'Denuclearization' should be top of agenda
‘US should be willing to enter into unconditional talks with NK'
By Kim Jae-kyoung
South Korean President Moon Jae-in should make it clear that North Korea should place denuclearization on the agenda if it really wants an inter-Korean summit, according to a former high-ranking U.S. diplomat.
He said that without raising the issue, the summit will be just an empty meeting jeopardizing relations between South Korea and the United States, and other allies.
"The proposed summit could improve inter-Korean relations," Joseph DeTrani, a former U.S. special envoy for the six-party talks with North Korea, said in an interview.
"Certainly, those bilateral humanitarian issues, like reuniting separated families, could be discussed and, with progress, help improve relations," he added.
However, DeTrani, who helped broker a 2005 agreement on North Korea's nuclear program, stressed that talk about denuclearization must be at the top of the agenda.
"Ideally, Moon will make it clear to Pyongyang that he would also want to discuss the core nuclear issues that have soured North Korea's relations with South Korea and others," said DeTrani.
"Indeed, a summit without any discussion of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula would be very unfortunate," he said. "It would be a message to North Korea that eventually they will be accepted as a nuclear weapons state."
His advice came after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un invited President Moon to visit Pyongyang through his younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, who visited South Korea last weekend as part of the North's high-level delegation to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
Moon refused to immediately accept the offer, calling for efforts "to create the necessary conditions."
DeTrani, currently a professor at Missouri State University's Graduate Department of Defense and Strategic Studies in Fairfax, Virginia, said that the invitation was aimed at relieving sanctions and sowing the division between Seoul and Washington.
He pointed out that Pyongyang's charm offensive using the Winter Games came after the young North Korean leader raised tensions with a series of nuclear and missile tests over the past years in the face of continued sanctions.
"Sanctions are hurting North Korea and joint military exercises are becoming more intense, a powerful deterrence message to Pyongyang," he said.
"Participating in the Olympics could, ideally, relieve some of this pressure on North Korea. It could also possibly engender tension between South Korea and the U.S., a long term goal of North Korea."
He expects that a summit that will deal with inter-Korean humanitarian and nuclear issues could result in follow-on multiparty discussions with North Korea, similar to the 2005 six-party talks process that committed North Korea to complete verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of its active nuclear weapons programs.
Regarding U.S. Vice President Mike Pence's statement that Washington would be open to possible talks, he said, "My view is that the U.S. should be willing to enter into unconditional discussions with North Korea."
But in order for that to happen, he said, "During these discussions North Korea will refrain from missile launches and nuclear tests."
The veteran negotiator called on Moon to be resolute and continue to work closely with the U.S. in pushing his engagement strategy while not damaging bilateral relations.
"Be open to discussions with the North, but they should be principled discussions, dealing not only with inter-Korea bilateral humanitarian issues, but also with the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," he said.
By Kim Jae-kyoung
South Korean President Moon Jae-in should make it clear that North Korea should place denuclearization on the agenda if it really wants an inter-Korean summit, according to a former high-ranking U.S. diplomat.
He said that without raising the issue, the summit will be just an empty meeting jeopardizing relations between South Korea and the United States, and other allies.
"The proposed summit could improve inter-Korean relations," Joseph DeTrani, a former U.S. special envoy for the six-party talks with North Korea, said in an interview.
"Certainly, those bilateral humanitarian issues, like reuniting separated families, could be discussed and, with progress, help improve relations," he added.
However, DeTrani, who helped broker a 2005 agreement on North Korea's nuclear program, stressed that talk about denuclearization must be at the top of the agenda.
"Ideally, Moon will make it clear to Pyongyang that he would also want to discuss the core nuclear issues that have soured North Korea's relations with South Korea and others," said DeTrani.
"Indeed, a summit without any discussion of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula would be very unfortunate," he said. "It would be a message to North Korea that eventually they will be accepted as a nuclear weapons state."
His advice came after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un invited President Moon to visit Pyongyang through his younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, who visited South Korea last weekend as part of the North's high-level delegation to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
Moon refused to immediately accept the offer, calling for efforts "to create the necessary conditions."
DeTrani, currently a professor at Missouri State University's Graduate Department of Defense and Strategic Studies in Fairfax, Virginia, said that the invitation was aimed at relieving sanctions and sowing the division between Seoul and Washington.
He pointed out that Pyongyang's charm offensive using the Winter Games came after the young North Korean leader raised tensions with a series of nuclear and missile tests over the past years in the face of continued sanctions.
"Sanctions are hurting North Korea and joint military exercises are becoming more intense, a powerful deterrence message to Pyongyang," he said.
"Participating in the Olympics could, ideally, relieve some of this pressure on North Korea. It could also possibly engender tension between South Korea and the U.S., a long term goal of North Korea."
He expects that a summit that will deal with inter-Korean humanitarian and nuclear issues could result in follow-on multiparty discussions with North Korea, similar to the 2005 six-party talks process that committed North Korea to complete verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of its active nuclear weapons programs.
Regarding U.S. Vice President Mike Pence's statement that Washington would be open to possible talks, he said, "My view is that the U.S. should be willing to enter into unconditional discussions with North Korea."
But in order for that to happen, he said, "During these discussions North Korea will refrain from missile launches and nuclear tests."
The veteran negotiator called on Moon to be resolute and continue to work closely with the U.S. in pushing his engagement strategy while not damaging bilateral relations.
"Be open to discussions with the North, but they should be principled discussions, dealing not only with inter-Korea bilateral humanitarian issues, but also with the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," he said.
(责任编辑:产品中心)
相关内容
- New Grok response directs users to Vote.gov for election questions
- 'Uncanny Valley,' CES, and the end of tech exceptionalism
- Trump faces defamation charge from Stormy Daniels over "con job" tweet
- Trump will get his military parade — but without tanks.
- Amazon Android Days sale 2024: Save on unlocked phones, tablets, and more
- Doosan scraps controversial Robotics
- Alabama tortured a death row inmate during a botched execution.
- Spanish goalkeeping hero Simon hails counterpart Sommer
- Kanye West suggests slavery was a 'choice' in heated TMZ segment
- DNC 2024 speech: Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have a superpower no other Democrat has.
- Report: Grindr, OkCupid send your private data to third
- Gov't committee to screen new prosecutor general candidates next week
- Putin blames Jews for possible election meddling, which is surprising.
推荐文章
-
Wordle today: The answer and hints for August 29
Can't get enough of Wordle? Try Mashable's free version nowOh hey there! If you're here, it must be ...[详细] -
Iranian spies allegedly used Facebook to target U.S. intelligence agents
It was just a simple friend request. However, nothing is ever simple when the U.S. intelligence comm ...[详细] -
PM nominee vows to present new govt. stance on pandemic
Kim Boo-kyum, the nominee for prime minister, answers reporters' questions while arriving at his tem ...[详细] -
Facebook's latest Trump ad takedown further exposes its laughable policies
Facebook has been pretty clear that it won't police the truthiness of political ads on its platform. ...[详细] -
Pranks can be awesome. They are one of those few things in life that most people can unequivocally a ...[详细]
-
Jabeur hopes exploits galvanise Arab women to play on tennis tour
LONDON:Ons Jabeur says "being the only Arab (woman)" on the tennis tour "is not easy& ...[详细] -
Steve Irwin receives posthumous star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame
The late Steve "Crocodile Hunter" Irwin spent his life surrounded by wildlife, so it was fitting the ...[详细] -
2018年2月8日雅安市第四届人民代表大会第三次会议主席团第一次会议推定兰开驰 李伊林 杨俊辉 李 毅 彭学松 吴志君女) 李 勇杨兴品 刘 平 罗 强 ...[详细]
-
Tesla Robotaxis aren't coming in August, it seems
A few months ago, Tesla CEO Elon Musk promised a Tesla Robotaxi unveiling in August. Now, a new repo ...[详细] -
Russia plans to disconnect from the internet
While Russia has deftly used the internet to advance its own interests, it is apparently concerned a ...[详细]
热点阅读
随机内容
A Global Tour of Bakeries With Fascinating Histories
US, Japan committed to complete denuclearization of N. Korea: leaders
- Coach jailed for sexual exploitation of underage athlete
- Spanish goalkeeping hero Simon hails counterpart Sommer
- 加强市场监管 营造良好氛围
- Gov't committee to screen new prosecutor general candidates next week
- 2016's $400 GPU vs. 2019's $400 GPUs
- Southgate urges England to seize golden chance at Euro 2020
- Messi stars as Argentina set up Colombia semi