North Korea Claims US Pressure Not Reason For Denuclearization
North Korea strongly denounced reports that implied economic pressure from the United States and the United Nations was the reason the rogue regime of strongman Kim Jong-Un decided to consider denuclearization. North Korea further warned the U.S. not to mislead the public by claiming responsibility for Pyongyang’s decision.
For more than a decade, North Korea had been hit with various economic sanctions that were mandated by the United Nations. The sanctions were a response to Pyongyang’s continued testing of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and other nuclear-powered weapons.
Last April, both North and South Korea had its first summit in more than a decade. The meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un was historic and significant. It came at a time when it seemed all hope for a peaceful resolution at the Korean Peninsula was lost.
The summit was a success with both countries pledging to work together and bring peace to the region. North Korea had also agreed to push for a complete denuclearization of their weapons program. However, details were not discussed on how the end- goal of denuclearization would be achieved.
It has been widely reported in various media around the world that Kim Jong-un would meet with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the steps toward denuclearization if the summit was a success.
President Trump had previously stated that he would be available to meet with Kim sometime in May or June.
However, North Korea’s state media agency KNCA criticized the United States for laying claim to Kim’s decision to denuclearize by stating in many news reports that Pyongyang’s decision was due to pressure from the economic sanctions:
“The United States should not deliberately provoke the North by moving to deploy strategic assets in South Korea and raising human rights issues. This act cannot be construed otherwise than a dangerous attempt to ruin the hardly-won atmosphere of dialogue and bring the situation back to square one.”
The KNCA report likewise stated that it would not be conducive to the planned peace talks between the two leaders if Washington continued to imply Pyongyang eventually bowed down to international pressure while at the same time continue to pursue its military interests in the region.
Was too much credit given to President Trump for the peace process days after it was announced Kim was willing to engage him in denuclearization talks? President Moon shared his opinion that President Trump should be considered for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the Korean Peninsula situation.
Washington confirmed that President Trump’s National Security Adviser, John Bolton had met with his counterpart at South Korea, Chung Eui-yong. Officials said both sides had no intentions of changing the bilateral defense agreement between the United States and South Korea.
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