Interview with high-ranking North Korean official at Carnegie Foundation
“The goal of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is clear…continue efforts”
A senior White House official mentioned that “intermediate measures” could be considered in the process of North Korea’s denuclearization, followed by Jeong Jeong, the U.S. government’s representative on North Korean nuclear affairs, a senior official on North Korea and deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, who also said, “Denuclearization does not happen overnight.”
Deputy Assistant Secretary Park said in a conversation with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP) on the 5th (local time), “I think it is natural that there should be intermediate measures.”
“It is important to acknowledge that there are an enormous number of weapons to deal with, including solid fuel, tactical nuclear weapons, and the hypersonic capabilities they are showing off,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary Park. “Given the scope of North Korea’s weapons activities and weapons proliferation, there is a lot of work to be done.” explained.
He continued, “That is reality. “But of course, we will continue to communicate with North Korea and find ways to bring them in (to dialogue),” he added.
Previously, Mira Rap Hooper, senior adviser for Asia and Oceania at the White House National Security Council (NSC), said at a forum co-hosted by the JoongAng Ilbo and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), “The U.S. goal is still the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” but added, “We are on the path to denuclearization in the region and the world.” “If we can make it safer, we will consider intermediate measures,” he said.
As some in the United States are calling for negotiations with North Korea with the goal of reducing nuclear weapons instead of North Korea’s complete denuclearization, which is unlikely to be realized, there is room for interpretation that the Biden administration’s strategy toward North Korea has been somewhat modified.
However, Deputy Deputy Minister Park said, “Our goal is clear,” and “I tell you that we will continue to work toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” This can be interpreted as an explanation that the interim measures do not mean a revision of the denuclearization policy.
Regarding the argument that the United States should revise its unrealistic denuclearization goal, he expressed a negative stance, saying, “North Korea has proliferated ballistic missiles and is establishing relations with Russia.”
[워싱턴=뉴시스]
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.