North Korea To ‘Formally Announce’ Its Willingness To Denuclearize

There are curious signs of change in North Korea. For starters, according to this report from the New York Times, Kim Jong-un plans to “formally announce his willingness to denuclearize his country when he meets with President Moon Jae-in of South Korea this month, an official from the South said on Tuesday.”

That’s huge. I still can’t believe they’re even entertaining that idea.

The statement is expected to be part of a joint declaration that the two leaders will adopt when they meet on April 27, said Mr. Moon’s chief of staff, Im Jong-seok. Negotiators from both Koreas have agreed on a rough framework for the joint declaration, he said.

They are still discussing other aspects of the joint statement, such as whether the two Koreas would commit to holding further summit meetings on a regular basis, Mr. Im said. South Korea is also trying to persuade North Korea that Mr. Moon and Mr. Kim should hold a joint news conference at the end of their meeting in Panmunjom, the so-called truce village on the inter-Korean border.

President Trump will play an even greater role after that meeting. He’s expected to discuss denuclearization with Kim Jong-un in May or June.

Meanwhile, Kim Jong-un’s wife, Ri Sol Ju, has received a rare status upgrade. She’s going from “comrade” to “revered first lady.” Word has it this has everything to do with presenting a “likable” figure to the North Korean people and showing off a “normal” looking “first couple” to the rest of the world.

HA. It’s a little too late for that, but here’s a sticker for trying?

NK News’ Peter Ward has more details:

Signs that Ri Sol Ju is getting her own personality cult. Rodong Sinmun today called her the “Respected Madame Ri Sol Ju”, used a special particle (께서) and the honourific verb ending (하시다) usually only reserved for Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un, pic.twitter.com/xBVo54DDLa

— Peter Ward, 워드 피터，皮得 (@rpcward89) April 15, 2018

In North Korea terms, this is huge. As the work of my good friend indicates, this is a very select club (as few as five people total who were alive when it happened + KJI's mother, Kim Jong Suk). Kims' wives often lose the status: https://t.co/EM4N7M5kVM

— Peter Ward, 워드 피터，皮得 (@rpcward89) April 15, 2018

Footage of the emerging cult of Ri Sol Ju. Here she is having conversations with visiting Chinese artists. Respectful applause rather than the mayhem that accompanies her husband entering the room. She is presented as friendly, kind, and respected. Far lower key than KJU’s cult.. pic.twitter.com/yYEYPPxqQR

— Peter Ward, 워드 피터，皮得 (@rpcward89) April 16, 2018

On the first page of Rodong Sinmun on Kim Il Sung’s birthday, no mention, but a glimpse of Xi Jinping.. Ri Sol Ju got half of page 2 to herself. With Kim Il Sung relegated to Page 3, ON HIS BIRTHDAY! Remarkable times to be a Pyongyang watcher. Bit late checking the pdf… pic.twitter.com/jsPJgfgjQS

— Peter Ward, 워드 피터，皮得 (@rpcward89) April 16, 2018

Great rundown of events by the great Fyodor Tertitskiy: “Respected” Ri Sol Ju: a new personality cult for N. Korea’s first lady? https://t.co/IbfeHsiqrz One of his prior predictions now appears prophetic. Shows that reading North Korean sources pays off for those interested. pic.twitter.com/mBnJ08libD

— Peter Ward, 워드 피터，皮得 (@rpcward89) April 16, 2018

Surely, this has to have SOMETHING to do with the big meetings coming up, right? Is North Korea attempting to “normalize”? (And I use that word REALLY loosely, because this is North Korea we’re talking about. Even if it denuclearizes, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s a heinous regime that tortures, starves and murders its own people.)