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Experts: 'Abrupt End' to Talks Likely If North Korea Launches Holiday Missile

Christy Lee

   WASHINGTON - As Pyongyang appears to be preparing to launch a
   long-range missile, experts see an end to a diplomatic process
   Washington has pursued to denuclearize North Korea.

   "I see no signs that the North Koreans are interested in talking to the
   U.S. at this time," said Joshua Pollack, a North Korean expert at the
   Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California. "They
   appear to have made their decision."

   On Tuesday, a top U.S. Air Force general said he is expecting North
   Korea to launch a long-range ballistic missile as a "Christmas gift" to
   the U.S.

   "What I would expect is some type of long-range ballistic missile would
   be the gift," said Gen. Charles Brown, commander of Pacific Air Forces
   and air component commander for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

   "It's just a matter of does it come on Christmas Eve? Does it come on
   [1]Christmas Day? Does it come after the New Year?"

   Earlier this month, North Korea said, "It is entirely up to the U.S.
   what [2]Christmas gift it will select to get."

   The statement came as Pyongyang issued a series of warnings demanding
   that Washington change its stance on denuclearization talks by the
   end-of-the-year deadline Pyongyang unilaterally imposed on Washington.

References

   1. https://thehill.com/policy/defense/474884-air-force-general-north-koreas-christmas-gift-could-be-long-range-missile-test
   2. https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1575346274-154987559/dprk-vice-foreign-minister-for-u-s-affairs-issues-statement/

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