Opinion - The Korea Times

North Korea at United Nations

By Tong KimNorth Korea dominated the 72nd session of the U.N. General Assembly last week, but a peaceful solution South Korea is searching for was not in sight. The leaders of the U.S., Japan, and South Korea agreed to apply maximum pressure on North Korea, which is committed to complete its final phase of nuclear armament.Through a bilateral summit, the U.S. and South Korea agreed to strengthen their joint deterrent capability:  The U.S. will expand deployment of its most advanced military assets to Korea and the region, and South Korea will acquire advanced equipment from the U.S.On Sept. 22, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un issued an unprecedented statement in the capacity of the chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK that said, “We will consider … exercising of a corresponding, highest level hard-line countermeasure in history.”  This was Kim’s rebuke of Trump’s threat on Sept. 19 to “totally destroy” North Korea, “if the U.S. is forced to defend itself or its allies.” He also said Kim was a “Rock

Sep 24, 2017By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

To defuse powder keg

By Tong KimAmid renewed tensions with North Korea, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Sept. 7 that the military option is still on the table, but it is not “inevitable.” He also warned that if the U.S. has to use force, “it would be a very sad day for North Korea.” “I would prefer not going the route of the military, but it’s something, certainly, that could happen.… Our military has never been stronger.”After his call to the Chinese president a day earlier, Trump said the military option was “not his first choice,” adding that “President Xi Jinping would like to do something. We will see whether or not he can do it.”Trump appears willing to wait to see if non-military means could work out. Some members of Congress, who recently were briefed by Trump’s security advisers including the secretaries of defense and state, said the tone of the briefing was on the side of diplomacy rather than on military plans.Trump’s improvised tweets and unscripted comments have of

Sep 10, 2017By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

What's after de-escalation?

By Tong KimAlthough tensions seem to have eased in Korea compared to two weeks ago, Pyongyang has kept up with its usual condemning of the annual U.S.-ROK joint military exercises that will continue until the end of August. Pyongyang continues to demonstrate an advancing missile program, as shown by Kim Jong-un’s Aug. 23 “field guidance” at the Chemical Institute of the Academy of Science, instructing his scientists “to produce more solid-fuel rocket engines and rocket warhead tips.”On Aug. 14, Kim effectively suspended the spiraling escalation of tensions that put nerves on edge, fearing the worst-case scenario of a catastrophic war. He did it by deciding not to carry out a plan to launch ballistic missiles toward the U.S. territory of Guam. However, this was not a blink on his part, not necessarily taken aback at Donald Trump’s warning that American “fire and fury” was “locked and loaded” at the North.Kim announced the decision when he visited the Korean People’s Army Strategic Force Command that had completed a plan

Aug 27, 2017By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

Rhetoric won't trigger war

By Tong KimBelligerent rhetoric from Pyongyang and Washington has peaked to a dangerous state of psychological warfare, not to the breaking point of war. Reacting to U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning of “fire and fury,” North Korea announced its plan to launch four Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missiles by mid-August toward waters near Guam where B-1B bombers are based.Pyongyang’s plan, albeit subject to final approval by its leader Kim Jong-un, was unusually specific in terms of the type and number of missiles to be fired, and their timing, flight trajectory and target points. The plan poses the most serious threat to the U.S. so far, if it was not another round of bluffing that should be interpreted with a grain of salt.On August 8, Trump made an extemporaneous comment, if North Korea keeps threatening the United States, “they will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen.” Trump also warned that North Korea could be wiped out by the U.S. nuclear arsenal “now far stronger and more powerful than ever before,&rdqu

Aug 13, 2017By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

Tough talk on N. Korea

By Tong KimNorth Korea defied an outsider’s prediction again. It did not test-launch another ballistic missile on July 27, marking the 64th anniversary of the Korean armistice, on the contrary to the widely reported warnings that it would according to officials in Washington and Seoul.But it test-fired an ICBM on July 28 after the one conducted on the Fourth of July. Although the armistice is claimed by the North as “the Day of Victory,” the North Koreans know, it does not have the significance of the Fourth of July for Americans. They can send “gifts of bad news” to America – in Kim Jong-un’s word -- on their own schedule “at a time and a place” of his choice.In the wake of its ICBM test, Pyongyang has demurred the South’s proposal of military and humanitarian talks, without an outright rejection of the proposed talks. It accuses the Moon government of maintaining “fundamental hostility.” Pyongyang intensifies its belligerent rhetoric against the U.S., which in turn retches up its own rhetoric against the North.

Jul 30, 2017By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

Dream and reality on N. Korea

By Tong Kim “It cuts to the heart that neither do we have power in reality to resolve the issue of the Korean Peninsula that is most urgent to us, nor are we able to induce an agreement on the issue,” President Moon Jae-in said at a recent Cabinet meeting. His assessment reflects the cold reality that South Korea faces today.Moon was expressing his frustrations with the intractability of dealing with the North Korean nuclear/missile threat, following a series of discussions with leaders of world powers, including the U.S., China, and Russia, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg. They all agree on the denuclearization of the peninsula, but they disagree on how to achieve it or even on imposing additional sanctions against North Korea after its latest test-launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) labeled the Hwasong-14.Still, in aspiration for Seoul’s initiative to help a peaceful resolution of the North Korean issue, as supported by U.S. President Donald Trump in the joint statement of their June 30 summit in Washington, Moon on

Jul 16, 2017By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

Moon's successful visit to U.S.

By Tong KimPresident Moon Jae-in’s first visit to Washington has turned out as an impressive success, considering some prior concerns that it might not have gone well because of differences with President Trump with regard to North Korea, THAAD deployment and trade.Through “tremendous discussions” over a formal dinner at the White House and more talks in a one-on-one plus an expanded meeting, the Korean President built “trust and friendship” with President Donald Trump, reconfirmed the ROK-U.S. alliance, and agreed to work together to eliminate the threats of North Korea’s nuclear and missile capability in cooperation with the international community.Before Moon touched down in Washington, D.C., he had addressed some concerns of his perceived positions. He made clear that North Korea should not be rewarded for its bad behavior, and a nuclear freeze should be the condition for dialogue. He also assured the completion of THAAD deployment in Korea after meeting the domestic procedural requirements.In a well-choreographed itinerary, Moon paid tribute t

Jul 2, 2017By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

Trump urged to send envoy to North Korea

By Tong KimWASHINGTON, D.C. ― A group of six high-profile American experts recommended in a letter to President Donald Trump on June 28 that he send a high-level presidential envoy to North Korea to jump-start talks in good faith and begin informal bilateral talks ― with no preconditions ― to explore options for more formal negotiations.The prominent group included former secretary of defense William Perry (the author of the Perry Report on North Korea in 1999), former secretary of state George Shultz (during the Reagan administration), Robert Gallucci (the negotiator of the Agreed Frameworks in 1994), Siegfried Hecker (a world-renowned nuclear expert now with Stanford University),  Richard Lugar (a retired chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee) and Bill Richardson (a former U.N. ambassador and governor of New Mexico).“Talking is not a reward or a concession to Pyongyang and should not be construed as signaling acceptance of a nuclear-armed North Korea,” their joint letter to the President said. The authors also wrote: “Kim Jong-un i

Jun 30, 2017By Tong Kim

Moon, Trump have 1st meeting

Tong Kim

Moon, Trump on N. Korea

By Tong KimPresident Moon’s meeting with President Trump in Washington at the end of this month will determine whether the United States and the Republic of Korea can work together more effectively to deal with North Korean nuclear and missile threats. As reported, their agenda will focus on the alliance, the North Korean issue, and bilateral trade issues.The two countries share a common interest in a strong alliance and a peaceful resolution of the North Korean threats.  The alliance is for deterrence and defense against the North.  However, Trump does not feel the trade relationship is fair to the U.S.It will be easy for both leaders to agree to build a stronger alliance.  On trade, there have been suggestions that Moon should offer an economic package of investment and import of more American goods that will create jobs in the U.S., a Trump priority in line with “America First.”  The trade issue can and should be manageable, without renegotiating the free trade agreement.On the North Korean issue, it will be difficult to agree beyond a common

Jun 18, 2017By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

Pyongyang's best option

By Tong KimIn a video message to the opening of the Jeju Conference for Peace and Prosperity on June 1, President Moon Jae-in outlined his plan to lay a foundation for peace on the Korean peninsula during his term in office. He made it clear that his administration would “play a leading role for the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue through dialogue, instead of relying on the roles of other countries.”“In cooperation with the relevant countries including the United States and China,” he said, “we will lead efforts to pressure and persuade North Korea to come to the table of dialogue and resolve the issues of North Korea’s nuclear program, inter-Korean relations, as well as U.S.-DPRK relations, all at the same time.”However, Pyongyang’s continuous test firing of ballistic missiles including three that the North has launched since Moon’s inauguration less than a month ago make it practically impossible for the new progressive president of the South to ignore the security threat from the North. Moon is equal

Jun 4, 2017By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

Read more

North Korea at United Nations

To defuse powder keg

What's after de-escalation?

Rhetoric won't trigger war

Tough talk on N. Korea

Dream and reality on N. Korea

Moon's successful visit to U.S.

Trump urged to send envoy to North Korea

Moon, Trump on N. Korea

Pyongyang's best option

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