[ISSUE TALK] Mediating between North Korea and U.S... Chung Eui-yong's delicate agenda
- 6 years ago
대북특사단의 북미 중재안은? - 봉영식 박사 다담
To take a look ahead to Chung Eui-yong's trip to Pyongyang we have with us Dr. Bong Young-shik, from the Yonsei Institute for North Korean Studies. It's great to have you with us again.
My pleasure.
1 - There seems to be two main agendas for Chung's visit this time. The first to set the date for the inter-Korean summit that has been promised by the two leaders. The second, to narrow the differences between North Korea and U.S. in denuclearization talks. On the first agenda, there has been a lot of speculation, but the latest one suggests that now the summit will be a three day affair that will take place from the 18th to the 20th of this month. Does that sound about right to you?
2 - The last time Chung Eui-yong went to Pyongyang he had with him a letter from President Moon. Do you think there will be another letter this time? And what would it mean if there wasn't?
3 - Chief of staff, Im Jong-seok, wrote a message on Facebook, describing the mood of Chung Eui-yong's trip as 'earnest' or 'desperate'. Does this perhaps show that the current situation is in a more tricky situation than when Chung last went to Pyongyang in March?
4 - Narrowing the differences with the U.S. is a key challenge that South Korea is taking upon itself, acting as a mediator. What do you think Chung could do on this trip to help on that front?
5 - How much do you think Chung and the Moon administration will have coordinated their message and tactics with Washington before his visit to Pyongyang?
6 - Chief of Staff Im has said he hopes Chung's visit will lead to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visiting Pyongyang after that trip was cancelled last month. Do you think that Chung's visit could have a direct effect on that?
7 - There has been very little direct response from North Korea over the cancellation of Pompeo's visit to Pyongyang, although there have been some other attacks in the state media. What do you think we can read from this?
8 - Steve Biegun, Washington's recently appointed special envoy on North Korea, is about set off on his first visit to North East Asia and he is expected to visit South Korea next week some time. The Trump administration is also said to have expanded his team, including former acting ambassador to South Korea, Marc Knapper, and the State Department's Korea desk director, Mark Lambert. It seems to be a new tactic from Washington to try and deal with the North Korea situation. What effect do you think it will have?
9 - There had been reports that Chinese President Xi Jinping would be going to North Korea for the anniversary of the regime's foundation, but reports are now emerging saying that he has decided against it, citing a busy diplomatic schedule. These are just reports, and it could go either way it seems, but would you be surprised if President Xi did not go to Pyongyang?
To take a look ahead to Chung Eui-yong's trip to Pyongyang we have with us Dr. Bong Young-shik, from the Yonsei Institute for North Korean Studies. It's great to have you with us again.
My pleasure.
1 - There seems to be two main agendas for Chung's visit this time. The first to set the date for the inter-Korean summit that has been promised by the two leaders. The second, to narrow the differences between North Korea and U.S. in denuclearization talks. On the first agenda, there has been a lot of speculation, but the latest one suggests that now the summit will be a three day affair that will take place from the 18th to the 20th of this month. Does that sound about right to you?
2 - The last time Chung Eui-yong went to Pyongyang he had with him a letter from President Moon. Do you think there will be another letter this time? And what would it mean if there wasn't?
3 - Chief of staff, Im Jong-seok, wrote a message on Facebook, describing the mood of Chung Eui-yong's trip as 'earnest' or 'desperate'. Does this perhaps show that the current situation is in a more tricky situation than when Chung last went to Pyongyang in March?
4 - Narrowing the differences with the U.S. is a key challenge that South Korea is taking upon itself, acting as a mediator. What do you think Chung could do on this trip to help on that front?
5 - How much do you think Chung and the Moon administration will have coordinated their message and tactics with Washington before his visit to Pyongyang?
6 - Chief of Staff Im has said he hopes Chung's visit will lead to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visiting Pyongyang after that trip was cancelled last month. Do you think that Chung's visit could have a direct effect on that?
7 - There has been very little direct response from North Korea over the cancellation of Pompeo's visit to Pyongyang, although there have been some other attacks in the state media. What do you think we can read from this?
8 - Steve Biegun, Washington's recently appointed special envoy on North Korea, is about set off on his first visit to North East Asia and he is expected to visit South Korea next week some time. The Trump administration is also said to have expanded his team, including former acting ambassador to South Korea, Marc Knapper, and the State Department's Korea desk director, Mark Lambert. It seems to be a new tactic from Washington to try and deal with the North Korea situation. What effect do you think it will have?
9 - There had been reports that Chinese President Xi Jinping would be going to North Korea for the anniversary of the regime's foundation, but reports are now emerging saying that he has decided against it, citing a busy diplomatic schedule. These are just reports, and it could go either way it seems, but would you be surprised if President Xi did not go to Pyongyang?