It can be said that North Korea has been clearly pursuing a strategy of seeking sanctions relief without going ahead with complete denuclearization.
Deep differences between the United States and North Korea over how to proceed with denuclearization could not be bridged even through talks of their top leaders.
Washington had every reason to avoid concluding a rough-and-ready agreement and to decide on continued negotiations. It must brush up on its negotiation strategy to make a fresh start.
Unacceptable demand
In their second summit, held in Hanoi, U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, have failed to reach an agreement. As a result, they canceled a scheduled working lunch and a ceremony to sign a joint statement.
Trump said during a post-summit press conference that his relationship with Kim was good but "I felt it wasn't good" to sign an agreement.
The North called for total lifting of sanctions in return for dismantling some of its nuclear facilities, including those in Yongbyon. Kim would not comply with the U.S. demand for comprehensive dismantlement of nuclear facilities. Trump explained that this was the reason that no statement was signed.
Kim told reporters, "I would not have come here if I had no intention to denuclearize." It is impossible not to be skeptical about the true intention of his words.
In the first Trump-Kim summit held last June, they reached a mere abstract agreement on "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." It seems that the adverse effect of not having clarified the definition of "complete denuclearization," putting it off, came to the fore this time.
Yongbyon, which is a complex of graphite-moderated and light-water nuclear reactors plus nuclear reprocessing facilities, is capable of producing plutonium and highly enriched uranium. Its dismantlement would have great significance, but there are nuclear facilities in places other than Yongbyon. Nuclear bombs and ballistic missiles that have already been produced should be included in a list of items subject to dismantlement.
Sanctions resolutions adopted by the U.N. Security Council call for North Korea to completely relinquish its nuclear arms and ballistic missile development programs. Kim's demand for total lifting of sanctions in return for partial denuclearization is utterly unacceptable.
To realize complete denuclearization, it is necessary to grasp the full reality of the North's nuclear and missile facilities and formulate a road map leading to their dismantlement. Rewards such as sanctions relief should be given at a stage when dismantlement actually progresses.
Washington and Pyongyang are called on to work out details in their working-level talks on procedures and timetables for dismantlement and the provision of rewards.
Working-level talks vital
Trump had proudly declared last year's summit meeting with Kim to be a "success." Even when subsequent working-level talks became bogged down, Trump constantly stuck to his optimistic tune. It seems going ahead with the latest summit talks without completely nailing down North Korea's approach was a premature step.
Trump had waxed lyrical about North Korea's potential, provided it decided to relinquish its nuclear weapons, to have tremendous prosperity and become an economic powerhouse. However, if North Korea remains a dictatorship and a closed regime, it will be very difficult to attract large-scale investment and expand trade.
In the United States, the opposition Democratic Party holds a majority in the House of Representatives, which has created a divided Congress. Under these conditions, the Trump administration is struggling to implement its policies. The investigation into suspicions of ties between the administration and Russia is continuing.
Trump must not seek relief on the foreign policy front and try to achieve quick results in a bid to divert his supporters' attention from his domestic political troubles.
It is concerning that Trump's administration lacks experts and senior government officials who are experienced in denuclearization negotiations with North Korea. Trump should recognize that engaging in top-level diplomacy reliant on gut feeling and improvisation is extremely risky.
Kim once again told Trump of his plan to refrain from conducting nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches. It is crucial that Kim keeps this promise and makes the decision to completely denuclearize.
One point that will require care is a possible situation in which North Korea hardens its position because it did not receive the benefits it was angling for during the summit talks, such as getting sanctions lifted.
Refraining from making provocative comments and continued efforts to ease tensions will be needed on the part of both leaders.
Bolster Japan-U.S. ties
After the summit meeting, Trump telephoned Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and reported the results of his talks with Kim. Abe later said to reporters that Japan "fully supports" Trump's decision not to easily make concessions and to urge North Korea to take concrete actions.
At his meeting with Kim, Trump raised Japan's position on the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korean agents. The two leaders reportedly seriously discussed this issue. With this in mind, Abe emphasized his determination to make progress by saying, "I must deal with Chairman Kim next."
The abduction issue, ultimately, should be resolved through direct negotiations that are the responsibility of Japan's government. Japan must deepen cooperation with the United States as it seeks a comprehensive resolution of the nuclear, missile and abduction issues.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 1, 2019)
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
