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White House National Security Advisor John Bolton
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Remarks come ahead of deliberations over 2nd N. Korea-US summit
White House National Security Advisor John Bolton said on Jan. 25 that the US wants a “significant sign” from Pyongyang on its “strategic decision to give up nuclear weapons.” The remarks are drawing attention for being said amid rising hopes for a second summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump following recent bilateral working-level talks in Washington and Sweden. In a recent interview with the Washington Times, Bolton said, “[I]t is when we get [North Korea’s] denuclearization that the President can begin to take the sanctions off.” His remarks came in response to question about concrete progress after Trump’s remarks about “significance progress” in denuclearization talks with the North. Noting Trump’s repeated remarks about North Korea having suspended its nuclear and missile testing, Bolton went on to say, “What we need from North Korea is a significant sign of a strategic decision to give up nuclear weapons.” The comments from Bolton suggested a subtle difference from the messages shared by Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, both of whom have spoken about “progress” in bilateral talks. It is for that reason that Bolton’s remarks about “giving up nuclear weapons” are drawing attention, coming after 50 days of silence from the National Security Adviser on North Korea and the nuclear issue. Considered a leading North Korea hard-liner within the Trump administration, Bolton had previously insisted on North Korea’s denuclearization before any additional steps, but had refrained from speaking publicly on the issue since August of last year, soon after the first North Korea-US summit. Instead, he has used expressions such as the “abandonment of North Korea’s nuclear program.” Foreign affairs analysts said the remarks could be an expression of skepticism over the recent North Korea-US talks from a figure seen as one of the administration’s chief North Korea hard-liners. In other words, they may represent Bolton’s attempt to head off a second summit – particularly with their recent high-level and working-level talks reportedly failing to yield any significant progress in terms of content. His move apparently comes in response to speculation that the two sides could agree to the resumption of humanitarian aid, establishment of a liaison office in Pyongyang, and the partial loosening of sanctions in exchange for North Korea suspending and reporting its production of nuclear material. “There’s a strong perception in the US that a [nuclear] freeze by itself in unacceptable [even as an early-stage measure],” said one source. “You could view this pressure [on North Korea] as reflecting [the US’] need for a ‘sales point’ to sway public opinion,” the source added. The two sides’ exchanges over their as yet unbridged differences are expected to continue through the anticipated second summit date in late February. By Kim Ji-eun, staff reporter Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
