This is the fourth and last in a series of interviews with international experts on the Korean Peninsula to discuss key issues at the upcoming inter-Korean summit slated for April 27. ― ED.
Seoul should caution against 'halo effect' in handling Pyongyang
By Kim Jae-kyoung
SINGAPORE ― North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will use the upcoming historic inter-Korean summit as an opportunity to rebuild his image to the outside world, according to a Singapore-based expert on North Korea, Wednesday.
He believes the primary purpose of Kim coming to the negotiation table is "propaganda," which ultimately aims to earn sanctions relief.
"Kim wants to polish his international image," Liang Tuang Nah, a research fellow of the Military Studies Program at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies, said in an interview.
The institute is a constituent unit of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
"Kim seeks to rehabilitate global perceptions of North Korea as a normal and respectable state, rather than a rogue nation led by a ruthless, abusive and totalitarian government," he said.
He thinks live broadcasting the event will serve to project a message of transparency which drastically contrasts with the real opaque nature of the reclusive country.
"Concurrently, it can be inferred that if Kim is successful in this image makeover, it may weaken global consensus for maintaining maximum pressure on the regime, coercing Pyongyang to give up nuclear arms," he said.
Nah cautions against the "halo effect" in dealing with the Kim Jong-un regime.
"This is that the world at large has become so used to unacceptable behavior from North Korea that when Pyongyang starts to act normally, it is perceived with a halo and thus seen as deserving a reward," he said.
Nah, the specialist in nuclear weapons politics and North Korean affairs, said that there are three key issues President Moon Jae-in must insist on at the meeting with the North's recalcitrant leader.
First, Moon should demand a permanent end to all North Korean military adventurism and state-sponsored terrorism.
Secondly, the Kim regime must commit to nuclear disarmament with a concrete show of faith such as possibly inviting the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to send an inspection team to North Korea as soon as possible.
Lastly, the two leaders should come up with a concrete roadmap for stability and normalization of relations on the Korean Peninsula.
"As commonly said, the devil is in the details. In my personal opinion, these are details which achieve more than a general peace agreement signed before the international press," he said.
Nah said a peace treaty makes for good public relations but its actualization may not be that simple.
"While there is a political desire among all parties concerned to replace the current armistice with such a treaty, Pyongyang's nuclear weapons, missiles and other weapons of mass destructions (WMDs) are serious complicating factors," he said.
From his perspective, it is definitely in Kim Jong-un's interest to ink such a treaty or agreement with President Moon at the summit but the continuation of economic pressure and diplomatic isolation from Kim's WMD pursuits might well sour relations in the months to come.
"Even if Pyongyang agrees to allow U.S. troops to continue to be based in South Korea and sustaining the U.S.-ROK alliance, the non-resolution of the denuclearization problem will weaken any peace agreement," he said.
"Lastly, any real peace treaty will require the presence or signatures of China and U.N. Command as they were signatories to the Korean War Armistice."
Finally, Nah, who also specializes in ASEAN-Korea relations, advised Moon to be friendly to Kim but remain firm at negotiations.
"North Korea faces a drastic choice between nuclear-armed isolation and antagonism, or denuclearization and acceptance as a respectable nation within the international community," he said.
"My humble advice would be to negotiate with Kim cordially but firmly, being resolute and uncompromising about South Korea's national interests, even as Kim will most assuredly be focused on the prime interests of his regime."
Seoul should caution against 'halo effect' in handling Pyongyang
By Kim Jae-kyoung
SINGAPORE ― North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will use the upcoming historic inter-Korean summit as an opportunity to rebuild his image to the outside world, according to a Singapore-based expert on North Korea, Wednesday.
He believes the primary purpose of Kim coming to the negotiation table is "propaganda," which ultimately aims to earn sanctions relief.
"Kim wants to polish his international image," Liang Tuang Nah, a research fellow of the Military Studies Program at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies, said in an interview.
The institute is a constituent unit of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
"Kim seeks to rehabilitate global perceptions of North Korea as a normal and respectable state, rather than a rogue nation led by a ruthless, abusive and totalitarian government," he said.
He thinks live broadcasting the event will serve to project a message of transparency which drastically contrasts with the real opaque nature of the reclusive country.
"Concurrently, it can be inferred that if Kim is successful in this image makeover, it may weaken global consensus for maintaining maximum pressure on the regime, coercing Pyongyang to give up nuclear arms," he said.
Nah cautions against the "halo effect" in dealing with the Kim Jong-un regime.
"This is that the world at large has become so used to unacceptable behavior from North Korea that when Pyongyang starts to act normally, it is perceived with a halo and thus seen as deserving a reward," he said.
Nah, the specialist in nuclear weapons politics and North Korean affairs, said that there are three key issues President Moon Jae-in must insist on at the meeting with the North's recalcitrant leader.
First, Moon should demand a permanent end to all North Korean military adventurism and state-sponsored terrorism.
Secondly, the Kim regime must commit to nuclear disarmament with a concrete show of faith such as possibly inviting the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to send an inspection team to North Korea as soon as possible.
Lastly, the two leaders should come up with a concrete roadmap for stability and normalization of relations on the Korean Peninsula.
"As commonly said, the devil is in the details. In my personal opinion, these are details which achieve more than a general peace agreement signed before the international press," he said.
Nah said a peace treaty makes for good public relations but its actualization may not be that simple.
"While there is a political desire among all parties concerned to replace the current armistice with such a treaty, Pyongyang's nuclear weapons, missiles and other weapons of mass destructions (WMDs) are serious complicating factors," he said.
From his perspective, it is definitely in Kim Jong-un's interest to ink such a treaty or agreement with President Moon at the summit but the continuation of economic pressure and diplomatic isolation from Kim's WMD pursuits might well sour relations in the months to come.
"Even if Pyongyang agrees to allow U.S. troops to continue to be based in South Korea and sustaining the U.S.-ROK alliance, the non-resolution of the denuclearization problem will weaken any peace agreement," he said.
"Lastly, any real peace treaty will require the presence or signatures of China and U.N. Command as they were signatories to the Korean War Armistice."
Finally, Nah, who also specializes in ASEAN-Korea relations, advised Moon to be friendly to Kim but remain firm at negotiations.
"North Korea faces a drastic choice between nuclear-armed isolation and antagonism, or denuclearization and acceptance as a respectable nation within the international community," he said.
"My humble advice would be to negotiate with Kim cordially but firmly, being resolute and uncompromising about South Korea's national interests, even as Kim will most assuredly be focused on the prime interests of his regime."
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