Ex-negotiator on NK advises US to be careful about rhetoric

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

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Mon, October 2, 2023 | 07:08

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Ex-negotiator on NK advises US to be careful about rhetoric

Posted : 2018-05-16 16:42

Updated : 2018-05-16 18:45

Rep. Park Jie-won of the Party for Democracy and Peace / Yonhap

By Park Ji-won

A former negotiator for the inter-Korean summit in 2000 advised Washington, Wednesday, to give North Korea a chance to "save face," saying unnecessary harsh rhetoric may spoil the upcoming denuclearization talks with the North.

The remark came after the North unilaterally cancelled planned high-ranking talks between the two Koreas, threatening to pull out of the planned North Korea-U.S. summit in Singapore next month.

"Recently, there has been a series of unnecessary remarks from the U.S. hurting the North's reputation. It should stop saying these things if it truly wants to achieve denuclearization," Rep. Park Jie-won from the Party for Democracy and Peace (PDP) wrote on Facebook.

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In 2000, Park negotiated with North Korea about the first inter-Korea summit as a special envoy of then-President Kim Dae-jung.

"I think the fundamental reason behind the delay of the high-ranking talks is North Korea's backlash against moves by the U.S. raising hurdles to the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and pressure," Park said.

North Korea made a surprise declaration in a pre-dawn dispatch through its state media that they canceled a high-level meeting with the South citing the ongoing joint military drill Max Thunder between South Korea and the United States as a "military ruckus."

"The East puts its priority on pride while the West adopts pragmatic measures. The North also needs to understand that there are different opinions and social structures in the U.S. In order to have a successful summit, the two should be patient with each other and show consideration," Park added.

Park's remarks are likely giving the North further understanding of the harsh remarks by the U.S, while criticizing the Trump administration that has made critical comments against the North ahead of the Singapore summit.

On May 6, North Korea's vice foreign minister accused the U.S. of having sinister intentions, criticizing the U.S. officials' reckless remarks against North Korea, possibly as part of its moves to have a tug-of-war over the agenda at the summit.

The U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other U.S. officials have repeatedly said they are seeking North Korea's permanent verifiable denuclearization (PVID), a larger concept compared to complete, verifiable, irreversible dismantlement (CVID) that was discussed on May 2. Also, National Security Adviser John Bolton suggested a Libyan model of nuclear disarmament on May 4.

jwpark@ktimes.com