[ISSUE TALK] Are South Korea and the U.S. making progress on North Korea?
- 6 years ago
대북제재와 남북경협, 북미 사이 한국의 셈법은? - 김현욱 교수 대담
To discuss more on the current inter-Korean situation, we have with us Professor Kim Hyun-wook from the Korea National Diplomatic Academy. Thank you for coming in today.
Pleasure to be here.
1 - On Wednesday during his National Liberation Day address, President Moon was keen to stress the importance and potential for inter-Korean economic cooperation. But then ironically just a few hours later, the U.S. announces new sanctions on companies and one individual for illegal trade with North Korea. They include a Russian and Chinese company, but can you tell us more about what was announced?
1a - This comes as talks of a fourth trip by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo going to Pyongyang are surfacing. Do you think it will happen soon, and do you think these sanctions will be a source of friction?
2 - In response to President Moon's speech, the U.S. State Department said that they are in close cooperation with South Korea over the situation with North Korea. But it was hardly an enthusiastic response to President Moon's speech. What do you make of this reaction? Do you think Washington would have perhaps been annoyed by his speech, especially its timing?
3 - The day after President Moon's speech, the North Korean state newspaper published an editorial calling for the Panmunjom declaration to be fulfilled. It did not mention President Moon's speech directly, but it can be seen as a response, as it echoes some of the phrases used by President Moon. But in there were some interesting passages. If we take a look...
It says, "the authorities of the south hesitate to actively join the trend of national reconciliation... talking about "speed control" of the south-north relations." It adds that sanctions and pressure, as well as "kowtowing to the U.S." must be rejected."
That's a message directed at President Moon Jae-in, no?
4 - The North Korean report goes on to say...
"Let us not insist on "denuclearization first" only and never pardon the unreasonable act of the U.S. forcing the north to make a unilateral concession "
Does this once again show that North Korea is not ready to denuclearize? Do you think that can ever change?
To discuss more on the current inter-Korean situation, we have with us Professor Kim Hyun-wook from the Korea National Diplomatic Academy. Thank you for coming in today.
Pleasure to be here.
1 - On Wednesday during his National Liberation Day address, President Moon was keen to stress the importance and potential for inter-Korean economic cooperation. But then ironically just a few hours later, the U.S. announces new sanctions on companies and one individual for illegal trade with North Korea. They include a Russian and Chinese company, but can you tell us more about what was announced?
1a - This comes as talks of a fourth trip by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo going to Pyongyang are surfacing. Do you think it will happen soon, and do you think these sanctions will be a source of friction?
2 - In response to President Moon's speech, the U.S. State Department said that they are in close cooperation with South Korea over the situation with North Korea. But it was hardly an enthusiastic response to President Moon's speech. What do you make of this reaction? Do you think Washington would have perhaps been annoyed by his speech, especially its timing?
3 - The day after President Moon's speech, the North Korean state newspaper published an editorial calling for the Panmunjom declaration to be fulfilled. It did not mention President Moon's speech directly, but it can be seen as a response, as it echoes some of the phrases used by President Moon. But in there were some interesting passages. If we take a look...
It says, "the authorities of the south hesitate to actively join the trend of national reconciliation... talking about "speed control" of the south-north relations." It adds that sanctions and pressure, as well as "kowtowing to the U.S." must be rejected."
That's a message directed at President Moon Jae-in, no?
4 - The North Korean report goes on to say...
"Let us not insist on "denuclearization first" only and never pardon the unreasonable act of the U.S. forcing the north to make a unilateral concession "
Does this once again show that North Korea is not ready to denuclearize? Do you think that can ever change?