OPINION:
The disclaimer at the end of the recent Commentary piece by Joseph R. DeTrani is well advised, as the op-ed certainly does not represent government policy (“An emboldened Kim Jong-un is ready for a deal,” Web, Oct. 15).
Two decades have passed since the author was a special envoy representing the United States in talks with North Korea, but he appears not to have accepted the fact that the country has since become nuclear-capable, with no indication whatsoever that it would ever give up that position.
The author may be correct in claiming Mr. Kim’s grandfather and father both wanted to have normal relations with the U.S., but there has been little evidence that the present regime has similar aspirations.
President Trump has had remarkably effective foreign policy successes in recent weeks, so we should not dismiss further surprises in the future. However, the origin for these is far more likely to come from President Trump than from Kim Jong-un.
STANLEY ORMAN
Rockville, Maryland
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