NEWS COURTESY OF ANH LĘ AND FRED S. MAYER

THE SUMMIT IN HANOI AND NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

BY ANH LE AND FRED S. MAYER, R.PH., PHARM.D., M.P.H., FACA

Even though the Summit in Hanoi, Viet Nam between President Donald Trump and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un ended prematurely and there was no signed agreement, the Summit was still both welcome and historic.

Trump’s abrupt ending of the Summit and hasty departure was unfortunate.

Did Trump feel consumed by Michael Cohen’s damaging testimony at the House Oversight Committee, and thus rushed home to try to control its damage?

Viet Nam must be lauded for its critical role in hosting the Summit and serving as peacemaker.

Viet Nam, once regarded by the U.S. government as its enemy, and the country that prevailed when the Viet Nam War ended in 1975, plays a critical role in advancing the cause of peace on the world stage.

Demands that North Korea agree to immediate, absolute denuclearization do not seem realistic, and are hypocritical, jingoistic, and arrogant.

The U.S., Russia, and China, all possess massive arsenals of nuclear missiles, nuclear bombs, and nuclear weapons. So do the U.K., France, India, Pakistan, and Israel.

Shall we, the U.S, demand the same complete “denuclearization” of ourselves first?

The Summit in Hanoi was not a failure.

Yet, the U.S. side lacked the requisite preparations to address the complex issues involved in the negotiations.

The U.S. side not only came to the Summit unprepared, it needs to have experienced and seasoned experts on North and South Korea at the negotiation table with the president.

Negotiations, to be fruitful, need time.

When Trump walked away from the Summit, it was barely a day old.

The Summit in Hanoi still provides further opportunities for successful negotiations. 

Working to achieve nuclear disarmament, not only for North Korea but also for nations which now possess nuclear arsenals - - including the United States, is important for peace and stability in our world.

ANH LĘ has worked with the Vietnamese American community for many years, and is s writer and independent journalist.

FRED S. MAYER, R.PH., PHARM.D., M.P.H., FACA, is the C.E.O. and President of Pharmacists Planning Services (PPSI), Inc., a non-profit organization which provides health awareness programs to promote public health and education. A registered pharmacist,  Dr. Mayer is a former President of the California Public Health Association, a member of the Gray Panthers, and is a public health leader in California and the U.S.

COPYRIGHT BY ANH LĘ AND FRED S. MAYER, MARCH 7, 2019