06/23/2020, 09.34
KOREA - USA
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Seoul: John Bolton's memoirs 'distorted' and 'schizophrenic'

The former US security adviser has published a book of memoirs mocking the peaceful proposals of President Moon Jae-in in dialogues with the North. Bolton is known as an "extremist hawk".  Seoul slams the book as a violation of the basic principles of diplomacy, which could "seriously" damage future negotiations with the North.

Seoul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The office of President Moon Jae-in yesterday strongly criticized former White House security adviser John Bolton, accusing him of presenting a "distorted" vision of the diplomatic steps in dialogue between the South, the North and the United States.

An anonymous member of the office, quoted by the Yonhap news agency, suggests that Bolton may be "schizophrenic".

Bolton's memoirs, entitled "The Room where it happened" will be published today in the US, in which he recounts facts and misdeeds of his work in the White House with President Donald Trump. In September 2019, Trump announced that he had asked for his resignation, revealing a latent conflict between the two. Bolton is known for his "extremist hawk" positions, an propensity to propose military attacks against Palestinians, Syria, Iran, North Korea.

In the book,  advance copies of which have appeared here and there, Bolton also refers to talks between Trump and Kim Jong-un, with South Korean President Moon as mediator, which led to Trump's visit to the North.

According to Chung Eui-yong, director of national security for the presidency, the things Bolton writes are certainly an expression of his "own personal point of view", but they are not "accurate" and are a violation of the basic principles of diplomacy, which could  "very seriously" damage future negotiations with the North.

Bolton's criticisms are aimed primarily at Trump, trying to weaken him as he prepares to be re-elected. But there are also criticisms of Moon. He reportedly supported the Northern proposal to dismantle the Yongbyon nuclear complex, calling it "an irreversible step in the denuclearization process". For Bolton, such an expression of support was "schizophrenic".

The anonymous bureau employee, quoted by Yonhap, said that perhaps Bolton is the real schizophrenic.

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