Last updated on August 29th, 2024 at 07:35 am
SEOUL: North Korea is getting ready to reopen nuclear talks with the US if Donald Trump were to be re-elected as president, a senior North Korean diplomat who recently defected to South Korea claimed. Ri’s escape from Cuba made headlines around the world last month, marking him as the highest-ranking North Korean diplomat to defect since 2016.
Speaking with Reuters in an interview, Ri said the North Korea foreign policy priorities in the next few years would be to strengthen relations with Russia, the U.S. and Japan.
Diplomatic Strategy of North Korea
Ri said North Korean envoys are working out a plan for the potential talks with Trump and that it would press for sanctions against its weapons programs to be lifted, its designation as a state sponsor of terrorism lifted, and for economic aid. This is in stark contrast with recent positions taken by Pyongyang, which at one time rejected the possibility of dialogue with the U.S. and even warned of armed conflict.
Previous Trump-Kim Summit
The last summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Trump in Vietnam in 2019 ended without an agreement, primarily over sanctions. Ri blamed this failure on Kim’s reliance on “inexperienced” military commanders for nuclear diplomacy, saying in any future negotiations the foreign ministry would play a more significant role.
Strengthening Ties with Russia
By cozying up with Russia, North Korea has won backing for its missile technology and economy, Ri said. He added that illegal deals by Russia have helped partly skirt sanctions against North Korea, strengthening its bargaining power against the U.S.
Japan Summit?
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has expressed interest in a meeting with Kim, despite the long-standing irritant of Japanese nationals kidnapped by North Korea. Ri said Kim may be ready to bargain economic aid from Japan in return for compromise on the abductee question.
Personal Resentment and Defection
A former diplomat and media professional, Ri recounted personal episodes that finally led him to defect. The bullying by a colleague, Pyongyang’s refusal to permit treatment abroad for a ruptured disc, catalyzed his decision to defect. The COVID-19 lockdown worsened the hardships; for the first time, financial problems had forced North Korea to shutter several diplomatic missions.
Witness to Changes in Diplomacy
He recalled that he was in charge of efforts to try to block the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Cuba, one of North Korea’s Cold War-era allies. After trying to block it, he said this normalization was a big accomplishment for South Korea, reflective of broader geopolitical changes.
Ri’s comments, therefore, provide a rare insight into North Korea’s growing diplomatic moves and internal struggles. With its next steps in balancing its relations with major global powers, what happens in Pyongyang will be pregnant with implications for regional stability and international relations.
