Sanctions will not be relaxed until North Korea proceeds with relinquishment of its nuclear weapons and missiles, while also working to resolve the abduction issue of Japanese nationals.
Based on this principle, which he confirmed with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, U.S. President Donald Trump must confer with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea.
Abe and Trump held talks over the phone prior to a second Trump-Kim summit, which will be held in Hanoi next Wednesday and Thursday. During their teleconference, Abe and Trump confirmed close cooperation and coordinated their views scrupulously in dealing with the North's nuclear and missile development programs as well as the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea.
Abe asked Trump to raise the abduction issue during the upcoming Hanoi summit and convey Japan's position on the matter. Trump reportedly promised his cooperation in addressing the issue.
It is hoped that the Trump-Kim summit will provide a chance for a breakthrough in the stalled abduction issue and create an environment for realization of a Japan-North Korea summit, in which Abe shows a keen interest.
Of concern is whether Trump will make an easy concession on the nuclear and missile issue due to his impatience to achieve "results" with a view to attracting the attention of his supporters.
In the first summit held last June, Trump could not achieve anything more than confirming Kim's determination to work toward complete denuclearization. In working-level talks held thereafter, too, no distinct progress was made on concrete steps to achieve denuclearization.
Moon's stance questionable
Nevertheless, Trump emphasized Pyongyang's freeze in nuclear and ballistic missile testing and expressed his idea of not expediting denuclearization talks, saying, "As long as there is no testing, I'm in no rush." Also, Trump took it upon himself to announce that he had been recommended by Abe as a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Trump himself is said to have asked Abe to make a recommendation. If he wants to be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, it is advisable for him to put priority on making Kim decide to transform his regime into one that will not rely on nuclear and missile development, and thus actually reduce threats.
To realize complete denuclearization of the North, it is imperative for Pyongyang to report on all nuclear facilities, weapons and materials -- not just those in Yongbyon -- and proceed with their dismantlement and verification.
To block the North's strategy of buying time, Washington should study establishing task forces designed separately to address such issues as denuclearization, improvement of U.S.-North Korea relations and establishment of a peace system, and accelerate working-level consultative talks with Pyongyang.
In his own teleconference with Trump, South Korean President Moon Jae-in expressed his desire to promote inter-Korean linking of railways and roads and economic cooperation with the North. Moon is suspected to have the ulterior motive of resuming projects related to the Kaesong Industrial Complex and tourism at Mt. Kumgang, both in North Korea, and emphasizing the projects, if realized, as achievements of his administration.
Tokyo and Washington have been taking great pains to maintain international pressure on Pyongyang. It cannot be overlooked that Seoul gives inter-Korean cooperation precedence over denuclearization and is impatient to provide rewards that would be exceptions to sanctions.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 22, 2019)
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
