[Editorial] Blue House’s potential role of mediator in NK-US deadlock is significant

Posted on : 2019-03-19 17:42 KST Modified on : 2019-03-19 17:42 KST
US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un shake hands ahead of their Hanoi summit on Feb. 27. (AP/Yonhap News)
US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un shake hands ahead of their Hanoi summit on Feb. 27. (AP/Yonhap News)

On Mar. 17, the Blue House proposed a way to resolve the deadlock between North Korea and the US that has been continuing since talks broke down during their summit in Hanoi. The proposal is for the two sides to simultaneously reach a comprehensive agreement on the overall process of denuclearization while also moving forward with step-by-step denuclearization within that framework. As the battle of nerves between North Korea and the US intensifies over the solution to denuclearization, it’s meaningful that the Blue House has offered some kind of proposal given its need to play the role of mediator.

Since the proposal unveiled by a senior official at the Blue House is an attempt to find a feasible solution while recognizing that North Korea and the US are sharply at odds, it has many aspects that can be viewed positively. “It’s not feasible to achieve the goal of complete denuclearization all at once,” the official said, while speaking of the need to reconsider the US’ all-or-nothing denuclearization approach. This statement can be regarded as an appeal for the US to be more flexible. The observation that the prominence of hardline positions could actually undermine the possibility of negotiations seems to have been the right thing to say.

The crux of the deadlock between North Korea and the US appears to be the methodology of denuclearization. Following the failure of the Hanoi negotiations, officials in the US government under President Donald Trump have been rushing to heap pressure on North Korea to agree to an all-inclusive deal. In contrast, North Korea has clarified that it won’t accept anything but a step-by-step approach to denuclearization. There’s a huge gap between these two positions. In the end, the only apparent solution is to find a third approach that accommodates both sides’ demands.

In that sense, reaching a comprehensive agreement that includes the final goal of denuclearization while making concessions to minimize the stages required would appear to be a feasible proposal. That would make it possible to simultaneously achieve the “complete denuclearization” that is the goal of the all-or-nothing deal sought by the US and provide the regime security that is the objective of North Korea’s “phased and synchronized” approach.

Despite their battle of wills, North Korea and the US remain committed to resolving this issue through dialogue and negotiations. But if their deadlock drags on, there’s an increasing likelihood that they’ll lose the momentum for negotiations. At such a time as this, it’s important to find common ground and get the ball rolling. Considering how difficult it is for North Korea and the US to take the first step right now, it’s time for the South Korean government to devise a clever solution that can lead to a breakthrough. In order to arrange a compromise, Seoul must first figure out North Korea’s true intentions. Dialogue should be attempted in various ways, including dispatching a special envoy to North Korea. Another approach would be for the leaders of South and North Korea to meet in Panmunjom for a discussion focused solely on solutions to denuclearization.

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