PROGRESS ON NORTH KOREA? – AT 11:33 A.M. ET:   We don't know the full nature of the talks between Secretary Pompeo and the North Koreans.  But there are some signs of progress, and this is one.   From The Hill:

North Korea staged a huge military parade on Sunday to mark 70 years since the country’s founding, but it held back its most advanced missiles to avoid jeopardizing ongoing talks with the U.S.

North Korea has long used parades to display the strength of its military, having most recently held one of February of this year. But the parade on Sunday didn’t include intercontinental ballistic missiles that are believed to be able to reach the continental United States.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended the parade but reportedly did not address the crowd.

Sunday’s parade also emphasized the country’s economy in addition to showcasing its military capabilities. A parade float at the event displayed a slogan of ““All our might to build economy!” according to Reuters.

Kim Yong Nam, North Korea’s titular head of state, said during a speech at the parade that the country had achieved its status as a military power and would now be focusing on strengthening its domestic economy, the news service reported.

COMMENT:  Other reports say that Kim has reaffirmed his commitment to denuclearize.  We'll see in time.  I have great faith in Secretary Pompeo, a vast improvement over Grand Admiral John Kerry, king of the seas, who was Obama's diplomatic poodle.

September 9,  2018