Editorial : Historic handshake — on Trump-Kim summit

The historic summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore is an affirmation(अभिपुष्टि/समर्थन) of the power of diplomacy(कूटनीति/व्यवहार-कुशलता ). Until a few months ago, the

two countries had been trading(व्यापार) nuclear threats, as the North raced along with its nuclear weapons programme. Now, as Mr. Trump shook hands with Mr. Kim, who had once said the U.S. President was “mentally deranged(अपमानित/उलझा हुआ)”, it was a reminder of Richard Nixon’s ground-breaking 1972 visit to Beijing. Through the day, both Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim were keen on casting the “comprehensive(विस्तृत/व्यापक)” meet in a positive light. The two whimsical(सनकी) leaders deserve full credit for this thaw in relations, given the decades of hostility(विरोध/शत्रुता) and the quick diplomacy that pulled the Korean peninsula(प्रायद्वीप) back from the brink of war. It all began with the new South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s expansive outreach to the North. Mr. Kim reciprocated(आदान-प्रदान करना/विनिमय करना) by sending athletes to the Winter Olympics in South Korea in February. As the relationship between the Koreas improved rapidly(शीघ्रता से/तेजी से, ), Mr. Kim invited the U.S. President for a meeting. Mr. Trump accepted at once, surprising America’s allies and rivals. However, it was not certain whether the meet would take place. Mr. Trump once called it off after threats(धमकी/ख़तरा) and counter-threats escalated(तना हुआ/बढ़ीं) . But the appetite(भूख/चाव) for rapprochement(मेल-मिलाप/घनिष्ठता) was clearly greater on both sides, and the rendezvous(मिलन स्थल/मिलनसार) was back on track.

In the brief joint statement after their meeting, Mr. Kim iterated(दोहराया) his “firm(“दृढ़/मज़बूत) “ and unwavering(अविश्वसनीय ) commitment(प्रतिबद्धता) to complete denuclearisation” of the Korean Peninsula, while Mr. Trump offered security guarantees to the North. Mr. Kim had earlier promised to denuclearise the peninsula in return for security assurances(आश्वासनों/बीमा) , while Mr. Trump had promised that the North would be welcomed into the international community as a respectable member and be allowed to prosper(समृद्ध/सफल होना) economically(आर्थिक रूप से।) . The two leaders have put these demands and promises into a document that could guide future diplomatic engagement. Mr. Trump also announced that he would end the regular American “war games” with South Korea, a concession to the North. While the summit itself was a big success given the distance both countries covered in a relatively short span of time, it is too early to say whether Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim can pull off a Nixon-Mao type breakthrough(सफलता।/दरार) .The joint statement provided few specifics on how denuclearisation can take place or how North Korea’s steps to dismantle(विघटित/गिराना) its arsenal(शस्त्रागार ) will be monitored(निगरानी/जाँच करना) . There are no deadlines mentioned. There is no reference to China, North Korea’s only ally. There has been no word on whether the two will establish(स्थापित करना) formal diplomatic ties. Besides(इसके अलावा/साथ ही) , being unpredictable(अप्रत्याशित ) and impulsive(आवेगपूर्ण ), Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim must also stare down hardline elements in their respective administrations. This bold beginning must not be wasted.

Important Vocabulary

1.Affirmation(अभिपुष्टि/समर्थन)
Synonyms: assertion, confirmation, affidavit, asseveration, attestation
Antonyms: denial, negation, nullification, veto

2.Deranged(अपमानित/उलझा हुआ
Synonyms: crazed, demented, distracted, irrational, maniacal
Antonyms: balanced, rational, reasonable, sane, sensible

3.Rapidly(शीघ्रता से/तेजी से, )
Synonyms: briskly, expeditiously, fast, immediately, promptly
Antonyms: slowly, sluggishly, leisurely

4.Threats(धमकी/ख़तरा
Synonyms:blackmail, hazard, intimidation, menace, peril
Antonyms: certainty, safety, surety

5.Firm(“दृढ़/मज़बूत
Synonyms: hard, rigid, solid, stiff, sturdy
Antonyms: easy, facile, flexible, nice, pliable

6.Dismantle(विघटित/गिराना)
Synonyms: break up, demolish, destroy, disassemble, raze
Antonyms: build, construct, create, repair, restore

7.Monitored(निगरानी/जाँच करना)
Synonyms: audit, check, control,. follo, keep an eye on
Antonyms:monitored, ignore, neglect, forget

8.Impulsive(आवेगपूर्ण )
Synonyms: abrupt, hasty, impetuous, instinctive, offhand
Antonyms: calm, deliberate
planned, sensible, cautious

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