This is CBSI on the world.

I'm John Bachelor with Gordon Chang, and we're going to David Maxwell, who watches the Korea Peninsula for us, South and North.

We begin in the North with this headline.

North Korea fires missiles as U.S., South Korea begin their first joint military

exercise of President Trump's second term.

David, a very good evening to you.

The Pyongyang attempt here to get into the news is obvious, and it works.

It gets them a headline.

But I've lost track of where Pyongyang is in general about the Trump administration. Is it disposed toward it?

Does it want a hugging visit as it enjoyed in the first term? Does it regard Mr. Trump as

hostile? Has it said anything?

There have been some statements. I think the last definitive one was in November after the election.

And they've really shown no interest in meeting with President Trump. And, you know, they are really

sticking to their hard line. As you know, they've declared South Korea as a major enemy and no more peaceful unification.

And I think they are emboldened with their alliance with Russia.

And I think, and of course, you know, continued relations with China, they think that they

are really in a position where they can coerce. And of course, what this missile launch at the beginning of the annual

exercise that takes place every year is really part of three things. North Korea's

political warfare, which is designed to subvert South Korea and

separate South Korea from the United States, drive a wedge in the alliance. It's blackmail

diplomacy, the use of tensions, threats, and provocations to gain political and economic

concessions and set the stage for possible talks and negotiation.

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