North Korea misleads US over denuclearization commitment
(Baonghean.vn) - Mr. Victor Cha, who was the deputy head of the US delegation to the six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear issue more than a decade ago, commented that North Korea is taking advantage of the negotiations with the US to distract from the core issue of denuclearization, which is a goal that Pyongyang has no intention of pursuing in the near future.
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| Victor Cha, who participated in the six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear issue more than a decade ago, said that North Korea is deceiving the US about its commitment to denuclearization. Photo: AP |
In a recent interview with Kyodo news agency, Mr. Victor Cha said that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un considers his country's nuclear and ballistic missile programs necessary to maintain power throughout the country for decades to come.
Instead of taking concrete steps toward denuclearization, Mr. Cha argued, North Korea has taken confidence-building measures such as suspending nuclear or missile tests, dismantling a nuclear test site and a satellite launch station, returning the remains of U.S. soldiers missing from the Korean War, and releasing three U.S. citizens.
If Kim Jong-un Fools About Denuclearization Commitment, the Price to Pay Will Be High
(Baonghean.vn) - Previous efforts to denuclearize North Korea have ended without any significant results. From the Agreed Framework of 1994 to the Leap Day Agreement of 2012, past negotiations have failed due to mistrust and ultimately allowed Pyongyang to declare itself a full-fledged nuclear power.
“According to this interpretation, these five actions are part of a North Korean strategy to distract from the core negotiation, and to continue to prolong this diplomatic action, to try to benefit from it, but ultimately never actually denuclearize,” Cha said. “Perhaps in Washington, the majority would agree with this interpretation.”
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| Mr. Victor Cha expressed skepticism about North Korea's dismantling of the Punngye-ri nuclear test site. Photo: Getty |
According to Mr. Cha, denuclearization talks can only begin once North Korea commits to taking the unprecedented step of providing a complete and verifiable list of its weapons, missiles and nuclear capabilities.
The expert also questioned North Korea’s dismantling of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site earlier this year, stressing that it does not count as denuclearization because it is unverified. Cha believes that the key to continued engagement with North Korea is maintaining the strength of the US-South Korea alliance.
According to him, the three things that will give the US and South Korea a better position in negotiations with North Korea are: maintaining the strength of the alliance through joint exercises, continuing to impose sanctions, and defending against nuclear proliferation.
US affirms peace with North Korea can only come after denuclearization
(Baonghean.vn) - On July 23, a spokesperson for the US State Department affirmed that any peace regime with North Korea can only be achieved after the Pyongyang government abandons its nuclear weapons program.