북미회담의 개최 및 성공은 준비과정에 달려: 미 전문가
Staying with the summit that appears to be in limbo.
Some experts say the likelihood of the maiden encounter between the leaders of Pyongyang and Washington taking place... depends largely on what happens behind the scenes in the coming weeks.
Oh Soo-young turned to a couple of North Korean watchers for their insights.
The fate of U.S. President Donald Trump's summit with Kim Jong-un remains uncertain, after both parties indicated the meeting may not take place as planned on June 12th in Singapore.
Still, experts told Arirang News on Thursday that under the right conditions, the summit is still likely to go ahead as scheduled.
"I think two countries have come too far. If North Korea loses this summit meeting, they have to face China alone without the States which is a very important leverage to deal with China, if Trump loses the summit meeting, that damage would hamper him to continue his status of presidency in the future."
Some experts believe the North's recent threats to back out of the summit,... may be linked to Kim's meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
They say the two leaders are likely to have discussed the lifting of sanctions on the North and raised their shared opposition to the joint military drills between South Korea and the U.S.
"So those two issues may have been something the Chinese pushed the North Koreans pretty hard on and encouraged them to push back on that."
Earlier this week, President Trump called on Beijing to maintain pressure on the North until a deal is made on denuclearization.
To reach such an agreement, experts say the U.S. and North Korea must first see eye-to-eye on what denuclearization means.
"I think if N. Korea is able to give some important concessions upfront, and the Trump admin feels they are concrete steps that will lead to eventual denuclearization, there will certainly be a higher chance they will come to some agreement, if not, a joint statement at their summit."
But the price has to be right.
"For example, on how to guarantee Kim Jong Un's regime. Kim Jong Un still fears that normalization is just establishing embassies in Pyongyang and, okay that's it, no more substantial support for the regime itself, that doesn't mean nothing. If President Trump promises substantial economic investment in North Korea, that itself is not guaranteed."
The experts say drawing a concrete, detailed roadmap on the agendas and goals in the lead-up to the summit will raise the chances of a successful meeting and a workable agreement.
Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.
