The easing of tensions between North and South Korea alone can not lead to the denuclearization of North Korea. Making progress in the stalled U.S.-North Korea talks is vital.
South Korean President Moon Jae In and Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, held talks in Pyongyang and signed a set of agreements called the Pyongyang joint statement.
Kim said at a press conference that both leaders had "made a firm commitment to exert active efforts" to realize a Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons. Yet it is premature to regard this as Pyongyang having made a firm decision to abandon nuclear weapons.
With regard to reducing the nuclear and missile threat of North Korea, the measures incorporated in the joint statement are limited.
As work has already started to dismantle a missile launchpad and a missile-engine test facility in Tongchang-ri, the statement only goes so far as allowing experts of countries concerned to witness the process.
Regarding a promise to permanently dismantle its nuclear facility in Yongbyon, the statement attaches preconditions for Pyongyang doing so: The United States implements corresponding measures.
There have been no changes in North Korea's tactics: While retaining its nuclear weapons, Pyongyang attempts to obtain from Washington, by implementing small measures for denuclearization, such returns as a guarantee of the regime's survival.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has issued a report warning that North Korea is continuing to develop its nuclear weapons program. Kim must stop operating the country's nuclear facilities, and move forward on identifying all its nuclear weapons and related materials, and dismantling nuclear warheads.
It is worrisome that U.S. President Donald Trump has broadly praised the outcome of the inter-Korean summit.
Don't ease international net
One reason North Korea's denuclearization process has stagnated is the ambiguity of the agreement reached at the U.S.-North Korea summit in June. Should the next round of summit talks be held, in compliance with Kim's request, in a slipshod manner, the same mistake could be made. It is vital for elaborate, working-level talks to be held between the United States and North Korea.
Kim has promised to visit Seoul in the near future. Also included in the joint statement are taking measures to ease military tensions between North and South Korea; and holding a groundbreaking ceremony this year for cross-border rail and road links.
It is certain that the reconciliatory mood in South Korea will grow further. It is necessary to pay the closest attention so as not to invite a decline in deterrence against North Korea.
A matter of concern is that loopholes in the sanctions on Pyongyang could widen with the inter-Korean economic cooperation. The government of South Korea must not become too eager to reopen the industrial complex in Kaesong and resume tourism operations at Mt. Kumgang resort, both of which will bring cash revenues to North Korea.
North Korea continues smuggling refined petroleum products and the like by engaging in "ship-to-ship" transfers -- operations to transfer cargo between vessels on the high seas -- measures to dodge sanctions. It has been pointed out that Russian and Chinese vessels have been involved in such operations.
It cannot be overlooked that China and Russia are exploring ways at the U.N. Security Council to ease sanctions on North Korea. U.S.-led efforts to tighten the international net encircling North Korea are called for.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 20, 2018)
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