After student’s death, is Trump changing his approach to North Korea?

Posted on : 2017-06-22 14:51 KST Modified on : 2017-06-22 14:51 KST
Recent messages from Trump administration signal a move away from relying on cooperation with China
US President Donald Trump comments on the death of American student Otto Warmbier in North Korea
US President Donald Trump comments on the death of American student Otto Warmbier in North Korea

US President Donald Trump may be changing his approach of cooperating with China to pressure North Korea after the death of 22-year-old Otto Warmbier.

“While I greatly appreciate the efforts of President Xi [Jinping] & China to help with North Korea, it has not worked out. At least I know China tried!” Trump tweeted on June 20.

The cryptic message from Trump, which came the day after Warmbier’s death and a day before the US-China Diplomatic and Security Dialogue, has received varying interpretations. Reuters said it was “unclear whether his remark represented a significant shift” in US policy, but added that it was intended to “increase pressure on Beijing ahead of Wednesday’s Diplomatic and Security Dialogue.”

But while Trump did sound a note of definite pressure following his early April summit with Xi in saying that the US would “solve the [North Korea] problem without” China if it did not help, he has consistently expressed more understanding of Beijing’s position since then, suggesting he is aware a solution may not work without efforts from China. In that sense, the message is unlikely to simply be intended to pressure Beijing.

Whatever Trump‘s actual aims are, his administration’s “maximum pressure and engagement” approach to North Korea is predicated on maximum cooperation from China on sanctions. If Trump does see China as having failed in its role, the message could be read as hinting at a change in policies toward Pyongyang. The New York Times recently reported on growing skepticism in the White House over China‘s role.

The emphasis on Beijing’s role is unlikely to be abandoned altogether without an alternative in place. Acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Susan Thornton said on June 20, “The Chinese have a similar position to ours on this issue. They support denuclearization and they have endorsed repeated UN Security Council resolutions in order to try to increase pressure on the North Korean regime in order to try to get it to change its calculus about its attitude toward its weapons programs. So I think we‘ve seen some notable cooperation from China in this effort to create this kind of global echo chamber for getting the North Koreans to change their mind.”

“I think we’ve also seen, of course, notable cooperation from China,” she added.

With White House spokesperson Sean Spicer also saying the likelihood of direct dialogue with North Korea was becoming more distant, the remarks suggest Washington is unlikely to push for negotiations with Pyongyang.

Some news outlets also noted Trump’s remarks on June 19 over Warmbier falling into a coma while detained in North Korea.

“Otto’s fate deepens my Administration’s determination to prevent such tragedies from befalling innocent people at the hands of regimes that do not respect the rule of law or basic human decency,” Trump said at the time.

A senior US official told the Washington Post on June 20 that Trump’s remarks were not mere rhetoric, adding that the US would redouble its efforts for the release of Americans detained in North Korea, Iran, and other countries.

Many in the US, including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, are calling for the release of three other US detainees in the North on the grounds that Americans detained in North Korea should not be used as hostages. It’s a situation that could mean more behind-the-scenes negotiating with Pyongyang as happened with Warmbier’s repatriation. Attention is now turning to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s decision to hold a closed-door emergency hearing on June 22 with State Department Special Representative for North Korea Policy Joseph Yun, who was closely involved in Warmbier’s return.

By Yi Yong-in, Washington correspondent

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