A U.S. North Korea expert suggested that the focus of North Korea policy should be shifted from North Korea’s complete denuclearization, which is not realistic, to arms control and reduction.
Lee Yong-seok, a senior member of the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) and former deputy assistant director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) Korea Mission Center, recently posted on the institute’s website, saying, “Diplomatic solutions seem to have reached a dead end, but there is a way out.” He added, “The United States and its allies “The focus of (North Korea) policy must shift from denuclearization to arms control and reduction,” he said.
He said, “If you ask U.S. policymakers what the goal of North Korea policy is, they will probably say the denuclearization of North Korea.” pointed out.
He said, “Every time North Korea conducts a nuclear test or launches a missile, the reaction of the United States and the international community is always the same.” △ Official statements condemning the test by the United States, South Korea, Japan, and Western governments △ Additional sanctions against North Korea and regime officials △ “All options are on the table,” the White House said in a statement suggesting the possibility of using force. It also mentioned a show of force, such as a flight by a B-2 bomber or a visit by a U.S. Navy ship.
“Unfortunately, these measures will not prevent North Korea from conducting additional missile or nuclear tests,” said senior member Lee. “Even though the United States and its partners know exactly what to expect from North Korea, they are doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. “There is,” he diagnosed.
“One thing we must make clear is that the use of force is not on the table,” he said, arguing that there is no other alternative as neither the United States nor South Korea want to go to war with North Korea.
He said, “From the perspective of China and Russia, North Korea has a strategic purpose of disrupting America’s Asia plan and drawing the attention of the United States,” and evaluated that considering the relationship between the United States, China, and Russia, help from these two countries cannot be expected.
Senior member Lee particularly argued that as a first step in changing policy focus, “North Korea’s status as a de facto nuclear weapons state must be politically acknowledged.”
He emphasized, “It will be very difficult to persuade North Korea to dismantle part of its nuclear weapons program, but it is more realistic than the ‘complete, irreversible and verifiable denuclearization’ that the United States insisted on in the six-party talks.”
He stated that asking North Korea to completely give up its nuclear weapons is tantamount to giving up the basis of legitimacy of the Kim family’s rule and demanding the overthrow of the regime, so it is unlikely that North Korea will accept it.
Senior member Lee said that nuclear weapons are the Kim family’s only visible accomplishment in the past 70 years of rule, and that now that nuclear weapons are not needed to prevent an attack by the United States, it raises doubts about the Kim family’s judgment and raises doubts about the North Korean people’s suffering to develop nuclear weapons. He explained that this is because sacrifice becomes meaningless.
Senior member Lee pointed out that the United States has a precedent of not turning a blind eye or demanding denuclearization when other countries develop nuclear weapons, “as long as it helps the geopolitical interests of the United States.”
The United States did not demand that its ally Israel denuclearize, and Pakistan also received billions of dollars in military aid from the United States while developing nuclear weapons.
The United States signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with India during the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations, effectively acknowledging India’s possession of nuclear weapons. South Africa is the only country that developed nuclear weapons and then abandoned them.
Senior member Lee explained, “What North Korea wants to become is India, and what the United States wants is for North Korea to become South Africa.”
“The United States can use force to achieve this goal, continue as it has done and hope for the best, or take bold action to put a cap on some of North Korea’s nuclear weapons programs and reduce the risk of nuclear proliferation.” said.
(Washington = News 1)
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.