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Hillary Clinton speaks during a town hall event for digital contents creators

A draft policy platform adopted by the US Democratic Party on July 1 includes the continued use of pressure tactics against Pyongyang and reiterates plans to strengthen Washington’s alliances in response to China’s rise and Russia’s aggressive actions.

The draft’s adoption comes with the presidential election a little over fourth months away.

In a section titled “Confront Global Threats,” the draft names North Korea as the US’s third greatest threat after terrorism and Iran. In its references to North Korea, the draft describes leader Kim Jong-un as a “sadistic dictator” and the regime as “perhaps the most repressive . . . on the planet.”

“It has conducted several nuclear tests and is attempting to develop the capability to put a nuclear warhead on a long-range missile that could directly threaten the United States,” it goes on to note.

The draft goes on to suggest three possible responses. The first is through military protections for the US and its alliance, which suggest that efforts to build a trilateral missile defense system with South Korea and Japan will gain momentum if presumptive Democratic Party candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is elected. The second is through pressure on Beijing to deter Pyongyang from provocations, which suggests nothing new, as the same emphasis on China‘s role has been part of Washington’s North Korea policy since the George W. Bush administration.

The last approach suggested in the draft involves “sharpen[ing] the choices for Pyongyang to compel it to abandon its illegal nuclear and missile programs.” The message appears to be that Washington will continue ramping up its sanctions as long as Pyongyang does not abandon its nuclear program. The term “sharpening the choices” has been used by the Barack Obama administration as an alternative to “strategic patience” - with its heavy connotations of doing nothing - in official settings to explain North Korea policy. In essence, the new Democratic Party draft could be said to represent the same North Korea policies that Obama has adopted.

The draft along promises to “deepen our alliances in the [Asia-Pacific] region with Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand” in response to China’s rise. It also sends the clear message that the US plans to continue working to check Beijing’s growing influence in the region if Clinton wins.

“We will work with our allies and partners to fortify regional institutions and norms as well as protect freedom of the seas in the South China Sea,” the draft reads.

Also notable in the draft’s extreme hard line on Russia.

“Russia is engaging in destabilizing actions along its borders, violating Ukraine’s sovereignty and attempting to recreate spheres of influence that undermine American interests,” it reads.

“We will make it clear to Putin that we are prepared to cooperate with him when it is in our interest - as we did on reducing nuclear stockpiles, dismantling Iran’s nuclear program, sanctioning North Korea, and resupplying our troops in Afghanistan - but we will not hesitate to stand up to Russian aggression,” the draft pledges.

The statement is seen as heavily reflecting Clinton’s own hawkish stance.

By Yi Yong-in, Washington correspondent

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