South Korean president, Moon Jae-in, made an announcement less than a week later that Kim will no longer require the removal of US troops from South Korea as a condition for North Korean denuclearization.
SUMMARY
Over Easter Weekend, (March 31-April 1) then CIA Director Mike Pompeo and other intelligence officials make a secret trip to North Korea as a representative for the Trump administration. The goal of the trip was to lay the groundwork for talks between Kim Jung-un, who came to power in 2011, and United States President Trump about North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. Following that reveal, South Korean president, Moon Jae-in, made an announcement less than a week later that Kim will no longer require the removal of US troops from South Korea as a condition for North Korean denuclearization. Should this news be confirmed by North Korea, it could seriously alter US military strategy in the region. Spring 2018 has seen an almost 180 degree turn in North Korean foreign policy and Kim’s willingness to reach out to leaders abroad.
FAO GLOBAL ASSESSMENT
This is not the first time talks with North Korea have looked promising. At the start of the 21st, century, the years of 2000 and 2007 both saw progress in peace talks before falling apart. This time, it seems that Chinese sanctions on North Korea are applying the right amount of pressure considering trade between China and North Korea has decreased since 2018. North Korea is still reliant on China for much needed fuel and trade but is feeling increased strain without a steady supply of fossil fuels. A final North Korea solution doesn’t likely come without Chinese involvement. Keeping China on board provides North Korea with reassurances should talks with the US fail. However, due to historical issues between the hermit kingdom and China, a North Korea ideal solution may not be the same as China’s.
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