Experts warn sidelining denuclearization could weaken Seoul's leverage
U.S. President Donald Trump’s refusal to say whether denuclearization remains the goal of renewed talks with North Korea has fueled speculation that Washington could set the issue aside in order to bring Pyongyang back to the negotiating table. Experts warn that the focus should not be simply on whether U.S.-North Korea talks resume, but on what the talks are intended to achieve. A deal centered…
As U.S. President Donald Trump's lack of clarity on whether denuclearization remains a goal in talks with North Korea has stirred speculation that Washington might sideline the issue to coax Pyongyang back to the negotiating table, experts caution against focusing solely on the resumption of U.S.-North Korea dialogue. Instead, they argue, the talks should be evaluated based on their intended objectives.
A deal centered on managing North Korea's nuclear threat rather than aiming for complete elimination could prove advantageous for both Washington and Pyongyang, according to experts. However, they express concern that abandoning or downplaying the ultimate goal of denuclearization could weaken Seoul's leverage.
Rep. Yu Yong-weon, a member of the opposition People Power Party and a National Assembly National Defense Committee member, expressed concern over the potential ramifications. "Giving the impression that we are abandoning or backing away from the goal of denuclearization could send a very wrong message to North Korea," he told The Korea Times. "It could be seen as legitimizing North Korea's nuclear ambitions."
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
