Tae Young-ho: "North Korea Will Feel Intimidated and Worried Watching the Washington Declaration"

Published 27 Apr.2023 09:21(KST)

"US Likely Felt Serious Public Opinion on Korea's Nuclear Issue"

Taeyongho, a former North Korean diplomat and a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, evaluated the 'Washington Declaration' issued immediately after the South Korea-US summit, saying, "From North Korea's perspective, they will feel greatly intimidated and troubled by this Washington Declaration."

On the 27th, Taeyongho stated on SBS's 'Kim Taehyun's Political Show,' "During President Trump's administration, the phrase 'complete destruction' was used regarding North Korea, but President Biden has elevated it further by using the term 'complete end.'"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The two leaders held a summit on the 26th (local time) and announced the Washington Declaration, which formalizes that the US will retaliate if South Korea is attacked with North Korean nuclear weapons, and establishes a regular consultative body on extended deterrence called the 'Nuclear Consultative Group' (NCG) to discuss extended deterrence.

Taeyongho explained the significance of the Washington Declaration, saying, "From North Korea's standpoint, they might have thought, 'What, are they going to strike North Korea with nuclear weapons? Even if North Korea strikes the US? But there is no operational plan. Without an operational plan, how can they do anything?' They did not believe it." He continued, "But this time, the US has, for the first time, announced to the entire world, 'We have a plan, and we will gradually share this plan with South Korea going forward.'"

He added, "For Kim Jong-un of North Korea, it would be like, 'No, I thought there was none, but there actually was? Then what the US said was not empty talk after all.' This can greatly intimidate North Korea," and said, "this should have been done earlier."

The declaration also includes the provision that nuclear submarines will regularly operate around the Korean Peninsula. Taeyongho explained, "They used the term 'almost regularly,' which simply means that US nuclear weapons are close to our vicinity," and added, "if North Korea really uses nuclear weapons, nuclear retaliation will be carried out immediately from there, showing this not just in words but through actions."

There are also criticisms that this Washington Declaration makes the ruling party's demand for 'independent nuclear armament' impossible. However, Taeyongho said, "Until now, the US has continuously demanded that we do not pursue independent nuclear armament. But this is the first time they have officially written and demanded this from us," and explained, "the US has taken the domestic movement for independent nuclear armament very seriously to this extent."

He further stated, "Also, the fact that the US acknowledges that North Korea's nuclear capabilities have advanced to the point where public opinion for our own nuclear armament is rising," and added, "the fact that the two leaders discussed independent nuclear armament to this extent is a very significant development."