Hundreds of inspectors needed to monitor North Korea's denuclearization
(Baonghean.vn) - The New York Times on May 6 quoted experts as saying that hundreds of inspectors need to be mobilized to monitor the process of destroying North Korea's nuclear facilities and weapons.
Ahead of the summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un later this month, experts say North Korea’s denuclearization is likely to be “the largest inspection campaign in the history of nuclear disarmament.”
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| North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test site. Photo: AP |
Last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in stressed their shared commitment to the “complete denuclearization” of the Korean Peninsula in the Panmunjom Declaration reached at the inter-Korean summit on April 27. Details and specific measures related to denuclearization are expected to be negotiated during the upcoming US-North Korea summit.
However, given that North Korea's nuclear program began more than 50 years ago and involves secret test sites and tunnels, experts note, this poses a significant challenge for international inspectors.
Professor David Kay from the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies said that up to 300 inspectors would be needed in North Korea, but it would be difficult to find enough experts with the necessary expertise and experience.
According to a 2014 RAND report, North Korea has between 40 and 100 nuclear laboratories and facilities. In addition, the country is believed to have built an arsenal of 20 to 60 nuclear warheads over the years.
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| South Korea and North Korea stressed their shared commitment to the “complete denuclearization” of the Korean peninsula. Photo: Getty |
Meanwhile, there is skepticism in Washington about whether Pyongyang will actually give up its nuclear weapons program.
In an interview with Fox News on May 6, Mr. Mac Thornberry - Chairman of the US House Armed Services Committee said that Pyongyang will not give up all nuclear weapons, fuel and missiles during the dialogue with the US. According to him, considering Pyongyang's negotiation history, in which its officials tried to manipulate the world's views, Washington needs to be ready for the worst-case scenario.
“I think we can hope for the best, but we also need to prepare for the worst,” Mr. Thornberry said. “That means strengthening our defenses against any missile attack, modernizing our nuclear deterrent, and strengthening the defenses of our ships and other military capabilities in the region.”
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