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When Moon meets Kim: Can roads pave way to denuclearization?

7 Comments
By ERIC TALMADGE

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If it is not the North Koreans who are intransigent, these days Trump's America has been doing a good job at that too:

The U.S.-led United Nations Command, which monitors activity around the DMZ, blocked plans for the North and South to conduct a field study of the North's railroads last month. The plan was to run a train along a railway linking Seoul to Sinuiju.

The command reportedly refused to approve the plan because Seoul did not supply enough details.

Officials in Washington have also expressed concern that Seoul may be moving too fast and undermining support for trade sanctions that the U.S. sees as one of its best means of keeping the pressure on Pyongyang high.

The Iran business has been a bit like that too.

Good luck to Mr Moon though - he needs it.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"Can roads pave way to denuclearization?"

Yes. Kim's said he wants to denuke during Trump's first term. That would be a smart move. Like Trump said, we'll see what happens. Fire, fury and frankly power the likes of which this world has never seen before is a last result but still an option that the N Koreans are now keenly aware of.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Kim may be thinking to make North Korea a country similar to China - no regime change but introduce capitalism into their country. One country in two systems. So, Kim is serious about denuclearization and abandonment of ICBMs.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Any meeting has an objective for each party which may be the same, similar or different.

On the surface and by rhetoric or by the wants and expectations of the bystanders, both have to present a stance and an image. However the situation, circumstance, condition and environment follows the Trump - Kim meeting which primary objective was to get what is described as to denuclearize N K. But that meeting too was still with existing War condition (No peace treaty) which was never yet settled and the desire for reunification.

The common ground for both is ending the War and for reunification. It is not denuclearization. For S Korea, ending the war and reunification means that they are no longer the "target". For N Korea they have a need to "survive" as a nation politically, militarily and economically. Their trump card was nuclearization and high tech military capability which got the meeting with Trump who can play a key role in ending the War and to assist in reunification. Neither N Korea or S Korea has a need to denuclearize immediately.

For both, much of the concern is with economics besides the difference in the political philosophy and structure in the light of the major powerhouse nations that affect every aspect of their relationship.

For the rest of the world, practically and idealistically non-nuclear N Korean military capability is desired, wanted and expected. However, for both S and N Korea when reunified, a nuclear N Korea makes sense when the neighboring major powers are concerned. Such power is a "deterrent" for both to survive, even with the US nuclear umbrella. So, denuclearization may not be their primary discussion topic or objective.

However, joint infrastructure development makes sense for all concerned. Infrastructure is a step toward economic stability and open communication routes which are two essential aspects of a stable country and relationship with another. By mutual assistance, other actions such as denuclearization may eventually become a reality.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Without nuclear weapons mean 'DEATH' for North Korea! Their conventional weapons were very outdates staying mostly in 1960 technologies! Their most potent Mig29 fighters might worn out in a couple of years, their T62tanks has alot of guns seen in parade but for exihibing purpose only! Their army has serious desertions and their navy were junks! North Korea better pickup the chance to produce enough nuclear weapons as deterrence, never expects China or Russia to save you from a 'Stalingrad'!!

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

@elephant200 I don't know where to start... Without nuclear weapons means death for North Korea??? It's quite the opposite. If they have not made substantial progress on denuking by the end of Trump's first term, it WILL be fire and fury, and frankly power, the likes of which this world has never seen before.

And let's not forget the North Koreans have the ability to turn Seoul into a sea of flames even without nukes.

I think Kim is smart enough to denuke by the end of Trump's first term. We'll see what happens.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

You are predicting an invasion of North Korea?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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