Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated reference to North Korea as a "nuclear power" might be a calculated effort to entice Pyongyang back to negotiations, according to a leading U.S. expert. The regime seeks "de facto" recognition from the U.S. as a nuclear-armed country, a significant objective for North Korea.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Victor Cha, Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), suggested that Trump is possibly shifting the focus of future U.S.-North Korea negotiations from denuclearization to threat reduction. Cha made these remarks during an event promoting his new book, "The Black Box: Demystifying the Study of Korean Unification and North Korea."
Cha explained that Trump's labeling of North Korea as a nuclear power has led to widespread speculation. This includes questions about whether Trump intentionally used the term to acknowledge the reality of Pyongyang's nuclear advances or if it was a misstep. Trump has recently mentioned North Korea alongside India and Pakistan, both recognized de facto nuclear powers, potentially signaling a similar status for Pyongyang.
Cha argues this might be a strategic move by Trump rather than ignorance. "Do we go around saying our goal with India is denuclearization? No. Even with Pakistan, do we go around saying our goal is denuclearization? We don't say that," Cha noted, suggesting that Trump's approach may be more deliberate and strategic.
North Korea's desire for U.S. recognition as a nuclear state is a primary objective, especially as it increasingly relies on Moscow for essential resources amidst waning sanctions enforcement by Russia and China. Cha emphasized that this recognition from the U.S. is vital for North Korea's national interest.
Furthermore, Cha observed that Trump appears less focused on North Korea's denuclearization, prioritizing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. "He's a very pragmatic person. So given the size of the (North's nuclear program), I am sure that he thinks there's no way they are going to give up all this stuff," Cha noted, pointing to Trump's potential strategy linking North Korea's support to Russia with a broader peace deal.
Cha's insights come amid speculation that Trump could resume direct diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, echoing their past summits in Singapore, Hanoi, and Panmunjom. Shortly after beginning his second term, Trump expressed his intent to reconnect with Kim, whom he described as a "smart guy."