
The United States and North Korea are engaged in a tug of war as they edge closer to potential negotiations over Pyongyang's nuclear program, with Washington reiterating its commitment to North Korea’s complete denuclearization following a recent visit by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to a nuclear material production base, experts said Friday.
National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes said Tuesday that US President Donald Trump remains committed to the "complete denuclearization of North Korea," despite recent remarks that raised questions about Washington's stance.
Trump recently referred to Pyongyang as a "nuclear power" and indicated plans to reach out to Kim Jong-un once again. These comments fueled speculation that the US might seek to engage in dialogue with Pyongyang aimed at limiting the advancement of the North's nuclear program, rather than pursuing the ultimate goal of denuclearization.
Hughes’ remarks came shortly after reports from North Korean state media that Kim had inspected a nuclear material production base and a nuclear weapons institute. Kim stressed that strengthening the North's nuclear capabilities was “indispensable” due to its ongoing security situation and a "long-term confrontation with the most vicious hostile countries," according to the Korean Central News Agency.
"An intense tug-of-war is projected between US and North Korea ahead of potential talks over the North's nuclear program," Yang Moo-jin, President of the University of North Korean Studies, said.
"Washington is trying to lure Pyongyang back to the negotiation table," he said, referring to Trump’s remarks. He added that the new round of talks will likely start based on the 2018-2019 agreement between Trump and Kim, in which both sides committed to working towards the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
At their first summit in Singapore in June 2018, Trump and Kim agreed to work toward denuclearization in exchange for security guarantees for North Korea. However, negotiations stalled after their second summit in Vietnam and a third meeting at the inter-Korean border, which ended without any solid deals.
Yang pointed out that the possibility of reaching "small deals" or what some refer to as more pragmatic agreements, such as nuclear freezes or disarmament deals, could fuel tension ahead of any upcoming talks.
Another expert said that Kim's visit to the nuclear facilities is the North's response to Trump's recent remarks hinting at a willingness to revive his personal diplomacy with Kim, as well as an attempt to demonstrate the North's power before possibly returning to the negotiation table.
"(The visit) is the North's message to Trump, reflecting its intention to pursue security through its nuclear program and show the US that its nuclear program has entered an irreversible stage," Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said.
"Ultimately the North seeks to bring about a shift in Washington's policy towards Pyongyang by showcasing the increasing diversity of its strategic weapons advancement in its nuclear weapons program," he added.