Trump's talks with 'little rocket man'
By Lee Sun-ho
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On March 9, U.S. President Donald Trump accepted North Korea's invitation for direct talks with Kim Jong-un, North's young leader to be held possibly at some neutral site by May.
Since then, the world has been wondering what it means, and what to think about it. Regardless of the diplomatic stance, it is always a political gamble when dealing with North Korea.
Pyongyang has been seeking a summit with American presidents for more than two decades, without satisfactory results. However, there is nothing wrong with a meeting, even if the chances of success are exceedingly slim. Kim might be inviting Trump to demonstrate that his investment in nuclear and missile capabilities has forced the U.S. to treat him as an equal. North Korea's 25 million people, under the forced “juche” ideology, remain among the poorest and most isolated in Asia.
Talks can be good, but a summit should be a carrot for the end of a satisfactory process, not the beginning. Chances are Kim will spin the optics, and show his people and the world he is received as a legitimate head of state, and in the end keep his programs intact. The rigid U.S. stance in dialogue over denuclearization was the most dangerous road to ensure maximum American leverage and flexibility up to now.
In repeated statements, North Korea has said it would give up its nuclear weapons as it has shown since Nov. 28, 2017, only if the U.S. lifts its hostile policy toward the North, and accept a demand for the withdrawal of 28,500 troops from South Korea. Then, North Korea's intentions and goals may pursue similar footsteps to the war in Vietnam ending April 30, 1975, if the regime's upcoming peace dialogue with the U.S. proceeds as planned.
North Korea's nuclear program today is sufficiently advanced, that even a freeze would leave the country with enough plutonium to make nuclear warheads. So far it is unclear whether the “little rocket man” will give up his nuclear build-up by actions or not. One possibility would be for Trump to join with South Korean President Moon Jae-in at a summit scheduled for late April at Panmunjeom. Three countries, having been part of high-level negotiations through the six-nation talks, namely China, Japan, and Russia, might go their own respective ways for their national interests, as far as North Korea's denuclearization issues are concerned.
At the end of the Trump-Kim talks, either from a propaganda standpoint or from a diplomatic breakthrough, the “little rocket man” can claim a win against Trump, or Trump can show confidence in his unprecedented gamble with Kim.
A good outcome would be desirable for the sake of well-being and peace on earth for entire mankind.
Lee Sun-ho (kexim2@unitel.co.kr) is an ombudsman columnist for The Korea Times in Seoul.