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Syd Seiler

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@sydseiler

CSIS Korea Chair Senior Advisor (Non Resident); Former Special Envoy for Six Party Talks, NSC Korea Director, and National Intelligence Officer for North Korea
Joined September 2017
188 Following 650 Followers 1.1K Posts

Latest posts 5

Syd Seiler Verified account @sydseiler
My first trip to Pyongyang I remember my minder strongly asked me to get the rest of the delegation to stop using “North Korea.” He argued “How would you like it if we called you Yankees?” I replied “Most of us would find it humorous.” It’s always amusing when ROK left mimics DPRK rhetoric verbatim, revealing a lack of understanding how that discredits any argument they are trying to make…
Jubu Verified account @jubuintherok Oct 28
"America is a hostile nation."
"America is an invader."
"Yankee Go Home!"

So much silliness. Where do I even begin? 🤣🤣🤣

Unlike some of y'all, I'm generally surrounded by younger Korean gym bros or 할아버지들.

That's my tribe. 👴💪

And you know who doesn't seem to think that way?

THOSE DUDES.

When they find out I'm 미국인, they usually smile and are nothing but kind and welcoming!

Ignore the over-educated haters and MSM.

As my grandma would say, they are too fancy for their own good and totally clueless!

같이 갑시다!

🇺🇸❤️🇰🇷
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Syd Seiler Verified account @sydseiler
A significant video worth watching to understand how Pyongyang is portraying the state of DPRK-PRC relations through state media. The displays marking the Resist the US and Aid Korea and CPV support to the KPA war reinforce "alliance forged with blood" messaging, complementing efforts marking DPRK contributions to Russia's war effort.
大厂白洁 Verified account @santoulang Oct 25
朝鲜发布18分钟全本金正恩访华视频,多了很多细节:金正恩乘坐迈巴赫过桥,登上新能源客车体验,向中国工人微微鞠躬道别
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Syd Seiler Verified account @sydseiler
I actually believe a "cold peace" with long periods of tension without dialogue is both highly likely and marginally (not optimally) manageable. We have almost 75 years of practice (which incidentally why I believe risk of miscalculation is lower than one might think). Overly obsessing on this plays into Pyongyang's hands as they seek to coerce us into "paying for peace," essentially.
Jubu Verified account @jubuintherok Oct 21
I hear you, and I share the concern as someone raising kids here too. KJU met with DJT twice and never sat with Obama or Biden, so the "both sides" framing doesn't quite track. If anyone's serious about this, the approach has to change. Isolation and "axis of evil" talk from the Bush years certainly didn't move the needle one inch. If anyone is serious about Dr. Victor Cha's "cold peace" idea, that will require serious engagement at some point. I hope KJU meets again with DJT, for the sake of your grandchildren and my children. 🙏
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Syd Seiler Verified account @sydseiler
Let me add that from a father's perspective, KJU may see greater value in not responding to repeated US calls for dialogue (all going back to 2009, but particularly calls following his rise to power to 2011). It shows his current Russian-centric diplomacy mitigates the need to talk to the US, and it's probably spun internally as POTUS almost begging for talks with a DPRK that can say no.
Jubu Verified account @jubuintherok Oct 22
Mr. Seiler, thank you for your response! You're the expert on these matters—certainly not me. Honestly, I'm not even sure I understand the difference between what you're calling "hopeful signaling" from Pyongyang and the "less ambitious hope" of appearing open to dialogue. I'm not sure I fully understand what that distinction even means in practice.

You know, as a mom raising two daughters here on the peninsula, I can't help but think about Chairman Kim Jong Un as a father himself. My girls are around the same age as his own daughters are reported to be, and I imagine he thinks about their future just as much as I think about my own girls' future.

I guess I just look at this from a mom's perspective. President Trump and Chairman Kim have already established a personal relationship, so why not sit down together again? Even if they accomplish absolutely nothing, I have a hard time seeing the downside of simply talking to each other.

And if nothing comes of it, well, both leaders can frame the outcome however they wish to their respective audiences. But as unpopular as this opinion might be, I'll always be on the side of more engagement, not less.
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