Trump first-term aide rebuts North Korea dialogue argument… “It could only intensify North Korea’s provocations”

Fred Fleitz, deputy director of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) and a former chief aide in U.S. President Donald Trump’s first administration, argued that dialogue with North Korea could increase provocations rather than reduce them, and pushed back against Victor Cha, the Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). In an opinion piece for a conservative outlet, Fleitz emphasized that even if President Trump wanted an agreement with Kim Jong Un, it should be one that ends the nuclear threat. He criticized Cha’s argument that the U.S. should seek a way to coexist with North Korea on the premise that denuclearizing North Korea is difficult, saying it was an attitude that repeats failed North Korea policy. He argued that a 'maximum pressure' strategy combining strong sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and military pressure would be effective. He also emphasized that the Trump administration still aims for the complete denuclearization of North Korea and has no intention of making concessions to North Korea. The article once again highlighted the gap between hawks and doves in Washington’s debate over North Korea policy.