What really wants Kim Jong-UN?
Long-term tensions associated with the weapons program of North Korea, has intensified after the DPRK tested two Intercontinental ballistic missiles in July. During start-up followed by a new package of UN sanctions and the escalating diplomatic war with the United States.
Lecturer at Cambridge University and fellow of the British Royal Institute for international relations John Nilsson-Wright says that asking Kim Jong-UN and what is the objective of the bellicose rhetoric of Pyongyang.
Can the US give DPRK something that will force Pyongyang to dismantle its nuclear program?
Given the “war of words” waged between the United States and the DPRK, and the promise of Donald trump to say “fire and fury” the open threats from Pyongyang or the blow to American GUAM, it’s hard to say how useful tool in this situation can be diplomacy and will it help to reduce tensions in the region.
U.S. Secretary of state Rex Tillerson and other top administration officials trump emphasized the importance of diplomacy. Even the trump in the past has offered Kim Jong Ynu negotiations, but so far there are no indications that North Korea is open to dialogue.
A recent informal talks with North Korean officials in Europe indicate that Pyongyang remains stubbornly focused on the continuation of the programs of testing of missiles and nuclear weapons.
At the last ASEAN regional forum, which was held in Manila, Tillerson met with Minister of foreign Affairs of North Korea Lee Yong-Ho. Moreover, North Korea has rejected a proposal for talks between Seoul and Pyongyang, which was delivered by the Minister of foreign Affairs of South Korea, Kyung-WHA Kang.
In theory, the US could offer the DPRK a few options that can be Pyongyang’s motivation. This, in particular, the negotiations on the peace Treaty that ended the Korean war, the preliminary steps through diplomatic recognition (for example, the appearance in Pyongyang of the mission on relations of the United States) or an agreement to reduce conventional arms on the Korean Peninsula. However, even in the best case, it’s a very long term goal.
Repeated violation of the DPRK’s past diplomatic agreements with the United States fully recaptured Washington’s appetite to any concessions. Now in the United States — and among Democrats and among Republicans — the most-deep distrust of North Korea. In the United States are convinced that the best way to pacify Pyongyang is the pressure, as, for example, the recent strengthening of the UN sanctions relating to the export of minerals and products from the DPRK, as well as the use of labor of North Korean citizens abroad.
Why North Korea’s nuclear weapons?
Since coming to power in late 2011, the priorities of the Kim Jong-UN has been consistently focused on two simple goals: military modernization and ensure economic prosperity for the citizens of North Korea.
Nuclear ambitions of the DPRK are rooted in the 1960-ies. They are connected with the desire of the regime to the political and military autonomy, despite the open confrontation between these traditional enemies of Pyongyang, as the US, Japan and South Korea, and even the objections of major historical partners, Russia and China.
Part of the motivation of the DPRK due to a rational evaluation of the strategic interests of the country. Experience Libya and Iraq would serve to Pyongyang a reminder that the only guarantee of national survival is confirmed the presence of weapons of mass destruction.
While Washington emphasizes that it has no “hostile intentions” toward the DPRK, Pyongyang insists that the United States are a clear threat to the country, remaining a force which is superior to North Korea possesses nuclear weapons: Washington has a population of 28 thousand troops in South Korea, and in addition, the military doctrine of the United States is considering the possibility of a preventive nuclear strike.