Dr. Go Myong-hyun from the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. Thank you for taking the time to come in today.
Thanks for having me.
1 - The U.S. State Department has emphatically stated that the reason for the cancellation or postponement of the meeting between Pompeo and Kim Yong-chol, scheduled for Thursday, was simply a scheduling issue. Are you convinced?
1a- South Korean foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha revealed that it was North Korea who called off the talks. What does this tell us?
2 - The topic of these talks was expected to be about possibly finalizing details towards the inspection of various nuclear facilities in North Korea, which Pyeongyang said they had dismantled. But it was also expected that Pyeongyang wanted to negotiate the lifting of sanctions. But there are some who think the Kim-Pompeo meeting was cancelled because they were not able to reach any prior consensus before the meeting even took place. What do you think?
3 - It's not the first time a meeting between Pompeo and North Korea officials has been cancelled, and this one has been delayed and delayed. Do you think it will ever happen?
4 - Earlier this year, at the height of the feel-good factor in North Korea relations, there was talk of denuclearization, as well as a declaration to end the Korean War, a peace treaty, inter-Korean economic projects, etc. Do you think this shows that all these things are a long way off?
4a - Trump has said that he is no rush, and that with sanctions in place it is to North Korea's detriment when delays occur. But the reverse argument is that North Korea is deliberately stalling to continue developing its nuclear program and stockpile more nuclear weapons. Are these concerns founded?
5 - South Korea has a lot of cooperative projects with North Korea as well. How would these delays in negotiations between North Korea and U.S. affect these inter-Korean projects as well?
6 - In a press conference after the midterms, Trump (among other things) reiterated that he is still looking to have another summit with Kim Jong-un sometime early next year. He seemed to be trying to reassure people that progress with North Korea is continuing. Despite the postponement of Pompeo and Kim Yong-chol's meeting, it does seem reassuring that Trump is willing to continue working on North Korea. What do you think about Trump's comments?
7 - The U.S. midterm elections resulted in splitting the Senate and the House. Republicans have taken the Senate, the Democrats the House, meaning that Trump is expected to have a more difficult time governing. Do you think that could have an effect on Trump's policies on North Korea?
8 - Trump also touted his success with North Korea, saying there are not missiles or nuclear tests, they have hostages back home, and remains of Korean War dead have been returned, and that sanctions are continuing. But the longer negotiations stall, won't it be more difficult for him to tout these achiev
