Koo Jun Hoe | 2014-04-28 19:04
The recent summit between presidents Park Geun Hye and Barack Obama saw the two leaders resolve to work closely on North Korea’s nuclear program. The message to the North has never been clearer; even tougher sanctions await should they engage in a provocation like a fourth nuclear test.
“I believe [the North Korean nuclear threat] is not going to be a problem only for Northeast Asia; this is going to be a serious threat to global peace. And if such an event is going to be realized, the U.N., in order to uphold the peace, will have to impose very strong sanctions," President Park told the press after the summit.
The visiting U.S. president added, “The United States and South Korea stand shoulder-to-shoulder both in the face of Pyongyang’s provocations and in our refusal to accept a nuclear North Korea. Threats will get North Korea nothing other than greater isolation.”
North Korea lashed out at the proceedings, stating on the 27th that, “It has become clear that there can be no expectations for North-South relations.”
To the chagrin of the North, the strong alliance warning was not iterated alongside any of the “carrots” they appear to desire. No mention was made of a potential restart of the Six-Party Talks, nor of a lifting of South Korean sanctions put in place following the 2010 sinking of the ROKS Cheonan.
The Kim regime is turning up the dial in its criticism of the South, as it now feels it has nothing to gain, in turn lending weight to fears of an additional nuclear test.
“The U.S. has conveyed to the North in no uncertain terms that should they engage in a rash provocation like a fourth nuclear test that they will pay the corresponding cost,” Professor Kim Song Han of Korea University explained to Daily NK.
However, he added, “It’s too early to tell if North Korea has abandoned its intention to go for armed threats. The Kim Jong Eun regime is now calculating the right time for its new [nuclear] test,” he said.
For some, the message conveyed by Obama and Park was lacking when it came to a crucial aspect of the North Korea question: China.
“The message to be gained from the summit was not only related to North Korea, but also to the influence of China. It must be strongly stated that if the North Korean nuclear issue is not resolved then the nuclear domino effect could arrive in Northeast Asia,” Professor Kim Tae Woo of Dongguk University cautioned.
“China hasn't told the North they will sever relations should they go ahead with a nuclear test, so the regime will continue to push ahead,” he concluded.
