US urged to begin talks with North Korea without preconditions

By Kim Jae-kyoung

The United States should start talks with North Korea without "onerous preconditions" to build on the inter-Korean talks and make a real change, according to Kelsey Davenport, a North Korea expert at the Arms Control Association.

"The talks between President Moon Jae-in's special envoy and Kim Jong-un are an important and welcome breakthrough," Davenport said in an interview.

She recommends Washington and Seoul follow up on this positive meeting and explore this opportunity to engage in talks without preconditions.

"It would be irresponsible for the Trump administration to walk away from this opening or push North Korea from the negotiating table by insisting on onerous preconditions or engaging in bellicose rhetoric," she said.

"North Korea should also do its part by refraining from provocative actions, like additional long-range missile tests, while this opportunity for talks is explored."

Davenport, director of Nonproliferation Policy at the Arms Control Association, a Washington-based non-partisan think tank, called on U.S. President Donald Trump to avoid irresponsible rhetoric and show a consistent policy approach.

Dotard meets Rocket Man 2018-03-09 15:42  |  North Korea
"U.S. policy toward North Korea has suffered from irresponsible and belligerent statements from President Trump and mixed messages about Washington's approach to diplomacy," she said.

She believes there is no guarantee diplomacy will succeed, but negotiations stand the best chance of lowering the risk posed by North Korea's nuclear weapons.

"Diplomacy is the only option for reducing tensions and addressing the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear and missile programs," she said.

Trump has accepted an invitation from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to hold talks by May.

On Thursday, South Korean envoys, led by Security Office head Chung Eui-yong, hand-delivered a letter from Kim Jong-un to Trump calling for talks.

In the letter, Kim expressed his willingness to meet Trump and promised to refrain from any further nuclear or missile tests.

Davenport, who provides research and analysis on nuclear and missile programs in North Korea and Iran, expects chances are slim that Pyongyang will give up its nuclear weapons and missile programs anytime soon.

"North Korea views its nuclear weapons as a deterrent against U.S. and South Korea aggression, so it is highly unlikely North Korea will give up nuclear weapons in the short term," she said.

Therefore, she said, it is important for Washington to take a step-by-step approach to lead Pyongyang to denuclearization in the long run.

"While the U.S. and South Korea should not abandon denuclearization as the ultimate end state, Washington and Seoul should first focus on interim steps that decrease tensions and prevent quantitative and qualitative improvements to North Korea's nuclear and long-range missile programs," she said.