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Beyond the pomp and circumstance of Trump's Pyongyang policy

The Kim-Trump bromance is full of drama, but cold realities underlie flashy moments

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President Donald Trump's meandering approach to North Korea continues to bewilder.

It was not too long ago when the United States leader engaged in a war of words with Mr Kim Jong Un, the supreme leader of North Korea, calling him "rocket man" and threatening to destroy North Korea with "fire and fury like the world has never seen". In return, Mr Kim referred to the American President as "mentally deranged" and vowed to exact revenge against any American hostile act.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 23, 2019, with the headline Beyond the pomp and circumstance of Trump's Pyongyang policy. Subscribe