they could be running and this is there's a lot of projects railroads energy these are all things in there that say look it's time for us to go to the u.s. . but i'm going to china and russia and north korea and i don't know neighbors are doing nothing for it's not about spreading freedom it's always about money all right as we go to break court watchers don't forget to let us know what you think of the topics we've covered on facebook and twitter zero zero shows that are. coming up our team sold as you know so i'm told sometimes the talks less to discuss her upcoming special on transparency in government and if it actually leads to more or less corruption or findings just may shock you so definitely stay true to it watchable. three. three three. three three three three. three three three. three week you. the united states can only step tools it's news and it's a tax on other countries. economic sanctions or are often just the beginning another

you have served in both southeast asia and northeast of levels areext so much more frequent, routine, it is not a big deal to schedule a meeting -- people go back and forth in countries. and northeast asia it is a major policy decision whether you're going to attend a meeting, much less work out an agenda. we need to get that more natural rhythm of trilateral coordination rather than making each individual meeting subject to a political decision. where do we need? who travels? is the time right? we have to get the on that. >> i agree. though we have made a start i agree with both the general and e and hopefully we can continue after the series of summits. one more recommendation before i turned to the audience. it is recommended we developed a more effective approach to noncombatant evacuation operations. we have been thinking about this since the 1990's. we have a long way to go. the report suggests we think about planning for a staged evacuation down the korean peninsula, as the crisis developed. general, i'm wondering how you think that might help decision-making on this on the rok

towards peace then that may spread through the region and you could have something that might be in northeast asia a nuclear free zone now the only thing about that is united states with our land based i.c.b.m.'s and our submarine base missiles all over the world can obliterate north korea or any target anytime they want we want so to say denuclearization of the peninsula what exactly does that mean when united states can hit targets any place within thirty minutes or whatever so that has to be taken into account so i do think china has a role to play a deterrent role or a guarantor of north korea's security if north korea is going to give up. going think that's probably i think that's why the. made two trips to beijing probably to get that clear jenny i'm so glad that everyone here has mentioned president moon because i think he's a real life hero could talk us through the strategy he has to be very very careful and he has to finesse a lot of things here he's doing a good job so far what do you expect to happen moving forward what is he going to have to do and what does he have to worry about go

there is known for northeast asia we are about to go into negotiations first president to president with north koreans and presuming that has some truth to it. >> it is important to note that world peace was a leader to leader talk. were hearing a lot before. this is a widely diplomatic opponent and without a cadre of experts to embed these kind of talks and long-term strategy there is equal likelihood something good comes of her that we get play. i'm meeting of this kind is a way to legitimize pyongyang as a nuclear power. the experts who labor of their field but consequential attempts with north korea over the years and i detail those in my book, are concerned. so throwing subject matter expertise out of the window. >> chris is a really superb negotiator with a good sense of humor. i haven't had a chance to talk to us recently about how he feels about it now but it's much different to me going to make your very best effort. but you don't leave your fly open, so to speak. >> i think that's it. we're leaving our fly open. [laughter] >> were going to walk right by that thing. >> that's no

the chinese and russian economy is developing with a call in economic community of some sort in northeast asia so if the korean peninsula can unify and they can be running and this is there's a lot of projects railroads energy these are all things in there that say look it's time for us to be to go to the u.s. outright the u.k. but i'm going to china and russia and the north korea's neighbors are doing nothing for it's not about spreading freedom which is always about money all right as we go to break court watchers don't forget to let us know what you think of the topics we've covered a facebook and twitter seo poll shows that r.c. dot com coming up parties all bridgie the son told sometimes the talks less to discuss her upcoming special on transparency in government and if it actually leads to more or less corruption or findings just may shock you so definitely stay tuned to watch the. world cup twenty eighteen cover. we've signed one of the greatest goalkeepers of all children but there was one more question by the way is going to be our coach. guys i know you are nervous he's a huge star a

chinese and russian economies developing what they called an economic community of some sort in northeast asia so if the korean peninsula can unify and they could be running and this is there's a lot of projects railroads energy these are all things in there that say look it's time for us to get out of the u.s. out in christ the u.k. although i'm going to china and russia and it's north korea i don't know neighbors are doing nothing for it's not about spreading freedom which is always about money all right as we go to break court watchers don't forget to let us know what you think of the topics we've covered on facebook and twitter seo poll shows that are dot com coming up our team so was he the son told sometimes the talks less to discuss her upcoming special on transparency in government and if it actually leads to more or less corruption the findings just may shock you so definitely stay tuned to watch the. highlands who is us part of course. starting to understand sex standing stock poor no. because of a virus like the adult on the law that's supposed to be on the list your trouble so plea

chinese and russian economy is developing what they called an economic community of some sort in northeast asia so if the korean peninsula can unify and they can be running and this is there's a lot of projects railroads energy these are all things in there that say look it's time for us to get out of the u.s. out and create the u.k. but i'm going to china and russia and the north koreans i don't neighbors are doing enough with her it's not about spreading freedom it's always about money all right as we go to break court watchers don't forget to let us know what you think of the topics we've covered on facebook and twitter seo poll shows that are. coming up our teams old as you know so i'm told sometimes the talks less to discuss her upcoming special on transparency in government and if it actually leads to more or less corruption or findings just may shock you so definitely stay tuned to watch. would you see that i see that. milton's i would say i'm not american but americans helped out really. world war two cures the depression cars chases sure and prosperity of course i'm sure. it was the fo

we must take the recent momentum and work towards peace and security in northeast asia and i must cooperate with international society making sure this. action by. you could ever after so much focus on meetings between north korean leader kim jong un and his counterparts from south korea china and possibly be united states. this summer gave a chance to lay out what his country wants from negotiations on the denuclearization of the korean peninsula among them the return of japanese abducted by north korea in the one nine hundred seventy s. and eighty's the prime minister said he asked the other leaders for their support in trying to bring them home. despite the general unity on display there are differences in how best to approach the station issue and the apparent change in attitude from pyongyang china and south korea want more engagement and more aid from. korea japan wants to maintain maximum pressure kundan it feels that it's sanctions that have brought north korea into the open and that keeping and making sure everyone and forces them is the only way to ensure promises it kept when in

the spreadsheet figure it out it will be of benefit to countries in the region from peace in northeast asia. back in talks between the u.s. and north korea was one that came up in talks earlier to between vladimir putin about wilma crawl and at the same plate as burg international economic forum. john underscore did everything you promised before even blew up the tunnels in the silos on this test site and after that we heard about the cancellation of the summit. and you know what i would really want is for that process already underway to decrease tensions on the peninsula as well as the process of denuclearization and disarmament of the pincher process to continue to do the film to the peta people you are going to see in the reporting but. it is simply has been following the russian leaders meeting with the french president. first when vladimir putin and emmanuel macron appeared in front of t.v. cameras there was none of this trump get together stahl tapping on the shoulder and other things and it seemed that the leaders of russia and france were going to get away with some traditional dip

. >> the leading analysts in northeast asia say the threat to war have unnerved not only the north koreanss, but the chinese and south koreans. but i think it's the sanctions that have forced it. kim is not getting the money he needs to run his regime, so i think it's more of a money issue than a threat issue. >> i want to ask you about this quickly. the work denuclearization means different things to the north koreans, we heard victor cha, and he says he does not believe they will ever give up a nuclear weapon. that seems like that's what we're asking them to do. we want them to give up mare missiles, but we can do this. we have the power to do this. the question is whether the president is willing to do the elementsh to get them to do something -- >> it will be interesting. >> let and -- take a listen to this. >> i know will be very prepared. kim jong-un knows hi program inside and out. i i don't know that the president has done the kind of homework that would allow him to do this. the high watermark is they tay at the levels of principles, allow each side to cower, and then seriously beg

i know there is none for southeast asia and there's none for northeast asia or the korean peninsula and so on. we are about to go into negotiations first president to president with the north koreans and then presuming and some fruits come from it in the former negotiations that promise is that we are hearing today a lot before this is a widely diplomatic opponent i of the regime on both sides and without experts to embed these kind of talks in the long-term strategies. it ends up being a way to legitimize in the field of consequential attempts in the diplomacy over the years which i document through the stories of some of those people like chris hill that are concerned that we are there as in so many places providing subject matter expertise out of the area. a superb negotiator and a customer with a good sense of humor he has been through the mill several time is. i haven't had a chance to talk to him recently but it's much different in that you go in and make your best effort to -- >> that isn't a good thing. [laughter] one of the things that they would want in the upcoming negotiatio

the last thing secretary mattis needs to contemplate is a war in northeast asia at the same time he needsplate one among other places with iran and the middle east. i think the secretary of state is a pragmatic man. the real question is whether the president becomes a prisoner of the rhetoric that those around him use or if he really is a practitioner of the art of the deal. if he is, he can get one and he can even get his nobel prize. the real question again is whether he is willing to stabilize the situation. you can't solve everything in life. you can't solve everything in international relations. but you can stabilize it. you can make a bad situation better or less bad. the real question is whether the administration is prepared to do that. david: if you were on his team and the president said, richard, what should i do at this point? what could the president did to calm things down but not look like capitulation? >> i would have quite talks with the north koreans, probably not have a summit until certain things have been agreed to. i would agree to a two-stage agreement. the first st

we have a heritage foundation northeast asia senior research fellow. somebody who has studied this issue long and hard. we're in uncharted waters, the summit was on, then off, now it looks like it might be back on, bruce? >> exactly. and the pace of the events even just in the last week really is mind-boggling. we had a u.s./south korea summit. a sudden surprise interkorean summit and now talks of more sanctions on chinese financial entities long overdue now on hold pending the summit and the senior north korean advisor official going to new york perhaps even coming to washington to meet with trump. so it really is hard to keep up with the fast pace of things going on. >> jon: it is not a diplomatic word but the north koreans got a little snarky last week and what led president trump to cancel the summit. the fact that it now appears to be back on, does that mean that they want this more than we do? >> well, there were actually four north korean statements and sort of typical fashion they were insulting and occasionally threatening. the most important

i thought he increased our tolerance for risk in northeast asia. i give him great credit for economic sanctions, diplomatic isolation, nudging the chinese in a more forward leaning position. military demonstrations, aircraft carriers, b-1 bombers, b-2 womanes ebombers. the rhetoric was unnecessary and my great fear is it reduced the margin for error last summer and fall during a critical period. we got through it. that's like saying we drove through the last nine stop signs. it's still not a good idea to drive through the tenth. >> give me one thing you learned in your iron city fueled listening sessions? >> these are really good people. they are the people who fight america's wars. the people go to work. they pay their taxes. they go to the pta. they make sure their kids study and they feel as if no one is paying attention to them. these are my people, michael. you referring to my going back to my hometown and asking a bunch of trump voters. it kind of began with what are you guys thinking. they told me. it was a learning experience. >> by the way

so for both north korean and south korean leaders this is about the shape of power in northeast asiar president trump he went into it thinking mostly just about the nuclear program understandably because that is the part that threatens the united states the most. if they are not quite on the same wave length about what they are discussing that can be problematic. >> what about being too eager to get a deal? there are aides that have been warning about that and that kim can sense that eagerness? let's pull up the president's tweet. if you look at the tweet there is a lot china must continue to be strong until a deal is made. the word is that the border has become more porous. i want this to happen and north korea to be very successful but only after signing. i want korea to be very successful. is he too eager? >> a couple of things. i think that kim jong-un has detected not only the eagerness but all the talk of a nobel peace prize and all the way the south koreans have been given credit to this and much is deserved to getting to this moment. if kim jong-un goes into it knowing that t