The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
North Korea
Sat, August 20, 2022 | 01:57
Confirmation bias on North Korea's denuclearization
Posted : 2018-04-24 14:48
Updated : 2018-04-26 20:25
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
A North Korean solider is on guard at its building inside the truce village of Panmunjom in this recent photo. / Yonhap
A North Korean solider is on guard at its building inside the truce village of Panmunjom in this recent photo. / Yonhap

By Oh Young-jin

Just days before the April 27 inter-Korean summit, the atmosphere is one of optimism.

If the past two summits serve as any guide, they are a cautionary tale, advising us not to be overly expecting.

Expectation over the stated goal of South Korea and the United States ― North Korea's willingness to separate itself from its nuclear programs or the so-called denuclearization ― is far from reality.

The North has never committed itself to it.

The South and the usually less emotional U.S. appear to have a case of confirmation bias ― seeing only what they want to see and what they want to hear. President Moon Jae-in positively believed that the North's denuclearization was doable, while U.S. President Donald Trump was no less positive.

But one North Korea observer called this collective wishful thinking on the part of the Moon government and the media "dyslexia." "It is as if people do not comprehend what North Korea's Kim Jong-un is saying in plain Korean."

The observer said on condition of anonymity that Kim's intentions were contained in a statement issued by the North after the end of the plenary meeting of the North Korean Worker's Party Central Committee last week.

The part in question reads, "We have achieved a victory in our 'byeongjin' policy of pursuing nuclear and economic development. Our people's belt-tightening effort to gain the strong treasured sword for the preservation of peace has been brought to a stellar conclusion.

"The firm collateral for our posterity to enjoy the most respectable and happy life has been attained," it quoted Kim as saying in the meeting.

This part requires rhetorical nitpicking with an insider's help from the observer, one of the highest-ranking North Korean defectors to the South.

He first called attention to the emphasis of success of the dual pursuit policy in the paragraph. "It is an expression of confidence about maintaining its newly gained advantage ― nuclear weapons," he said.

If there is any doubt, the next sentence is dismissive of it, as it dubbed its nuclear weapons a treasured sword with peacekeeping being its purpose.

"If you depart from being the peacekeeper, what would it make you ― a peace destroyer?" he said.

Then, the last sentence explains the primary reason for Kim not being able to give up nuclear weapons.

"Kim said that the nuclear weapons were for the wellbeing of posterity," he said. "This means that Kim will stick to the nuclear weapons, which he sees as a sure way to continue his dynasty far beyond him," he said.

Then, there was a more clear show of the North's intention in bullet points toward the end of the statement.

The first point stresses the "credible realization" of nuclear weaponization through warhead miniaturization and development of "supersized" nuclear devices and delivery systems, which the North "solemnly declares."

Point Three states that its moratorium on nuclear tests was part of the international nuclear arms reduction process. "The North is showing its willingness to join the Comprehensive Test Nuclear Ban Treaty (CTB)," the observer said, referring to the 1996 treaty that was not signed by China and signed but not ratified by the U.S.

"Then, note Point Four where the North says that it won't transfer nuclear materials and technology or won't use nuclear weapons unless attacked in kind," he said. "It is a non-proliferation commitment that is only possible from a nation that is intending to keep its nuclear weapons."


Emailfoolsdie5@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
LG
  • How can Korea's taxi shortage be resolved?
  • Adoptee chef discovers herself and family through Korean cooking
  • North Korea refuses to form ties with Yoon-led South Korea: experts
  • Activist professor requests strong punishment for racist abuse against Son Heung-min
  • 887 undocumented foreign workers, brokers, employers caught in crackdown
  • [INTERVIEW] Restoring bilateral ties will boost Korean studies in Japan: professor
  • Aviation stocks gain traction on oil price fall, travel demand recovery
  • Kakao retracts sale of mobility unit
  • Busan mayor proposes BTS military exemption to promote World Expo 2030 bid
  • Seoul National University to select freshmen without assigning majors in advance
  • Interactive News
  • With tough love,
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • A tale of natural wine
    • 'Mukbang' binge-eating shows give way to new trend of eating little 'Mukbang' binge-eating shows give way to new trend of eating little
    • [INTERVIEW] YouTubers bridge Korean, Muslim and Latin American cultures [INTERVIEW] YouTubers bridge Korean, Muslim and Latin American cultures
    • [INTERVIEW] Jung Woo shapes his character for Netflix's 'A Model Family' [INTERVIEW] Jung Woo shapes his character for Netflix's 'A Model Family'
    • NCT Jaehyun drops first solo single 'Forever Only' NCT Jaehyun drops first solo single 'Forever Only'
    • Artist Do Ho Suh invites children to his clay fairyland Artist Do Ho Suh invites children to his clay fairyland
    DARKROOM
    • Ice is melting, land is burning

      Ice is melting, land is burning

    • Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

      Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

    • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

      Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

    • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

      Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

      Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    The Korea Times
    CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
    Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
    Tel : 02-724-2114
    Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
    Date of registration : 2020.02.05
    Masthead : The Korea Times
    Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
    • About Us
    • Introduction
    • History
    • Location
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
    • Products & Service
    • Subscribe
    • E-paper
    • Mobile Service
    • RSS Service
    • Content Sales
    • Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
    • 고충처리인
    • Youth Protection Policy
    • Code of Ethics
    • Copyright Policy
    • Family Site
    • Hankook Ilbo
    • Dongwha Group