PN's Voice 140
Peace Network Korea
PN's Voice 140, 23.08.2018
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PN's Voice No. 140 23 08. 2018
Small steps, Road to peace
Trump Willing to Lift N.K. Sanctions, but Only after Denuclearization
U.S. President Donald Trump has said that he wants to lift sanctions on North Korea, but only after the regime gets rid of its nuclear weapons. Trump mad the comment just hours after the Treasury announced new sanctions targeting North Korea's illicit trade. It is the third time this month that Washington has slapped sanctions against Pyongyang, demonstrating the U.S. commitment to increase pressure on the regime until it fully denuclearizes. Last week North Korean leader Kim Jong-un issued a personal rebuke against the international sanctions campaign, saying that "hostile forces" were trying to "stifle the Korean people through sanctions and blockade."
Trump recalled his landmark June meeting with Kim in Singapore, where the two agreed to establish "new relations" and work toward the "complete denuclearization" of the Korean Peninsula in exchange for U.S. security guarantees. "I can tell you, and I got along very well with Kim Jong-un, really well. Good chemistry," Trump said. "We'll see what happens, who knows? Can I be honest, who knows? But I haven't taken off the sanctions. We have massive sanctions. I want to take them off quickly but they've got to get rid of the nukes. We've got to get rid of the nukes. Got to get rid of them."
North Korea has taken some steps to dismantle a missile engine testing site and its only known nuclear test site. But experts say those steps are hard to verify without outside inspection. Still, Trump has held out hope that Kim will "honor" their agreement and floated the possibility of holding a second summit.
Source: Yonhap News
Trump says 'Most Likely' to Meet Kim Jong-un Again
US President Donald Trump said Monday that it's "most likely" he will meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un again following their historic summit in June, according to a news report. Trump was responding to a question during an interview with Reuters about whether the two are planning another meeting. "It's most likely we will, but I just don't want to comment," he was quoted as saying, offering no details on the timing or venue.
In the interview, Trump pointed to North Korea's suspension of nuclear and ballistic missile testing and took credit for making it happen. "I stopped (North Korea's) nuclear testing. I stopped (North Korea's) missile testing. Japan is thrilled. What's going to happen? Who knows? We're going to see," he said. North Korea last tested a nuclear weapon in September and an intercontinental ballistic missile in November, claiming the US was within reach of its weapons.
Trump told Reuters "a lot of good things are happening" with North Korea but did not elaborate on whether the regime has taken specific steps to dismantle its nuclear program since it demolished its only known nuclear testing site in May.
Rumors have swirled that the two could meet again on the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly in New York next month. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is believed to be preparing a fourth trip to Pyongyang to follow up on the summit agreement.
Source: The Korea Herald
IAEA: North Korea is Still Developing Nukes
In one of the most specific reports on Pyongyang’s recent nuclear activities, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) observed actions consistent with the enrichment of uranium and construction at the country’s main nuclear site. At a historic summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un in Singapore in June, the US president and North Korean leader agreed to work towards the “complete denuclearisation” of the Korean peninsula. But experts warned that without a formal deal between the US and North Korea, Kim would continue developing his nuclear and missile programmes.
Speculation is growing that the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, is preparing to make a fourth visit to Pyongyang for nuclear negotiations. That trip could lead to North Korea giving the US a list outlining its nuclear arsenal and production facilities, according to the Korea Times. “North Korea plans to hand over a list of its secret nuclear test sites as well as information about its nuclear warheads to Mike Pompeo when he visits Pyongyang this month,” the paper said, citing an unnamed source. Kim was likely to meet Pompeo face to face, the newspaper added.
Establishing a comprehensive list of the size of the nuclear programme and the locations involved has long been a demand of US negotiators, and would represent a significant concession from North Korea. In return, Pyongyang would likely seek a formal declaration of the end of the 1950-53 Korean war, which ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty. North Korean state media has repeatedly mentioned this as a key roadblock to moving talks forward. But without inspectors on the ground, the list could fail to detail all the sites involved in the programme.
While talks between the US and North Korea have stalled, South Korea has pushed ahead with its own diplomatic efforts. Reunions were held for divided families this week, and Seoul’s defence ministry is considering removing a reference to North Korea as its “enemy” in an annual white paper.
Source: The Guardian
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