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Fri, August 17, 2018 | 20:58

Opinion > Columnists > Tong Kim >

Compounding of N. Korea issue

In the wake of Trump’s Asia trip and following a two-month pause of North Korea’s kinetic provocations, the Korean peninsula appears to have been relieved from the risk of an imminent military conflict, although high tensions continue. A clear path to the resolution of the nuclear/missile issue is still missing. Trump’s trip was focused on the North Korean nuclear threat, U.S. trade imbalances, and on a new, broader U.S. Asia policy - for trade and security interests - for the Indo-Pacific region. Throughout his trip, Trump did well, by sticking to the scripts, away from his usual bombastic ...

Tong Kim | 2017-11-19 17:30

Mending ties between Seoul and Beijing

Perhaps the biggest diplomatic development in Asia in recent weeks was an agreement between South Korea and China, in which both countries said they will try to put their estranged relationship “back on a normal track.”

Tong Kim | 2017-11-05 19:12

Beyond sanctions on N. Korea

As President Trump will visit Asian capitals next month, including Tokyo, Seoul and Beijing, many analysts are busy figuring out what impact his trip may have on the prospect of a solution to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threat. Upfront, I do not see the likelihood of any dramatic change in the current course of a “pressure campaign” that is spearheaded by Washington, with the strong support of its allies and partners. There will be no big deal with China, no “Korea passing,” no agreement on a trilateral alliance that will include Japan, no clarification of military options and probably...

Tong Kim | 2017-10-22 17:41

Theory of two madmen

Everybody knows that Kim Jong-un will not negotiate away his nuclear-tipped missiles and is determined to complete the development of an operational nuclear force that can strike the United States. Donald Trump does not believe dialogue is the answer, especially not at this time. He is more inclined to a military solution. Nobody knows what will be a good solution or an exit strategy. On or around Oct. 10, the anniversary of the Korean Workers Party’s foundation, Pyongyang may hold another new ballistic missile test or launch a second ballistic missile from a submarine. Another nuclear test ...

Tong Kim | 2017-10-08 17:39

North Korea at United Nations

North 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.

Tong Kim | 2017-09-24 16:49

To defuse powder keg

Amid 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 somet...

Tong Kim | 2017-09-10 17:23

What's after de-escalation?

Although 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-ca...

Tong Kim | 2017-08-27 17:48

Rhetoric won't trigger war

Belligerent 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 ...

Tong Kim | 2017-08-13 17:26

Tough talk on N. Korea

North 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.

Tong Kim | 2017-07-30 17:26

Dream and reality on N. Korea

“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.

Tong Kim | 2017-07-16 16:26

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