Bolton: "North Korea's Kim Jong-un Used Bromance with Trump as an Opportunity to Complete Nuclear Arsenal"

"North Korea's Nuclear Force Nears Completion... Time Is Running Out"
"Our Deterrence Strategy Cannot Properly Control China"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Former U.S. National Security Council (NSC) advisor John Bolton criticized North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un for using his personal relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump to enhance the completeness of North Korea's nuclear arsenal. He also argued that the Trump administration's China strategy has failed to effectively contain China and called for a stronger deterrence strategy.

According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), on the 6th (local time), Bolton spoke at a CEO Council virtual meeting hosted by WSJ, stating, "During the approximately two and a half years of the 'bromance' between Chairman Kim and President Trump, North Korea took advantage of this to complete its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs," adding, "They did not take any steps toward denuclearization." He further criticized, "There is no evidence that North Korea has made a strategic decision to give up its nuclear weapons," harshly condemning President Trump's North Korea policy.

Bolton, known as a leading hardliner on North Korea, was the proponent of the 'Libya model' (denuclearization first, then rewards), which had provoked North Korean backlash. He expressed skepticism about North Korea-U.S. denuclearization talks and had clashed with President Trump. Bolton said, "The idea that we could negotiate with North Korea was nonsense from the start," adding, "I do not believe North Korea has yet fully acquired the nuclear capabilities it needs, and I think we still have some time. However, that time is gradually disappearing and shrinking," he warned.

At the same event, Bolton also criticized President Trump's China policy following his North Korea policy remarks. He said, "The U.S. China strategy remains stuck in a classical deterrence approach and is failing to properly contain China," adding, "China is now building naval and air bases on reefs in the South China Sea and pushing India back at their border. Despite U.S. efforts so far, this is evidence that China is expanding outward," he criticized.

Regarding the U.S. presidential election, Bolton analyzed that China would likely prefer the election of former Vice President Joe Biden over President Trump. Bolton stated, "The reason China is expected to prefer Biden is not because Biden's China policy is expected to be softer, but because his policy is more predictable," adding, "Trump's foreign policy decision-making is abnormal, so the Chinese government views it as very alien and unpredictable, perceiving it as a greater threat."

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