Baby steps of North Korea
Baby steps of North Korea
The president of the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, after a two-hour meeting in Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, on October 7.
Photo:
Department of State / Zuma Press
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced "significant progress" after his weekend trip to North Korea, but that seems to depend on how it is defined as "significant". A lot of progress towards denuclearization.
Pompeo said the North had agreed in principle to open its nuclear testing site in Punggye-ri to the inspectors, which is not so significant since the North says it has already destroyed the site. More important would be if the North allows inspectors to visit a missile engine test site in Tongchang-ri, although that could also be dismantled when the inspectors arrive.
"As President Trump said, there are many steps along the way and we take one of them today," said Pompeo. "It was another step forward. So, I think this is a good result for all of us. "
What North Korea has not yet provided is a list with the location of all nuclear facilities, including research and development, uranium enrichment, warhead construction and weapons storage. I know. UU They need that list to compare it with their intelligence and decide if Kim Jong Un's regime is sincere. Unique inspections do not provide such peace of mind.
Pompeo said the two sides also moved towards a second summit between Kim and President Trump, perhaps in Pyongyang. Mr. Trump wants another summit to show progress, but it is likely that the price of the North for that public exhibition is a "declaration of peace" between North Korea and South Korea. The risk is that this could undermine the case of keeping the United States troops in South Korea. It would also be an excuse for the South to flood the North with investments that will further erode global sanctions before the North has been denuclearized.
The best argument for Mr. Pompeo's optimism is that all this amounts to a confidence-building that will make the North comfortable with nuclear disarmament. But the fact that it is done in the slow schedule of the North, and perhaps with the concessions of the United States in advance, means that the North has the diplomatic advantage. After months of haggling, Kim could decide that he does not have to give up his nuclear weapons because the US-South Korean alliance and the sanctions regime are eroding.
That is more likely if China decides to help Kim by refusing to impose sanctions. Mr. Pompeo had an exchange of ideas on Monday with his Chinese counterpart on tariffs and the recent actions of the United States against the Chinese army.
Mr. Trump has supreme confidence in his personal diplomacy, and perhaps believes that he can win over Kim with another face-to-face meeting. Not for water sports, but we will believe it when the North revises its list of nuclear facilities and allows inspectors to manage the sites to dismantle them.
It appeared on October 9, 2018, print edition.
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SOURCE LINK ERESVIRAL.COM https://www.beviral.online
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