John Bolton, the former National Security Advisor during the Trump administration, recently criticized the concept of an intermediate stage in North Korea’s denuclearization proposed by high-ranking White House officials. He argued that the “action for action” and “intermediate stage” approaches only give Kim Jong Un more time.
In an interview with Voice of America (VOA) on the 12th, former Advisor Bolton said, “The intermediate stage of denuclearization is nothing more than returning to the so-called action-for-action approach (immediate compensation for North Korea’s phased measures), which has been tried several times over 30 years but has always failed.”
He emphasized that the action-for-action approach was taken for North Korea’s denuclearization from the Clinton administration to the Trump administration. Still, in the end, North Korea’s nuclear weapons capabilities were enhanced.
Former Advisor Bolton pointed out that “what North Korea wants most is freedom from economic constraints, and they will promise a lot to get this, but they do not keep their promises.”
He compared economic incentives such as easing sanctions against North Korea and providing economic support to a front-end load that is paid first and the results of denuclearization to a back-end load that is paid at the end, saying, “It’s not surprising that North Korea’s economic benefits are expanded but denuclearization is not achieved.”
He argued that North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons is not for defensive purposes, saying, “By possessing nuclear weapons, they can threaten to use nuclear weapons against South Korea, Japan, and U.S. forces in Guam and demand the withdrawal of U.S. forces.”
He then acknowledged the strong cooperation between U.S. President Joe Biden, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, saying, “Such activities can provide a real deterrent against North Korea and China.”
Former Advisor Bolton predicted that if former President Trump returns to power, he may choose an approach for North Korea similar to the intermediate stage and emphasized that South Korea should prepare for this by building intimate rapport with him.
He suggested, “Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was very concerned about the issue of Japanese abductions during the first Trump administration, so he maintained a very close relationship with Trump. South Korea should take a similar approach.”
kukoo@news1.kr