The recent nuclear deal between Iran and world powers is a good example that North Korea should follow and negotiate away its nuclear weapons programs, a former chief U.S. nuclear negotiator with the communist nation said Monday.
  

Christopher Hill, who served as Washington's lead negotiator in the six-party talks on the North's nuclear program in his capacity as assistant secretary of state, expressed that hope during discussions on his memoir: "Outpost: Life on the Frontlines of American Diplomacy."
  

Hill said he is optimistic about the Iranian nuclear deal, and that the agreement is a good example for North Korea as it demonstrates "sincerity" on the part of the "P5," the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council that took part in the negotiations, together with Germany.
  

"If I were a serious North Korean, I would be looking at that and saying, 'Why can't we do something like this?'" Hill said during the book discussions at the Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies.
  

"I say that because they (North Korea) used to tell me, 'Why can't we be India?'" said Hill, who is now dean at the University of Denver's Josef Korbel School of International Studies. "This (Iranian deal) would be a real example from the Iran talks to make the North Koreans think."
  

Hill said, however, that he has not seen a sign from the regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that it is "interested anymore in getting rid of their nuclear weapons."
  

"I'm not sure they understand that they have to give up their nuclear weapons. I think the basic problem, unlike Iran, unlike many people in Iran, not other people in Iran but many people in Iran, I don't think North Korea has collectively decided they want to join the world," he said.
  

Until such time, Hill said, it is "highly appropriate" for the U.S. and South Korea to talk about a missile defense system like THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) against North Korea's ballistic missile threats.
  

The former diplomat, who also served as ambassador to South Korea, said he is aware of China's opposition to a potential THAAD deployment in South Korea, but stressed that the issue is about protecting South Korea.
  

"I know the Chinese don't like it, but I think they also know the reason for it. It's not about them. It's about North Korea," he said.
  

In order to cope with the North Korean nuclear program, Hill said that Seoul and Washington should step up discussions on the THAAD missile possibility and other protective measures and strengthen cooperation with China while leaving the door open for negotiation.
  

"I think the Obama administration has its hands full on a lot of other issues and some of those issues are showing more promise than this issue," Hill said. "But I know they have a special envoy. I know him very well, Sung Kim. I'm sure if there were a sign of North Korean interest, sincerity, in getting back to the 2005 agreement, I'm sure Sung Kim would be ready." (Yonhap)