미 NSC 당국자 “한반도 비핵화 향한 ‘중간 조치’ 고려할 수 있어” > 정치

A White House official said the U.S. may consider "interim measures" in its path to "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." The official also expressed concern that North Korea could become a major source of weapons for other military regimes as the arms trade between North Korea and Russia continues. Reporter Kim Hwan-yong reports from Seoul.

Mira Rapp Hooper, senior adviser to the National Security Council for Asia and Oceania, said there could be "interim measures" in the process, although the existing policy goal of complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula remains unchanged.

Senior Advisor Rap Hooper made the remarks in a special meeting with Victor Cha, the chair of CSIS Korea, at a forum co-hosted by the Korea JoongAng Ilbo and the U.S. Institute for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Seoul on the 4th.

[Recording: Senior Advisor to Rap Hooper] "그러나 우리는 이러한 조치들이 지역과 세계를 더 안전하게 만들 것이라는 전제 하에 비핵화로 가는 그 길에 대한 중간 단계들도 고려할 것입니다."

"The U.S. goal is still the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," senior adviser Rap Hooper said. "But we will consider interim measures if the region and the world can become safer in the process of going to this denuclearization."

The Joe Biden administration has continued to call for "unconditional dialogue" with North Korea, but North Korea has refused to do so, and senior adviser Rapp Hooper's remarks are interpreted as sending a more specific message to bring North Korea to the negotiating table.

Although senior adviser Rapp Hooper did not mention the details of the "interim measures," in light of precedent, we can think of ways to provide a price equivalent to North Korea's nuclear freeze or reduction.

Some in the U.S. say that North Korea's complete denuclearization goal is unlikely to be realized and that it should negotiate with North Korea with the goal of reducing nuclear weapons.

"We are ready and want to discuss 'reducing the threat' with North Korea, especially in light of the current situation on the Korean Peninsula," senior adviser Rap Hooper said. "We need to pursue a wider and more regular communication with North Korea to reduce the risk of escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula leading to misjudgment, and activities for stabilization are also needed."

However, senior adviser Rap Hooper said, "If North Korea responds to the dialogue, of course, it will be very difficult in the early stages," adding, "It will take a considerable amount of time to make progress."

Senior adviser Rapp Hooper also expressed concern about close military ties between North Korea and Russia.

"North Korea is supporting the illegal war in Ukraine by supplying significant amounts of munitions and ammunition to Russia and generating an estimated millions of dollars in revenue through sales of ballistic missiles and other items," he said.

"North Korea is demanding direct military support from Russia in return," he said. "We believe this includes production equipment for fighter jets, surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles, ballistic missiles, related raw materials, and high-tech support."

"As Russia uses North Korean ballistic missiles on the battlefield, North Korea can gain insight into related technologies," senior adviser Rap Hooper said. "North Korea is at risk of becoming a source of weapons such as ammunition and missiles to other military regimes around the world."

Matt Pottinger, who served as deputy White House NSC adviser during the Donald Trump administration, refuted some concerns that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who has raised the level of threats against the South, is preparing for war.

Former deputy adviser Pottinger said that Kim's defining South Korea as a "main enemy" and increasing the intensity of military provocations is intended to raise the stage for future negotiations rather than a sign of war preparation.

[Recording: Former Deputy Assistant Pottinger] "김 감독이 다음 목표를 추구하기 위해 제조업의 낡은 플레이북을 털고 있을 가능성이 훨씬 높다고 생각합니다."

Fortinger said North Korea is using the past method of encouraging a crisis to curb the U.S. and South Korea while supplying large-scale weapons and ammunition to Russia, adding that it is also a preparation process with the U.S. in mind for renegotiations after the November U.S. presidential election.

South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said in a luncheon speech at the forum that North Korea could launch an armed provocation in the wake of the U.S.-Korea joint exercise "Freedom Shield" (FS) in the first half of this year, which began on the 4th.

[Recording: Minister Shin Won-sik] "North Korea is likely to create a favorable strategic environment and attempt various provocations in line with joint drills and the schedule of the South Korea-U.S. elections."

Minister Shin also said, "Today's international security situation is very severe, the Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine wars are prolonged, and the new Cold War between liberal and totalitarian camps is intensifying," adding, "The military cooperation between Russia and North Korea is strengthening."

In his opening remarks, Hong Seok-hyun, chairman of Joongang Holdings, called for North Korea to use it as an opportunity to reflect, referring to the recent diplomatic ties between the North's socialist brother Cuba and South Korea.

[Recording: Chairman Hong Seok-hyun] "No matter how armed North Korea is with nuclear weapons and missiles, its people cannot live well. The future of the hereditary dictatorship is also not guaranteed. North Korea will have to reflect on why Cuba made this choice."

Chairman Hong also criticized North Korea's overconfidence in the international situation, which has been advantageous due to the war in Ukraine, to be close to China and Russia and to threaten neighboring countries as a "dangerous gamble."

Chairman Hong said, "Kim Jong-un, who has nuclear weapons, will seek a loophole in which the U.S. cannot afford to handle two wars and a presidential election."

However, Hong said, "If China, which North Korea depends on excessively, reduces or stops aid, it will be a disaster for North Korea," adding, "Russia's aid to North Korea could also be stopped when the situation in Ukraine subsides."

I'm Kim Hwan-yong from VOA News in Seoul.

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