[Editorial] NK and US both need to boldly reach beyond old negotiation methods toward great compromise

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho gives a speech before the UN General Assembly in New York on Sept. 29. (Hwang Joon-bum, Washington correspondent)

In a keynote speech before the UN General Assembly on Sept. 29, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho named “trust” between North Korea and the US as a key word in achieving progress with denuclearization. This conspicuous emphasis on “trust” in the highly official context of a UN General Assembly session can be said to show just how strongly Pyongyang desires corresponding actions from the US.

Ri also stressed the principles of step-by-step, simultaneous actions on denuclearization and corresponding measures as a way of building trust. His message reiterated Pyongyang’s opposition to Washington’s insistence on “denuclearization first and rewards later.” It also indirectly gave voice to its hopes for a declaration ending the Korean War and the loosening of sanctions as corresponding steps from the US to build trust between the two sides.

With Pyongyang having already affirmed the possibility of permanently dismantling its nuclear facilities at Yongbyon, the US needs to proactively answer its calls for corresponding measures to promote trust.

The way things are shaping up at the moment, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo appears likely to pay a fourth North Korea visit during October, with a second North Korea-US summit to be held soon after the US midterm elections in November. But if the two sides continue splitting hairs in their disagreements over the conditions for negotiations as some have feared, this long-awaited opportunity could evaporate without producing any results.

As has been discussed, North Korea does need to shut down its Yongbyon facilities, and an end-of-war declaration should be made in response to that. But that alone appears unlikely to do much to quiet the main obstacle to progress in North Korea-US talks, namely the hardline positions and distrust toward North Korea coming from within the US. In that sense, it may be time for both sides to raise the stakes and engage in some even bolder give-and-take.

If, in addition to its Yongbyon shutdown, North Korea also makes the decision to preemptively dismantle some of its nuclear warheads and ICBMs that poses a substantive threat to the US, that could produce a historic shift in US public opinion and leave the Trump administration with more room to maneuver.

In return, the US should consider setting up a liaison office as President Moon Jae-in suggested during his US visit, declaring an end to the Korean War, and loosening sanctions against the North. Through the third inter-Korean summit and multilateral negotiations with South Korea at the UN General Assembly, North Korea and the US have arranged an opportunity to make rapid progress with denuclearization talks. If Pyongyang were to keep one step ahead and proactively answer with generous measures, it may be possible to achieve denuclearization and normalization of North Korea-US relations within Trump’s term in office.

We look forward to both sides reaching beyond their old negotiation methods and changing the game with some even bolder thinking that produces a great compromise.

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