Trump once denounced Obama’s patient North Korea policy, but some analysts see Trump heading in the same direction
President Donald Trump could find himself embracing “strategic patience” on North Korea, an Obama administration approach he once denounced, as nuclear talks with Pyongyang have stalled, analysts say.
A Trump tweet Friday showed the president’s evolving position.
And this policy pivot follows growing concern in Washington that denuclearization of North Korea is likely to be more complicated and take longer than the Trump White House expected. Washington’s talks with Pyongyang have been stalled, and North Korea has not taken concrete steps toward denuclearization.
North Korea abruptly canceled a scheduled meeting with U. S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in early November, and U. S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun, appointed in August, has yet to meet with his North Korean counterpart.
Satellite images of North Korea throughout the year showed that the country has not stopped its nuclear and missile programs. The most recent image obtained by CNN last week indicated North Korea might be expanding its key long-range missile base with a newly constructed facility.
Not willing to denuclearize
Former U. S. officials and analysts are concerned North Korea’s unwillingness to denuclearize despite the historic summit between the U. S. and North Korea will lead the Trump administration to adopt “strategic patience” as a default policy choice.
Former President Barak Obama adopted the policy of gradually escalating sanctions on North Korea while refusing to negotiate with Pyongyang until it gave up its nuclear weapons program in what came to be known as “strategic patience.
