Washington, Pyongyang need to close gap on details
There is much anticipation surrounding the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un which is set to happen in a few weeks.
The April 27 Panmunjeom Declaration produced during the inter-Korean summit lacked details on how North Korea will proceed toward "complete denuclearization." Kim offered to give up his nuclear program if the U.S. promised not to invade and is reportedly planning to take some steps toward denuclearization. First is the closure of nuclear test sites this month in full view of experts and the international press, which was belatedly announced to local media by Cheong Wa Dae after the third inter-Korean summit. This is seen as a way to gain Washington's respect as a trustworthy negotiating partner ahead of the Trump-Kim meeting. But that will not be enough to assuage global concerns that North Korea may not be serious about getting rid of its nuclear weapons.
There is much speculation on whether the first-ever U.S.-North Korea summit will result in a roadmap for denuclearization, including the timeframe and specific measures that Pyongyang will take in getting rid of its nuclear weapons. Reaching an agreement on this roadmap will be the key measure of success of the historic summit between the U.S. and North Korea, two countries that have been hostile toward each other since the 1950-53 Korean War.
However, prospects for the U.S-North Korea summit are not all positive. The two countries remain apart on how to pursue denuclearization. New U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton mentioned in media interviews this week about the model applied for Libya's disarmament, which led to the nation's destabilization. "We have very much in mind the Libya model from 2003, 2004," Bolton said on Fox News. North Korea has been critical of the model. Bolton also stressed that there will be no lifting of sanctions against North Korea before Pyongyang gives up its nuclear program completely. "I think that the maximum pressure campaign that the Trump administration has put on North Korea has, along with the political, military pressure, brought us to this point," Bolton said.
Trump's new Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who made a secret trip to Pyongyang to meet with Kim over the Easter weekend, also reiterated that the Trump administration will maintain tough sanctions until Pyongyang gets rid of its nuclear program. He also stressed "irreversible" steps for denuclearization.
We hope that Trump and Kim will approach the summit with respect toward each other and do their utmost to strike a deal that is most conducive for permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.
There is much anticipation surrounding the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un which is set to happen in a few weeks.
The April 27 Panmunjeom Declaration produced during the inter-Korean summit lacked details on how North Korea will proceed toward "complete denuclearization." Kim offered to give up his nuclear program if the U.S. promised not to invade and is reportedly planning to take some steps toward denuclearization. First is the closure of nuclear test sites this month in full view of experts and the international press, which was belatedly announced to local media by Cheong Wa Dae after the third inter-Korean summit. This is seen as a way to gain Washington's respect as a trustworthy negotiating partner ahead of the Trump-Kim meeting. But that will not be enough to assuage global concerns that North Korea may not be serious about getting rid of its nuclear weapons.
There is much speculation on whether the first-ever U.S.-North Korea summit will result in a roadmap for denuclearization, including the timeframe and specific measures that Pyongyang will take in getting rid of its nuclear weapons. Reaching an agreement on this roadmap will be the key measure of success of the historic summit between the U.S. and North Korea, two countries that have been hostile toward each other since the 1950-53 Korean War.
However, prospects for the U.S-North Korea summit are not all positive. The two countries remain apart on how to pursue denuclearization. New U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton mentioned in media interviews this week about the model applied for Libya's disarmament, which led to the nation's destabilization. "We have very much in mind the Libya model from 2003, 2004," Bolton said on Fox News. North Korea has been critical of the model. Bolton also stressed that there will be no lifting of sanctions against North Korea before Pyongyang gives up its nuclear program completely. "I think that the maximum pressure campaign that the Trump administration has put on North Korea has, along with the political, military pressure, brought us to this point," Bolton said.
Trump's new Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who made a secret trip to Pyongyang to meet with Kim over the Easter weekend, also reiterated that the Trump administration will maintain tough sanctions until Pyongyang gets rid of its nuclear program. He also stressed "irreversible" steps for denuclearization.
We hope that Trump and Kim will approach the summit with respect toward each other and do their utmost to strike a deal that is most conducive for permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.
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