[ISSUE TALK] Threats gone, but North Korea demands U.S. actions to build trust
- 6 years ago
남북 군사합의서 첫 이행... 북미 상응조치 줄다리기 돌입 - 봉영식 박사 대담
Dr. Bong Young-shik, from the Yonsei Institute for North Korean Studies. It's great to have you with us again.
My pleasure.
1 - Last year, Ri Yong-ho, the North Korean foreign minister, described Trump as a "mentally deranged person" and threatened to continue building North Korea's nuclear arsenal. This time, he didn't even mention Trump by name, and promised the North's sincerity in denuclearization. It's quite a startling change in tone. What did you make of his speech?
2 - In the speech, Ri has placed the responsibility on the U.S. saying it is their turn to make moves towards building trust. Do you think the U.S. has to respond in some way?
3 - Ri also talked about sanctions, and how it's unfair that the UN is continuing to enforce them when North Korea has conducted no nuclear or missile tests over the last year. However the UN would argue that North Korea is continuing to make nuclear weapons, and has evidence to prove it. Do you think there is any possibility the UN could ease sanctions in exchange for denuclearization progress?
4 - Ri also raised a point saying that the UN Command stationed on the Korean peninsula is meant to be an allied forces unit, but actually acts like it belongs to the U.S. Do you think Ri has a point?
5 - Ri's rhetoric might not have been as strong as last year, but he did still raise some issues towards the U.S. Yet so far there has been little response. Trump has instead even come out and said that he and Kim Jong-un were in love at a rally the other day. What will the U.S. response be?
6 - When asked directly during an interview recently, Pompeo did not rule out whether the U.S. would offer to agree to the declaration to end the Korean War. His exact words were, it's 'hard to know'. Do you think the U.S. could really be ready to do that?
7 - North Korean state media reported on Monday that Kim Jong-un had sent Xi Jinping a letter on the occasion of China's 69th founding anniversary, reaffirming North Korea's desire to deepen relations with China. Do you currently see China as an essential player in relations with North Korea, or do you think Pyongyang is continuing the relationship as a type of insurance? Do you think China wants North Korea and U.S. to have good relations?
Dr. Bong Young-shik, from the Yonsei Institute for North Korean Studies. It's great to have you with us again.
My pleasure.
1 - Last year, Ri Yong-ho, the North Korean foreign minister, described Trump as a "mentally deranged person" and threatened to continue building North Korea's nuclear arsenal. This time, he didn't even mention Trump by name, and promised the North's sincerity in denuclearization. It's quite a startling change in tone. What did you make of his speech?
2 - In the speech, Ri has placed the responsibility on the U.S. saying it is their turn to make moves towards building trust. Do you think the U.S. has to respond in some way?
3 - Ri also talked about sanctions, and how it's unfair that the UN is continuing to enforce them when North Korea has conducted no nuclear or missile tests over the last year. However the UN would argue that North Korea is continuing to make nuclear weapons, and has evidence to prove it. Do you think there is any possibility the UN could ease sanctions in exchange for denuclearization progress?
4 - Ri also raised a point saying that the UN Command stationed on the Korean peninsula is meant to be an allied forces unit, but actually acts like it belongs to the U.S. Do you think Ri has a point?
5 - Ri's rhetoric might not have been as strong as last year, but he did still raise some issues towards the U.S. Yet so far there has been little response. Trump has instead even come out and said that he and Kim Jong-un were in love at a rally the other day. What will the U.S. response be?
6 - When asked directly during an interview recently, Pompeo did not rule out whether the U.S. would offer to agree to the declaration to end the Korean War. His exact words were, it's 'hard to know'. Do you think the U.S. could really be ready to do that?
7 - North Korean state media reported on Monday that Kim Jong-un had sent Xi Jinping a letter on the occasion of China's 69th founding anniversary, reaffirming North Korea's desire to deepen relations with China. Do you currently see China as an essential player in relations with North Korea, or do you think Pyongyang is continuing the relationship as a type of insurance? Do you think China wants North Korea and U.S. to have good relations?