# What would happen if Kim Jong Un Kidnapped Trump? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 10, 2018, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-kim-jong-un-kidnapped-trump/810354 "2018-03-10T19:56:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-kim-jong-un-kidnapped-trump/810354/1 "2018-03-10T19:56:50Z")
The Dear Leader has been known to not let his guests leave when they want to. Let’s say during this future meeting between Kimmy Boy and Trump that’s being set up, the North Koreans manage to spirit Trump away somewhere. Let’s say Kim Jong Un is crazy enough to believe this will prove his regime’s worth to the world, and demand a huge ransom, ala that whole King Richard the Lionheart fiasco almost a thousand years ago. Kim hopes the mighty US will grovel before him. Would the evangelical addled Republicans suddenly become Christlike and turn the other cheek to our foes? Would they declare Pence president and go from there? After all, they wouldn’t want to kill millions and possibly end the world over Trump would they? Would saying, “Keep him.” even be an option? I just like thinking about this. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-kim-jong-un-kidnapped-trump/810354/2 "2018-03-10T20:01:55Z")
An _epic_ party, followed by an epic battle. Oh, ok! We can do the battle bit first, I guess… ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-kim-jong-un-kidnapped-trump/810354/3 "2018-03-10T20:35:01Z")
Trump may be a \ \ \ but he’s an American \ \ \. ---
**Author:** ![WillReadmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/6f9a4e/32.png) [@WillReadmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillReadmore)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-kim-jong-un-kidnapped-trump/810354/4 "2018-03-10T21:17:53Z")
It won’t happen. Un wants to be a world leader. He now has rockets that could deliver a nuke to the US and others. Next step: photos with Trump and Un discussing world order. Trump is handing him the biggest gift he could ask for right now. And, it happened by having the SK big wigs(!) announce what the US president was going to do(!) at night(!) from the front lawn(!) without his administration even knowing it was going to happen and denying it right up until in happened!! Why would Un screw THAT up? From his perspective, this is just too beautiful for words. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-kim-jong-un-kidnapped-trump/810354/5 "2018-03-10T21:23:06Z")
Hopefully acting-President Pence will stand by the old “We do not negotiate” line. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-kim-jong-un-kidnapped-trump/810354/6 "2018-03-10T21:37:03Z")
“The U.S. announced today a total lifting of all trade embargoes on North Korea. These embargoes will be instantly reinstated should North Korea give Trump back.” ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-kim-jong-un-kidnapped-trump/810354/7 "2018-03-10T21:40:02Z")
> [@WillReadmore](#): > > Un wants to be a world leader. Point of order; his surname is “Kim”. “Jong-Un” is his personal name. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-kim-jong-un-kidnapped-trump/810354/8 "2018-03-10T21:52:28Z")
> [@WillReadmore](#): > > It won’t happen. > > Un wants to be a world leader. > > He now has rockets that could deliver a nuke to the US and others. > > Next step: photos with Trump and Un discussing world order. > > Trump is handing him the biggest gift he could ask for right now. And, it happened by having the SK big wigs(!) announce what the US president was going to do(!) at night(!) from the front lawn(!) without his administration even knowing it was going to happen and denying it right up until in happened!! > Why would Un screw THAT up? > > From his perspective, this is just too beautiful for words. How is it a gift? I’ve never understood the idea that negotiating with someone is somehow a gift or a concession in and of itself. A gift would be lifting sanctions or giving Kim some money or something of that sort. But just sitting down at a table to talk with someone is just an acknowledgement of the fact we aren’t unilaterally capable of solving that particular situation, not some kind of reward to that person. ---
**Author:** ![D-bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@D-bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D-bear)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-kim-jong-un-kidnapped-trump/810354/9 "2018-03-10T22:18:42Z")
What would happen if Kim Jong Un Kidnapped Trump? I’d send him a Thank You card. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-kim-jong-un-kidnapped-trump/810354/10 "2018-03-10T22:30:13Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > I just like thinking about this. Well, the obvious answer is to call in a favor from his buddy Putin. The neutral Russian Hostage “Rescue” Team can handle the situation, given their enviable record in resolving such matters. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-kim-jong-un-kidnapped-trump/810354/11 "2018-03-10T22:34:02Z")
War would be the result, and we’re all better off if every country clearly understands that. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-kim-jong-un-kidnapped-trump/810354/12 "2018-03-10T22:54:51Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > War would be the result, and we’re all better off if every country clearly understands that. I’m on the phone now to President Kabore of Burkina Faso, he didn’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-kim-jong-un-kidnapped-trump/810354/13 "2018-03-10T22:55:36Z")
I’d send them a strongly worded note demanding that they take Pence also. But it would never work. Read O’Henry’s _Ransom of Red Chief_ to find out why. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-kim-jong-un-kidnapped-trump/810354/14 "2018-03-10T23:02:29Z")
Much as I am not a fan of the current resident of the White House, he’s still our president, and I would not take too kindly to someone kidnapping our president. No matter how I feel about the person, that sets a terrible precedent for the office. I would support whatever means are necessary to retrieve him, and should harm befall him, then retaliation (of a non-nuclear form) would be very appropriate. Anyway, I am sure that Kim knows this, and so this is not a scenario that is likely to be entertained. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-kim-jong-un-kidnapped-trump/810354/15 "2018-03-10T23:19:23Z")
This isn’t really the situation where private citizens, without diplomatic protections, are held under trumped up charges. This is a head of state with full diplomatic protections. There’s a three word description for the actions of a state that ignores diplomatic conventions and kidnaps a head of state - act of war. Which effectively makes this a declaration of war against the United States. That’s unlikely to be shrugged off. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-kim-jong-un-kidnapped-trump/810354/16 "2018-03-10T23:25:43Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > I would support whatever means are necessary to retrieve him, and should harm befall him, then retaliation (of a non-nuclear form) would be very appropriate. You think Kim won’t use nukes if we don’t? ---
**Author:** ![WillReadmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/6f9a4e/32.png) [@WillReadmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillReadmore)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-kim-jong-un-kidnapped-trump/810354/17 "2018-03-10T23:35:00Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Much as I am not a fan of the current resident of the White House, he’s still our president, and I would not take too kindly to someone kidnapping our president. > > No matter how I feel about the person, that sets a terrible precedent for the office. > > I would support whatever means are necessary to retrieve him, and should harm befall him, then retaliation (of a non-nuclear form) would be very appropriate. > > Anyway, I am sure that Kim knows this, and so this is not a scenario that is likely to be entertained. Exactly. I don’t see anything Kim has to gain by kidnapping western government officials. He’s not going to give up nuclear deterrence. Kim has more to fear from China, I think. We’re not going to nuke NK, and NK has far greater dependence on China. Kim’s status and the negotiating power of China probably move a little toward Kim’s favor by his recent moves with Trump and SK. Are we really going to have to look at photos of Kim and Trump shaking hands way too long? I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2018, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-kim-jong-un-kidnapped-trump/810354/18 "2018-03-10T23:44:08Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Much as I am not a fan of the current resident of the White House, he’s still our president, and I would not take too kindly to someone kidnapping our president. Sure, as long as it’s clear we’re recovering the President, not Trump. Not the same thing. It’s fun to entertain a _[Ruthless People](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruthless_People)_ scenario, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-kim-jong-un-kidnapped-trump/810354/19 "2018-03-11T00:01:21Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Sure, as long as it’s clear we’re recovering the President, not Trump. Not the same thing. > > It’s fun to entertain a _[Ruthless People](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruthless_People)_ scenario, anyway. I’d be very happy to retrieve him from a north korean prison and toss him into one of ours. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-kim-jong-un-kidnapped-trump/810354/20 "2018-03-11T00:21:02Z")
Is it still too soon to make Otto Warmbier jokes? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-kim-jong-un-kidnapped-trump/810354.md?page=2)