Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said Wednesday it may be difficult to have North Korean leader Kim Jong Un abandon all nuclear weapons, sharing his view at the recent Yomiuri International Forum 2018 that it would take time for North Korea to carry out denuclearization.
The Yomiuri International Economic Society (YIES) and The Yomiuri Shimbun held the forum, where Japanese and U.S. experts exchanged opinions on the theme of "The Abe-Trump Alliance and North Korea."
Armitage, who was deputy secretary of state under the administration of former U.S. President George W. Bush, insisted that no splits must be allowed to develop in security assurance between Japan and the United States. He also expressed his view that U.S. President Donald Trump should demand of Kim during an upcoming U.S.-North Korea summit meeting on Tuesday that North Korea abandon its short- and medium-range missiles that have Japan and South Korea within their range in addition to intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.
Another panelist, Kenichiro Sasae, former Japanese ambassador to the United States, called for the maintenance of cooperation between Japan, the United States and South Korea by saying, "North Korea's policy always is about propaganda and measures to split [Japan, U.S. and South Korea cooperation]."
As for a realization of Japan-North Korea summit talks, Sasae said, "The time will eventually come, so we don't need to hurry to schedule it."
Regarding current movement in the North Korean situation, Keio University Prof. Toshihiro Nakayama said, "What's realistic [for Japan] is to manage the Japan-U.S. relationship and convey Japan's intention and maximize its national interests."
Regarding Trump's attitude toward the U.S.-North Korea summit talks, Nakayama said, "His impulse as a dealmaker stands out," and he expressed concern about the possibility that the president may easily compromise with North Korea.
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