A Syracuse University expert on North Korean-US relations believes President Trump has hit on a viable path forward. Even though Trump left Vietnam without a deal, Research Professor Fred Carriere says these personal meetings are diplomatically helpful.
“Those that are critical and say there has been no progress, what is the alternative? Do they want to go back to the threatening of war? Do we really have the right to potentially destroy North Korea?”
Carriere lived in South Korea for nearly 25 years, and is a member of the National Committee on North Korea. He says that the South Korean government and most of its citizens favor the talks. Carriere doesn’t think most would expect the republic to demand a complete lifting of sanctions as a result of partial or complete elimination their nuclear capabilities.
“They are more than sophisticated enough to know that they could not get a total lifting of not only US sanctions but UN sanctions simply for closing down the Yongbyon facility.”
Yongbyon is the heart of North Korea's nuclear program. Carriere says there is no credible evidence that their missile capabilities are a threat to the US. He says their main goal is negotiating a relationship where they feel secure without nuclear weapons. But Carriere thinks the US is sending mixed signals.
“You can see why the North Koreans might be confused because Trump is talking them up about they are going to have a wonderful economy of bright future, and so forth, on the other hand, we still have a stranglehold on things like humanitarian assistance.”
Carriere wishes US foreign policy was more consistent and included more attention to long term solutions in North Korea.