Author: Ben Wolfgang / Source: The Washington Times
As North Korea digs in its heels amid a “tense” relationship with the U.
S., South Korean President Moon Jae-in arrived in Washington on Wednesday for a key meeting with President Trump — an opportunity, analysts say, for Mr. Moon to seize the moment and pave a path forward in the stalled denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyongyang.Mr. Moon will meet with Mr. Trump at the White House on Thursday, in addition to sit-downs with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other top administration officials. The meeting comes six weeks after Mr. Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un left their face-to-face summit in Hanoi without a deal on denuclearization and accompanying economic sanctions relief that both sides have said they want.
Regional analysts say that with Mr. Trump and his North Korean counterpart unable to find common ground, Mr. Moon will play a pivotal role going forward, starting with Thursday’s meeting. The South Korean leader, a longtime supporter of detente with the North, has spoken in recent weeks of the need to provide Pyongyang with an “early harvest” — preemptive relief from some economic sanctions as a way to kick-start denuclearization efforts.
But the administration so far has rejected such a plan. Mr. Pompeo said recently that the U.S. will keep in place its policy of maximum “economic pressure” on North Korea until the reclusive nation agrees to fully and permanently dismantle its nuclear and missile programs.
At this point, analysts say, it seems only Mr. Moon can bridge that divide.
“Now comes the true test of Seoul’s strategy. President Moon’s task come April 11 will not be an easy one,” said Harry J. Kazianis, director of Korea studies at the Center for the National Interest. “First, he must confirm that Washington is invested in a long-term process that ensures America will commit to a concrete diplomatic negotiation with North Korea.
“Seoul should propose a compromise deal, whereby Washington does not need to remove sanctions, per se,” Mr. Kazianis continued in a piece Wednesday previewing the Trump-Moon meeting.
He proposed a “temporary suspension of select sanctions” in exchange…
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