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For Trump or Biden, N. Korea is the Problem that Won't Go Away

William Gallo

   SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - Donald Trump may have redefined what is possible
   when it comes to the United States' relationship with North Korea,
   whether it was threatening to "totally destroy" the country or becoming
   the first sitting U.S. president to meet and later claim he "fell in
   love" with its leader. But U.S.-North Korea diplomacy could soon become
   more conventional.

   Joe Biden, Trump's challenger in the November presidential election,
   has promised a more traditional approach to North Korea. He's also
   signaled a return to a more antagonistic relationship. During the
   campaign, Biden has repeatedly referred to Kim Jong Un as a "dictator,"
   a "thug," and a "tyrant." North Korea has shot back, calling Biden an
   "imbecile" and a "fool of low IQ."

   Though Biden didn't directly mention North Korea in his nomination
   acceptance speech last week, the Democratic nominee said if elected he
   would ensure the "days of cozying up to dictators" are over.

   Instead, Biden says he would tighten sanctions on North Korea and work
   with allies, as well as China, to pressure Pyongyang to make
   concessions on its nuclear program.

   Strategic patience redux?

   For many analysts, Biden's ideas about North Korea sound familiar. As
   vice president, Biden helped oversee former President Barack Obama's
   policy of "strategic patience," which attempted to gradually apply
   economic and military pressure until Pyongyang was ready to negotiate.

   While Biden doesn't use the phrase "strategic patience" to describe his
   North Korea plans, his administration may end up with a policy of
   "strategic patience by default" if it doesn't offer "some kind of
   unilateral opening gesture to compel the North Koreans back to
   negotiations," says Jenny Town, a North Korea specialist with the
   Washington D.C.-based Stimson Center.

   But if his campaign comments are any indication, Biden is not
   interested in meeting Kim anytime soon. Biden[1]has saidhe would not
   continue Trump's personal diplomacy with Kim, arguing that summit
   "photo ops" give undue legitimacy to the North Korean leader.

References

   1. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/politics/joe-biden-foreign-policy.html

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