KOREA UPDATE – AT 10:24 A.M. ET:  The new South Korean government is making some diplomatic moves that must be carefully monitored.  This government is less vigilant toward North Korea than the last one.  That could be a problem, a serious one, if there is a major confrontation with the North.  From Fox: 

South Korea is willing to put the North’s first intercontinental ballistic missile test aside and work with the isolated regime on easing tensions and resuming reunions of families separated by their war in the 1950s.

Vice Defense Minister Suh Choo Suk said Monday the South’s defense officials are proposing talks at the border village of Panmunjom on Friday to discuss how to end hostile activities along the border. Seoul’s acting Red Cross chief Kim Sun Hyang said it wants separate talks at the border village on Aug. 1 to discuss family reunions.

Seoul's proposal for two sets of talks indicates President Moon Jae-in is pushing to improve ties with Pyongyang despite the North's first intercontinental ballistic missile this month.

Moon reiterated earlier this month he's willing to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un if conditions are met. Moon also said the two Koreas must halt hostile activities along the border, restart family reunions and cooperate on the 2018 Winter Olympics to be held in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Moon has said he would use both dialogues and pressures to resolve the standoff over North Korea's nuclear program. But his push has reported little progress with the North test-firing a series of newly developed missiles since Moon's May 10 inauguration.

COMMENT:  Sometimes negotiations are good.  But other times they are simply a stall that gives a determined enemy more time to advance and build up.

If the South Korean government goes soft, all our efforts to contain North Korea can go down the drain.  That is why every diplomatic move must be carefully watched.

July 17, 2017