Opinion - The Korea Times

GSOMIA and North Korea

By Tong KimSouth Korea is having a tough time dealing with the aftermath of two critical security issues: cancellation of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) and North Korea's double rejection of talks on denuclearization and inter-Korean relations.In the final analysis, the termination of the military information sharing agreement with Japan will not change the fundamental security environment in East Asia. North Korea has not given up dialogue but is not ready for talks, and it will not be unless and until it will be offered an easing of sanctions. The North is likely to return to dialogue with the South at some point.Seoul's decision to scrap GSOMIA was made in reaction to Japan's trade retaliation for Korea's court decision to allow indemnity for the victims of forced labor under Japanese colonial rule. It was retaliation for retaliation. The decision was made knowingly against the wishes of the Trump administration.It may be seen as a setback for Washington's Indo-Pacific strategy to reign in China's growing influence. The U.S. secretaries of state an

Aug 26, 2019By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

Multiple challenges for South Korea

By Tong KimSouth Korea is facing unprecedented challenges for its security, sovereignty and wellbeing from multiple sources: North Korea, China, Russia, Japan and even from the United States ― Seoul's only treaty ally on which Seoul depends for a nuclear umbrella against the North.North Korea appears to be perfecting its short-range ballistic missiles capable of striking all areas of South Korea. Kim Jong-un is still communicating with Donald Trump, but not with Moon Jae-in, who is accused of going easy on Kim.A Russian military airplane recently invaded the territorial airspace over Dokdo, while conducting with China a joint air drill violating the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ).Seoul's relationship with Tokyo has fallen to its lowest point since the 1965 treaty normalized bilateral relations. If not properly addressed in time, the dispute will hurt both countries in the end. It is threatening the automatic annual renewal of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), which Washington regards as a critical component of the trilateral security str

Aug 12, 2019By By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

Behind NK missile launch

By Tong KimWith a show of newly developed nuclear capable weapons ― with the July 23 unveiling of a newly-built submarine, probably capable of carrying three SLBMs, and the launch of two ballistic missiles on July 25, capable of targeting Jeju Island, on top of the clear and present threat of an expanding nuclear arsenal, Kim Jong-un is pushing South Korea to change its course of cooperation with the United States.According to a July27 KCNA report, Kim said: “The power demonstration fire of the new type tactical guided weapons” was to warn the “South Korean military warmongers running a high fever … to introduce the ultramodern offensive weapons into South Korea and hold military exercises.” Kim advised the South Korean President “to stop such a suicidal act” and said the South “should not make the mistake of ignoring this solemn warning.”Pyongyang has long complained about joint military drills between South Korea and the U.S. Its foreign ministry recently warned that the joint exercise scheduled for August could affect working-

Jul 29, 2019By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

Working-level talks with NK

By Tong KimWorking-level talks between the U.S. and North Korea that President Trump and Kim Jung-un agreed to hold “in a few weeks” at their June 30 meeting in Panmunjeom are yet to take place. Despite the shortcomings and a poor record of such talks, they will still help to reduce tensions and continue diplomatic efforts to find a realistic path to denuclearization.One problem with working-level talks: they are time-consuming, especially when their representatives have no flexible authority to negotiate issues on the table. Previous working-level talks with Pyongyang led to Kim's ambiguous commitment to “complete denuclearization” in Singapore, but failed to contribute to a summit agreement in Hanoi.Steve Biegun, the U.S. representative to nuclear talks, has admitted there was no agreed definition of what “complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula” means, still a sticking point. He complained about his counterpart's lack of authorization to even discuss denuclearization.Yet, past working level-talks were useful for setting up logistical a

Jul 15, 2019By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

Renewed hope for North Korea deal

By Tong KimU.S. President Donald Trump performed a stunning reality show from Panmunjeom in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which divides the two Koreas, on Sunday. In less than a day-and- a-half after Trump tweeted his desire to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, a third U.S-North Korea summit took place, briefly joined by the South Korean President. It was an incredible event that came about in an incredible way. Trump's meeting with Kim, lasting almost an hour, was a historic event that renewed hope for a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear issue and a peace settlement on the Korean Peninsula. As a concrete step, Trump and Kim agreed to start working-level talks within a few weeks, putting an end to the stalled negotiations since the Hanoi summit. Trump and Kim met and shook hands on the border line, Kim escorted Trump about 10 meters into North Korean territory before crossing the line into the South, where they were joined by President Moon Je-in for greetings. Moon was taking the back seat, encouraging dialogue between the U.S. and North Korea.Only after Trump and Kim ac

Jul 1, 2019By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

Resuscitating denuclearization talks

By Tong KimDonald Trump does it again. He raises the possibility of resuscitating stalled denuclearization. Since Trump said he had received another “beautiful letter” from Kim Jong-un on June 11, he has spoken in favor of Kim on a few more subsequent occasions. He is still seeking a nuclear deal, although in “no rush” and keeping sanctions on.South Korean President Moon Jae-in, advocating for North Korea's denuclearization through dialogue and trust while traveling across Northern Europe, said Washington shared the general content of Kim's letter with him that contained “an interesting part.” Moon is still waiting for Kim's response to his request for a fourth summit before Trump's scheduled visit to Seoul at the end of the month.On June 12, CNN reported the letter contained no substance on the stalled nuclear negotiation: it was “a birthday greeting” for Trump whose birthday was last Friday. Back on April 12, Kim was venting his discontent over the failed Hanoi summit, but saying his relationship with Trump was good as to send letters

Jun 17, 2019By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

Divergence between Trump, advisers

By Tong KimPresident Trump's undercutting of his national security adviser, John Bolton, at a recent press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo, regarding the characterization of the short-range missiles that North Korea launched on May 4 and 9 sent a conflicting message to the world on U.S. policy on North Korea and spread speculation on Bolton's longevity in his job.After Trump tweeted on May 25, “North Korea fired off some small weapons, which disturbed some of my people… but not me. I have confidence that Chairman Kim will keep his promise to me…,” Bolton said the North fired ballistic missiles in violation of U.N. resolutions. In the Tokyo news conference, Trump said in Bolton's presence, “My people think it could have been a violation of U.N. resolutions… I view it differently. I view it … perhaps he (Kim Jong-un) wants to get attention, and perhaps not. Who knows? It doesn't matter.” That evening Bolton skipped an imperial dinner hosted by the newly enthroned Japanese emperor. Bolton has been a controve

Jun 3, 2019By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

Seoul's dilemma on N. Korea

By Tong KimTensions are rising again in Korea, albeit slowly, since North Korea conducted the testing of short-range ballistic missiles on May 4 and May 9, including a North Korean version of a low-flying Russian missile, the Iskander, that flew over 420 kilometers, out of the ranges of missile defense systems deployed in South Korea. Kim Jong-un's return to a calculated show of force coincides with no imminent prospect of resurrecting denuclearization talks and with a series of U.S. actions Pyongyang sees as hostile to it: including the seizure of a North Korean cargo ship for exporting coal in violation of UN and U.S. sanctions, a State Department press statement criticizing human rights abuses in the North, and the U.S. Air Force testing an ICBM that it said was unrelated to North Korea.On May 14, a North Korean foreign ministry spokesperson issued a statement of protest, demanding an immediate release of the North Korean ship “forcibly taken to the U.S. territory of Samoa.” The statement censured the application of the U.S. domestic law in the “unlawful and outr

May 21, 2019By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

Variables for denuclearization

By Tong KimNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un is waiting for the Trump administration to change its position and accept his offer of a phased denuclearization. However, there is no indication that Washington is considering backing down on its demand for an early, comprehensive denuclearization that caused the breakdown of the Hanoi summit in late February.Pyongyang is now saying that if Washington does not drop its current “method of calculation” by the end of this year as set by Kim in his April 13 speech to the Supreme People's Assembly, the U.S. “will face an undesired consequence” according to its first vice foreign minister, Choe Son-hui's warning on April 30. Choe was reacting to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's April 25 interview with CBS, in which he said if the North does not keep its commitment to denuclearize, his administration could “change paths.” Choe was practicing what she has learned from her long diplomatic career, a hardliner's support for her leader and an artful ambiguity. “It is a foolish and dangerous idea to bring down o

May 7, 2019By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

Breakdown of nuclear negotiation

By Tong Kim At this point, the prospect of denuclearization appears gloomier and more distant than ever. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, addressing the14th Supreme People's Assembly on April 13, said that his country will not yield to sanctions pressure, but will rather “weather and foil” it through “self-reliance.” He set a deadline for the process of negotiations till the end of this year.Kim also said that the U.S. should not miscalculate that its maximum pressure will “bring us to our knees.” He questions if he has to respond to a third summit “just because of the issues of sanctions relief.” Yet, he accepts “one more (round of) talks,” if the U.S. chooses a new position, by dropping its “impractical” method of calculation, and if it comes up with “a certain methodology that can be shared with us.” Kim's remarks came after President Moon Jae-in's meeting with President Trump on April 11, which did not result in changing Washington's policy on North Korea. Trump made it clear that he will keep th

Apr 22, 2019By Tong Kim

Tong Kim

Read more

GSOMIA and North Korea

Multiple challenges for South Korea

Behind NK missile launch

Working-level talks with NK

Renewed hope for North Korea deal

Resuscitating denuclearization talks

Divergence between Trump, advisers

Seoul's dilemma on N. Korea

Variables for denuclearization

Breakdown of nuclear negotiation

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