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Experts: Kim Suggested Road to Denuclearization Has Come to an End

Christy Lee

   WASHINGTON - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently indicated the
   road to denuclearization has come to an end, but experts say he left a
   door open for diplomacy with the U.S. in his statements Wednesday.

   "Kim Jong Un's speech suggests that the DPRK [North Korea] is no longer
   interested in holding out the possibility of even an illusory
   commitment to denuclearization," said Evans Revere, a former State
   Department official during the George W. Bush administration, which
   also negotiated with North Korea.

   Kim said, "If the U.S. persists in its hostile policy toward the DPRK,
   there will never be the denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and
   the DPRK will steadily develop necessary and prerequisite strategic
   weapons for the security of the state."

   Revere said Kim's stance on denuclearization was "the latest
   manifestation" of what North Korea has been saying for years.

   Earlier in December, North Korea's U.N. ambassador, Kim Song, said
   [1]denuclearization was off the table.

References

   1. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-usa/north-koreas-un-envoy-says-denuclearization-off-negotiating-table-with-united-states-idUSKBN1YB0FG

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