Lee Jong-seok "US Monopoly on 'North Korea Denuclearization Methodology' Must Be Broken"... Possible Roles for Korea, China, and Japan

Former Unification Minister: "Utilize the North Korea Sanctions Relief Resolution Proposed by China and Russia"
"North Korea's Announced 'Shocking Actual Action' Could Be Overseas Export of ICBM Technology"

Former Minister of Unification Lee Jong-seok is holding a "Brown Bag Meeting," a discussion with reporters during lunchtime, at the Ministry of Unification in the Government Seoul Office Building on the 20th.

Former Minister of Unification Lee Jong-seok argued on the 20th that the cause of the deadlock in North Korea-U.S. denuclearization negotiations and the background of the bleak future prospects lie in the U.S.'s monopoly on the methodology for North Korea's denuclearization. Minister Lee emphasized that the U.S. is not the only country that can lead North Korea's denuclearization, and since countries such as South Korea, China, and Russia share the goal of North Korea's denuclearization with the U.S., cooperation with them is important. Furthermore, he predicted that North Korea, which has demanded a 'shocking actual action,' might export technologies such as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) overseas.

On the same day, Minister Lee met with reporters covering the Ministry of Unification at the Government Seoul Office and stated, "The U.S. must abandon the idea that only it can decide the methodology for North Korea's denuclearization."

North Korea has repeatedly made it clear that it will not come to the negotiating table without concessions from the U.S., and the U.S. is also in a difficult position to offer incentives to North Korea due to domestic political circumstances.

Minister Lee expressed concern over this deadlock and said, "To overcome this situation, it is necessary to utilize the resolution proposed by China and Russia at the United Nations Security Council at the end of last year, which calls for a partial lifting of sanctions on North Korea."

Minister Lee suggested that even if the proposals from China and Russia are not accepted as they are, there could be a way to use the 'snapback' clause. Snapback refers to restoring sanctions if North Korea fails to fulfill promised measures.

Minister Lee said, "Sanctions should be eased first, and if North Korea engages in provocative actions, the sanctions can be reinstated. We need to use the proposals from China and Russia on the premise of snapback, and the South Korean government should actively communicate this to the U.S. side."

He evaluated that the U.S. has monopolized the methodology for North Korea's denuclearization for decades, preventing creative approaches for denuclearization from seeing the light of day. Minister Lee emphasized, "Regarding North Korea's denuclearization, the goals of the U.S., South Korea, Russia, and China are aligned. Now is the time to move away from the U.S.-led sanctions-only approach and consider methods that mix in some sanction relief."

Minister Lee viewed the possibility of North Korea's military provocations as low. He cautiously observed that North Korea's announced 'shocking actual action' is more likely to be arms exports rather than a nuclear test or ICBM launch.

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, said at the report of the 5th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party at the end of last year, "We will move toward shocking actual actions to fully exact the price for the suffering and suppressed development endured by our people."

Minister Lee said attention should be paid to the phrase 'to fully exact the price.' He said, "Even if North Korea launches an ICBM, it is unlikely to get what it wants from the U.S." Rather, sanctions would intensify and only increase the suffering of the people.

He analyzed, "North Korea has no way to compensate for the hunger, poverty, and delayed development of its people other than money. North Korea may be subtly hinting at the possibility of exporting ICBMs and other weapons to move the U.S."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.