Shared definition of denuclearization needed under Seoul's lead: experts
- 5 years ago
It’s been almost a year since the historic inter-Korean summit took place at the border village of Panmunjeom.
While the nuclear impasse remains, analysts believe it’s important for Seoul, Pyeongyang and Washington to have a clear definition of "denuclearization".
Our Oh Jung-hee turned to some experts for their take on the matter.
A year has passed since the historic first Moon-Kim summit at the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjeom.
Where do the two Koreas stand now in achieving complete denuclearization and ending the Korean War?
At a conference hosted by a unification think tank in Seoul,... pundits pointed out... that the parties still don't agree on what "denuclearization" means.
So because they haven't agreed on the goal, they can't agree on a roadmap either.
"It's been a year since the denuclearization talks began, but not much has been discussed in terms of what it means exactly. The document that Trump handed over to Kim in Hanoi lacked detail,... while North Korea has never defined what it means by denuclearizing. That's why there are doubts over Kim's willingness to denuclearize."
The Hanoi summit ended without an agreement, and nuclear negotiations have hit another snag.
Naturally, that means South Korea faces a challenge in its role as "mediator."
Analysts say, Seoul should be more proactive -- it should be neither a "mediator" nor a "facilitator," but a "planner."
For Seoul to facilitate dialogue and play a bigger role, experts suggest setting up a bilateral working group between South and North Korea,... or even a trilateral one among the two Koreas and the U.S.
Discussions about denuclearization should not be restricted to Pyeongyang and Washington.
"To achieve peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula,... there should be a body set up by the two sides for co-governance. We should look at the possibility of an inter-Korean working group."
Experts say... peace on the Korean Peninsula can only be achieved on the basis of denuclearization, normalizing North Korea-U.S. relations, and arms control between the two Koreas.
Seoul, they say, should be in the driver's seat, leading the talks.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.
While the nuclear impasse remains, analysts believe it’s important for Seoul, Pyeongyang and Washington to have a clear definition of "denuclearization".
Our Oh Jung-hee turned to some experts for their take on the matter.
A year has passed since the historic first Moon-Kim summit at the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjeom.
Where do the two Koreas stand now in achieving complete denuclearization and ending the Korean War?
At a conference hosted by a unification think tank in Seoul,... pundits pointed out... that the parties still don't agree on what "denuclearization" means.
So because they haven't agreed on the goal, they can't agree on a roadmap either.
"It's been a year since the denuclearization talks began, but not much has been discussed in terms of what it means exactly. The document that Trump handed over to Kim in Hanoi lacked detail,... while North Korea has never defined what it means by denuclearizing. That's why there are doubts over Kim's willingness to denuclearize."
The Hanoi summit ended without an agreement, and nuclear negotiations have hit another snag.
Naturally, that means South Korea faces a challenge in its role as "mediator."
Analysts say, Seoul should be more proactive -- it should be neither a "mediator" nor a "facilitator," but a "planner."
For Seoul to facilitate dialogue and play a bigger role, experts suggest setting up a bilateral working group between South and North Korea,... or even a trilateral one among the two Koreas and the U.S.
Discussions about denuclearization should not be restricted to Pyeongyang and Washington.
"To achieve peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula,... there should be a body set up by the two sides for co-governance. We should look at the possibility of an inter-Korean working group."
Experts say... peace on the Korean Peninsula can only be achieved on the basis of denuclearization, normalizing North Korea-U.S. relations, and arms control between the two Koreas.
Seoul, they say, should be in the driver's seat, leading the talks.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.