The North Korean government has once again made it plain it is not interested in negotiating away its nuclear weapons program.
Pyongyang couched its rejection of negotiations in the same old way — no talks as long as the U.S. and South Korea continue their annual war games.
But seasoned North Korea experts know this is just a ruse. Not only would it put the U.S. and South Korea at a serious tactical disadvantage as the exercises are aimed not only at honing joint operability but practicing war drills that would be employed against North Korea, leader Kim Jong-un believes he must have nuclear weapons in order to maintain his regime and keep the barbarians away from the gate, so to speak.
“In an interview with Reuters, Han Tae Song, North Korea’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, brushed off the new sanctions which the Trump administration has said it is preparing, as well as the possibility of North Korea being added to a U.S. list of states sponsoring terrorism.
“South Korea and the United States agreed on Friday to keep working for a peaceful end to the North Korean nuclear crisis, but a U.S. envoy said it was difficult to gauge the reclusive North’s intentions as there has been ‘no signal.’
“Han, asked about those bilateral talks in Seoul, replied: ‘As long as there is continuous hostile policy against my country by the U.S. and as long as there are continued war games at our doorstep, then there will not be negotiations.'” [source]
Information in this article helps satisfy Priority Intelligence Requirement 2: What is the current situation report and risk of war in each of the four flashpoints?
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