Ankit Panda: “Even if North Korea–U.S. negotiations are risky, they are worth pursuing”

Ankit Panda, senior researcher at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a U.S. think tank, said expectations should be lowered regarding U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to resume North KoreaU.S. talks. While he said North Korea is unlikely to easily move toward denuclearization or nuclear arms reduction, he assessed that the attempt itself to change the framework of relations through dialogue is meaningful. In an interview with the Kyunghyang Shinmun on the 1st (local time), Panda explained that even if a summit takes place, it is more likely to be a starting point for rebuilding political relations than for an immediate substantive agreement. He said North Korea could have room in the future to broaden relations with Russia, China, and the United States, and that discussions on easing sanctions could also become possible. He noted, however, that President Trump should not make concessions first by undermining alliances or reducing military exercises. Instead, he said, the United States should send a credible message that it is willing to build a fundamentally different relationship with North Korea. As for the South Korean government, he advised preparing for various scenarios in case a North KoreaU.S. summit is held.