North Korea Talks

Background:

Earlier this week, the Republic of Korea sent a delegation to Pyongyang (the capital of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea). This was done at the invitation of North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un.

What has happened:

The ten-person delegation led by the Republic’s national security advisor, Chung Eui-yong, held direct talks with Kim.
Kim Jong Un said that Pyongyang would consider ending its nuclear program and promised not to conduct any nuclear tests while negotiations are ongoing.
North Korea also signaled that it is ready to engage in direct talks with the United States.

Why it matters:

This is the first clear indicator from North Korea that they may be willing to abandon their nuclear program. To be successful, the following must occur:

A freeze on any current nuclear testing and development must be verified by inspectors.
The US and Republic of Korea should suspend joint military exercises during the period of the North Korean freeze.
The US should demand North Korea rejoin the Nuclear non-proliferation treaty as a precondition to direct talks.

Diplomacy can work. This effort will require a focused, personal touch by President Trump. There’s plenty of green on that pool table between good intentions and productive first steps. We must close the gap, cautiously, and quickly.

Major General Spider Marks

“The Trump Administration’s deliberate and forceful application of the elements of national power–Diplomatic, Informational, Military, and Economic–have created the conditions for negotiations. Similarly, this “buying of time” has allowed for enhanced U.S. military preparedness in the region. Whether Kim Jong Un is sincere about negotiating and eliminating his nuclear weapons program remains to be seen, but the outlook for long-term solutions on the Korean Peninsula is more promising than it has been in years.”

Brigadier General Anthony Tata

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