'Corresponding measures desirable to complete NK denuclearization'
2024-09-20 00:29:04
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| Kyungnam University President Jae Kyu Park speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at his office in Seoul, Wednesday. / Korea Times photo by Kang Seung-woo |
By Kang Seung-woo
The United States has demanded that North Korea dismantle its nuclear weapons program before expecting economic ― or other ― rewards, with Pyongyang rejecting what it called immediate and unilateral demands.
As a result, with no apparent signs of a breakthrough on North Korean denuclearization after nearly 30 years of efforts, there is a growing debate on whether the U.S. should ditch its age-old approach and take the path of corresponding measures.
Kyungnam University President Jae Kyu Park, a former South Korean minister of unification, is among those who are supportive of a parallel approach that he believes could be a more effective method to ensure the North's complete denuclearization.
"The reason the North Korea nuclear negotiations have been dragging on for nearly 30 years is because the U.S. and North Korea are not truly reconciling and do not trust each other," Park said during an interview with The Korea Times at his office in Seoul, Wednesday.
According to him, there has been no room for trust building to take place between the two, as the North has refused to negotiate the "end state" of demolishing its nuclear weapons, and has continuously abandoned agreements through "salami tactics"; while the U.S. has ended agreements between the two countries each time a new presidential administration has entered the White House, while adhering to the hardline position that it can only adopt corresponding measures if the North denuclearizes first.
"As noted in the Singapore Agreement, we understand that the denuclearization negotiations need to proceed in a way that ensures North Korea ends its nuclear program in exchange for security guarantees. It is desirable for the U.S. and North Korea to conclude a comprehensive agreement on denuclearization and for the implementation of this agreement to take place in a gradual, simultaneous, and parallel manner so that the two sides can build trust," Park said, adding the comprehensive agreement deals with sanctions, the normalization of relations and the drawing down of the North's nuclear program.
During the Singapore summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in June 2018, Trump committed to providing security guarantees to the North, while Kim reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
"Otherwise, neither will make concessions in the current situation," Park added.
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| North Korean leader Kim Jong-un / Korea Times file |
Despite the growing voices for simultaneous, step-by-step negotiations, the incoming Joseph Biden administration is unlikely to ease sanctions imposed on the North for conducting nuclear and missile tests in the past. The totalitarian state is banned from testing any ballistic missile technology under a set of U.N. resolutions, but has repeatedly ignored these.
Citing the July 10 statement by the North Korean leader's sister Kim Yo-jong, urging the U.S. to withdraw its hostile policy toward her country in order to restart denuclearization talks, Park said, "If Washington takes the initiative and introduces the concept of reversibility to link the easing of sanctions with measures to build trust with North Korea, the U.S. may be able to bring North Korea back to negotiations."
Park also said the Biden administrations needs to acknowledge the spirit and content of the Singapore Joint Statement, regardless of his using a "top-down" or a "bottom-up" approach, to make progress in nuclear talks.
"If the Biden administration denies some of the achievements of President Trump and goes down the road of Anything but Trump, U.S.-North Korea negotiations will inevitably face a long and tedious impasse. This would be a burden not only for North Korea but also for the U.S.'s international diplomacy," he said.
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Unlike President Trump, who sought a "political legacy" via summit diplomacy with the North, the North Korean denuclearization issue is not likely to be on the list of priorities for the Biden administration due to other immediate problems such as COVID-19, a sagging economy and China; and Park expressed concerns that this could lead to the North setting off a crisis on the peninsula with military "provocations."
Plus, the North Korean regime has historically conducted strong military provocations in the first year of a new U.S. administration.
"North Korea has always raised tensions on the Korean Peninsula to highlight its presence when it feels ignored by Washington. Such provocations have often resulted in negative consequences for U.S.-DPRK relations and inter-Korean relations," he said, urging Washington to be more proactive toward Pyongyang and quickly appoint a special advisor on North Korea policy. The DPRK refers to the official name of North Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
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| U.S. President-elect Joe Biden / Reuters-Yonhap |
In this respect, Park stressed the need for the South to play the role of a mediator to help revive U.S.-DPRK negotiations.
"North Korea negotiated with President Trump, but now seems to be undergoing a great deal of deliberation with the upcoming launch of the Biden administration. Until Biden takes office on Jan. 20, 2021, the North Korean authorities will likely be holding internal discussions on how to respond to the new U.S. administration while refraining as much as possible from sending any sort of message," he said.
"As for South Korea, Seoul needs to double down on efforts to create a shared plan for promptly guiding the new U.S. administration and North Korea back to dialogue."
Inter-Korean relations
Cross-border relations are likely to wrap up this year at their lowest ebb since the inauguration of the Moon Jae-in administration in May 2017, as evidenced by the North's demolition of the inter-Korean liaison office and repeated fiery rhetoric against the South Korean government and the President. In addition, the reclusive state has ignored calls from the South for inter-Korean economic and public healthcare cooperation amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The North has kept its borders closed since January as a precaution against the coronavirus.
However, Park forecast that cross-border dialogue could be held ahead of talks between the U.S. and the North, advising the South to take advantage of the opportunity for the resumption of the denuclearization negotiations.
"It is unlikely that North Korea will take part in U.S.-DPRK and South-North Korea dialogues right away," he said. "But as Kim Jong-un said, 'I hope to meet after the health crisis,' it is highly likely that inter-Korea dialogue will take precedence over U.S.-DPRK dialogue," he said.
During the 75th anniversary of the founding anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, Oct. 10, Kim wished the South a speedy recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and the message was seen as the North Korean leader suggesting that his country would change its stance toward the South and restore bilateral relations ahead of mending ties with the U.S.
"It is time to proceed with discussions with the new U.S. administration on when and how to start the resumption of U.S.-DPRK talks and talks between the two Koreas," he added.
The North plans to hold its Eighth Party Congress next month, the first since May 2016, and Park said the political event will be a very "important inflection point" for the Kim regime.
"For Chairman Kim, it will be a critical time to present a future vision for overcoming North Korea's economic crisis and strengthening solidarity between his regime and the North Korean people, who are suffering from sanctions, COVID-19, and typhoon and flood damage," he said.
"At the Eighth Party Congress, the regime will likely present a vision of how to guide the country toward revival and prosperity by overcoming COVID-19 while confidently confronting internal challenges and various external threats. Ultimately, North Korea will try to establish a ruling system to ensure that the country becomes a normal state ruled by Kim Jong-un and centered on the Workers' Party of Korea."
（作者：新闻中心）
