Gerhard Schroder vs Ri Yong-ho

Schroder's government enacted the Agenda 2010 package of labor market and welfare reforms, which cut unemployment benefits, deregulated the labor market, and reduced the power of unions. The reforms were credited with later reducing unemployment but were deeply unpopular with the SPD's base.

Schroder firmly opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq, refusing to commit German troops even if a UN mandate was obtained. This stance was popular in Germany but strained relations with the US, particularly with President George W. Bush.

Schroder deliberately lost a confidence vote in the Bundestag to trigger early federal elections after his SPD lost a key state election. The gambit backfired as the CDU/CSU won the most seats, leading to a grand coalition under Angela Merkel and Schroder's departure.

Ri Yong-ho was appointed Foreign Minister of North Korea in 2016, replacing Ri Su-yong. He was a veteran diplomat who had served as ambassador to the United Kingdom and as a nuclear negotiator.

Ri Yong-ho addressed the United Nations General Assembly in 2017, where he threatened to test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean. His speech escalated tensions with the U.S. and led to increased sanctions against North Korea.

Ri Yong-ho was a key member of the North Korean delegation at the first U.S.-North Korea summit in Singapore. He participated in working-level discussions on denuclearization and security guarantees, though the summit's joint statement was vague.

Ri Yong-ho accompanied Kim Jong-un to the second U.S.-North Korea summit in Hanoi. He was involved in the negotiations that ultimately broke down over disagreements on sanctions relief and denuclearization steps.