The US and Japan are wary of North Korea’s past broken promises to end its nuclear program, as South Korea tries to restart denuclearization talks
North Korea’s agreement to enter into talks with the United States could be a diplomatic breakthrough to reach a peaceful resolution to the nuclear crisis, or a ruse to weaken sanctions, or both.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s willingness to engage with the United States in negotiations to end his country’s nuclear weapons program, and his promise to suspend nuclear and missile tests while talks are under way, was reported on Tuesday by Chung Eui-yong, the head of South Korea’s National Security Office, following his meeting with Kim in Pyongyang.
Contradictory messages
The North Korean government has not yet confirmed the South Korean interpretation of the potential diplomatic breakthrough. In fact the North’s state newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, on Wednesday ran a seemingly contradictory column that justified the nation’s nuclear deterrence as necessary to protect “against U. S. nuclear threats,” and said the issue is not open to dispute.
The South Korean Unification Ministry on Wednesday refuted the newspaper’s uncompromising stance and said the Kim government’s position, as communicated to the South Korean envoy, is open to end its nuclear program under the right conditions.
“North Korea clearly stated its willingness to denuclearize, and also clarified that it had no reason to retain nuclear weapons if the military threat against North Korea is resolved and regime security is guaranteed,” said Baik Tae-hyun, spokesperson for the Unification Ministry.
North Korea has broken past agreements to end its nuclear program, in exchange for economic assistance and security guarantees. In the last two years, the Kim Jong Un government accelerated long-range ballistic missile and nuclear tests, defiantly declared North Korea a nuclear weapons state, and moved closer to developing operational capability to target U. S. mainland cities with a nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missile.
Skeptical allies
U. S. President Donald Trump has responded with a “maximum pressure” strategy to force Pyongyang to halt its nuclear program by imposing tough sanctions that ban billions of dollars worth of North Korean coal, iron ore, clothing products and seafood exports. The Trump administration has also emphasized a willingness to use military force, if needed, to eliminate the nuclear threat.
