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| U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo answers questions at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C., Friday. / AFP-Yonhap |
Cheong Wa Dae continues to support dialogue
By Yi Whan-woo
North Korea is apparently playing hardball with the United States, indicating it may pull out of negotiations over denuclearization.
The latest message, from North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui Friday, increases uncertainty over the stalled talks as both sides reportedly remain poles apart over how to proceed with denuclearization, analysts said Sunday.
Choe said North Korea may stop negotiations with the U.S. and reconsider whether to maintain its moratorium on missile launches and nuclear tests.
Washington, instead of denouncing Pyongyang this time, said it maintains expectations for negotiation, highlighted Kim's promise for denuclearization and urged Pyongyang to implement it accordingly.
"We have every expectation he will live up to that commitment," U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo said in response to Choe's warning. "That's Chairman Kim's word."
He added Kim, during his Hanoi summit, spoke directly to Trump and "made a commitment that he would not resume nuclear testing, nor would he resume missile testing."
He denied Choe's argument that Pompeo and U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton created an environment of hostility and mistrust at the Hanoi summit, while Trump was more willing to talk.
"They're wrong about that. I was there," Pompeo said.
He said he does not think "allegations" will hamper his ability to aid future negotiations.
Bolton referred to Choe's argument as "inaccurate."
South Korean analysts speculated Sunday the U.S. is committed to resuming hard-earned dialogue. But referring to unpredictable Trump, they warned it can fall apart if the North "crosses the line" and therefore President Moon Jae-in should step in as the "mediator" immediately after wrapping up his week-long, three-nation ASEAN tour. He returned home, Saturday.
The fragile U.S.-North Korea dialogue puts the centerpiece of Moon's leadership, rapprochement with the North, at risk again after the Hanoi breakdown in late February.
Moon's wider push for rapprochement, including economic cooperation, requires easing of nuclear sanctions on the North.
Cheong Wa Dae remained unchanged in its stance that it will "continue to support" dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang.
"The President is facing a critical situation as a mediator," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies. "Once the North makes the decision to leave the dialogue table and resume nuclear tests, there will be nothing he can do."
The professor said Moon's role also will be critical to woo support domestically, considering the economic slowdown and the fall in his approval rating. It came down to 44 percent ― the lowest since he took office in 2017, according to a Gallup Korea poll released on Friday.
"Losing support from people means he will lose momentum for inter-Korean reconciliation," Yang said.
Park Won-gon, an international relations professor at Handong Global University, said, "The U.S.-North Korea talks may break down, if Moon does not take action accordingly."
He called the situation "very serious," claiming Choe added fuel over concerns that the North may carry out missile launches again.
He referred to Seoul's National Intelligence Service (NIS)'s recent finding that the Kim regime is restoring facilities at long-range rocket launch site in Tongchang-ri.
38 North, a U.S. website specializing on North Korean studies, separately indicated efforts to rebuild some structures at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station.
