Cape Times

End of ‘war games’ big step forward

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US PRESIDENT Donald Trump held a press conference after his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Tuesday afternoon, in which more informatio­n was revealed. Trump expressed his satisfacti­on with the results of the summit, saying Kim would “be remembered as the leader who ushered in a glorious new era of security and prosperity for his people.”

He also added that he was confident North Korea would implement the agreement reached by the two sides and disclosed he and Kim have invited each other to visit their own country.

Trump said Kim assured the destructio­n of a “major missile engine testing site” not included in the document signed during their summit.

He vowed to “stop the war games,” which was widely interprete­d as a hint to stop the joint military exercises with South Korea, one of the major demands by Pyongyang. He also said he hoped to bring US soldiers stationed in South Korea back home at some point.

If the US stops joint military exercises with South Korea, it will be a big step forward on the Korean Peninsula.

If achieved, China’s “suspension for suspension” proposal, which calls for North Korea to suspend its nuclear and missile activities in exchange for the suspension of US-South Korea military exercises, would come to reality. A new leaf will be turned over.

With a cooling down of military activities, less US military participat­ion and possibly an eventual US troop withdrawal, the peninsula will completely walk out of the shadow of the Cold War. If political process moves towards this direction on the peninsula, the whole region will benefit.

These will be natural developmen­ts once the North Korea nuclear issue is completely resolved. Since the “North Korea threat” no longer exists, there will be no grounds for the US and South Korea to continue large-scale military drills and for Washington to maintain its military presence in South Korea.

Public opinion in the US and South Korea were doubtful over whether North Korea would actively implement any agreement reached. But the main obstacle to the peace process of the peninsula in the future may come from Washington and Seoul, or even Tokyo.

Right after the summit concluded, Western media criticised that Trump received nothing from this meeting. There are also voices claiming that the cancellati­on of US-South Korea joint military drills is a victory for China and North Korea.

Public opinion in the US has long harboured hostility towards Pyongyang. Lawmakers and opinion leaders can find endless excuses to oppose the Trump administra­tion interactin­g with North Korea. These forces will bridle Trump and Kim in pushing forward their agreement.

Pro-Washington forces in South Korea see the US troops stationed in their country as a cornerston­e of South Korea’s security and would like to see joint military drills to continue. They may not wish to see the US cut its military presence in the peninsula.

Japan has particular­ly mixed feelings towards harmony on the Korean Peninsula. For Tokyo, hawkish US policy will add to allied Japan’s weight and boost Japan’s strategic value.

After dealing with North Korea for a few rounds, Trump’s team has developed a more realistic mindset on the issue.

But his domestic foes probably would rather mess everything up, prioritisi­ng embarrassi­ng Trump above protecting the long-term interests of the US.

Trump and Kim have an opportunit­y to create history. If Trump can realise complete denucleari­sation of the peninsula, and Kim can bring prosperity to North Korea, it will be great feat for both of them.

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