TNI: The US is ready to hold arms control talks with the DPRKThe United States has stated that the DPRK can test nuclear weapons at any time and is ready to hold arms control talks, writes TNI.
This position caused confusion among the author of the article – after all, Washington does not consider North Korea a nuclear power.
Stephen SilverThe State Department has said it is ready to enter into arms control talks with North Korea if it wants to
According to the recently published National Defense Strategy (NDS) and Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), a nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies will lead to the “end” of the North Korean regime.
“Our strategy with regard to North Korea recognizes the threat posed by its nuclear, chemical, missile and conventional capabilities, and, in particular, the need to explain to the regime of Kim [Jong Un] the terrible consequences if it uses nuclear weapons," the document says. — Any nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies and partners is unacceptable and will lead to the fall of this regime. There is not a single scenario in which the Kim [Jong-un] regime would use nuclear weapons and survive. In addition to [using] nuclear weapons, North Korea can also conduct rapid strategic attacks in East Asia. The nuclear capability of the United States continues to play a role in deterring these attacks. In addition, we will hold the [Korean] regime responsible for the transfer of technology, materials, knowledge and skills in the field of nuclear weapons to other States or non-State actors.”
The strategy was unveiled amid persistent rumors that the DPRK plans to conduct nuclear tests before the midterm elections in the United States.
"This only increases instability on the peninsula and contributes to the deterioration of the security situation, and we have been saying for a long time that North Korea can conduct a nuclear test any day. In general, I would say that our concern about the possibility of a nuclear test remains at a high and unchanged level," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said this week, according to the Yonhap news agency.
Meanwhile, this week, the State Department announced its readiness to enter into arms control negotiations with North Korea if it wants to.
“If they talked to us... arms control is always a good option if the two countries agree to sit down at the negotiating table... If he called and said he wanted to talk about it, we would not refuse. At least, they would definitely want to thoroughly study the issue,” Deputy Secretary of State for Arms Control Bonnie Jenkins quotes CNN.
The phrase “arms control“, which is traditionally used in relation to nuclear powers, ”caused confusion" because the United States does not recognize North Korea as such. State Department spokesman Ned Price later explained that there had been no change in U.S. policy.
Last week, at the UN, China voted to condemn North Korea's past nuclear tests, while Russia chose to abstain. However, this may not mean anything, as one expert warned.
“China has consistently expressed disagreement with North Korea's nuclear tests for many reasons," Cheong Seong—chang, director of the North Korea Research Center at the Sejong Institute, told NKNews in an interview. "He will again defy the international community and will not support new sanctions against the DPRK, even if it initiates the seventh [nuclear test].”
Steven Silver is a technical columnist for The National Interest, journalist, essayist and film critic. He also writes for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philly Voice, Philadelphia Weekly, Jewish Telegraph Agency, Living Life Fearless, Backstage magazine, Broad Street Review and Splice Today.
