DPRK and US agree to 2nd summit
Analysts expect visit will beef up the denuclearization process
The highly-anticipated second summit between the leaders of the DPRK and the US should focus on the discussion of how to turn their vague commitments of denuclearization into phased steps and diplomatic measures, a Chinese expert said.
As the United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo concluded his latest visit to Asia on Monday, Pyongyang and Washington have both expressed their willingness and readiness to arrange for a second meeting for the US President Donald Trump and the top leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Kim Jong-un to further discuss the issues of denuclearization.
On Monday, Kim expressed his belief that a “good program” will be arranged “sooner or later”, as the Korean Central News Agency reported that “there was an agreement on the issue of holding the working negotiations for the second DPRK-US summit talks as early as possible, and relevant procedure-related issues and ways were also discussed”.
The KCNA also said that Kim explained in detail the “proposals” intended to resolve the denuclearization issue and other matters, adding that the leader and Pompeo also exchanged constructive views on relevant matters.
Kim said he believed the dialogue and negotiations between the DPRK and the US based on the deep confidence between the top leaders of the two countries “would continue to develop favorably in the future”.
Pompeo made a whirlwind visit to the DPRK for talks with Kim on the issues of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of a peace regime. His visit was arranged after Trump canceled Pompeo’s planned trip to Pyongyang in August, citing a lack of progress on the denuclearization issue.
Many analysts have expressed expectations that the visit could provide momentum to get the process going again after a monthlong stalemate over the issues including the sequences to achieve denuclearization.
Pyongyang has called on Washington to actively engage in talks on declaring an end to the 1950-53 Korean War, which was halted with an armistice, not a peace treaty.
The US has insisted that it will not make such concessions unless the DPRK takes substantive steps to fulfill the “complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement”.
Reciprocal measures
Pyongyang recently asked for “corresponding” reciprocal measures for its promise to dismantle a nuclear complex, a demand many observers say might refer to declaring an end to the war or easing sanctions imposed on the country.
Shi Yongming, an Asia-Pacific studies researcher at the China Institute of International Relations, said though the first summit between Kim and Trump ended with a declaration from both sides saying they will work together in the future to achieve permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula, he noted there remains a lack of detail around the specific measures to be used in reaching the ambitious goals.
Shi said the expected second summit may focus on the operational level of denuclearization, which would be a long process that would see Pyongyang and Washington bargain with each other for their own interests.
He noted that Pyongyang has taken some concrete steps to fulfill its promise, yet Washington has not changed its stance nor softened its attitude of applying pressure and imposing sanctions in exchange for denuclearization.