Mohammad Zainal Abedin, NY
Speakers at a discussion meeting urge the Trump administration to use the proposed meeting with North Korean leader to open a window of dialogue and cooperation.
New York-based Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) sponsored the discussion titled ‘North Korea and the Art of the Deal: Lessons in Hands on Diplomacy’ held at ASPI building on March 22. The discussion was graced by the presence of Ambassadors Robert Gallucci and Christopher Hill who explaining the background of North Korea (NK)’s journey to nuclearization, suggested to the Trump administration to open and continue dialogue to avert confrontation.
Moderated by Daniel Russel a Senior Fellow of ASPI, the discussion attracted huge spectators that indicated the importance Americans attach to the importance of the proposed dialogue between President Donald Trump and his North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un.
The two opposing leaders, after trading series of threats and counters threats, probably will sit face to face in Sweden in May next.
The two discussants at the meeting, however, expressed different opinions on certain issues, but were identical on intricate ones.
They opined that NK shouldn’t be measured on the scale of 1993-94. Moreover, it proved its desperateness ignoring economic sanctions by the US and its allies, even by UN.
They feel NK will neither abandon its nuclear program or agree on regime change. Such proposals or precondition will simply jeopardize the prospect of peace seen at the end of tunnel centering the forthcoming meet.
They suggested America should offer economic concession and cooperation, cultural exchange, diplomatic normalisation and even stand for human rights.
According to them America should germinate trust in the psyche of NK supremo through congenial dealings to deter confrontation and continue the dialogue that may lead to cooperation to create a peaceful Korean peninsula.
They are not optimistic of immediate and fruitful results.
They opined America lacks of enough preparation to face the toughest man of the present time. Still they desire to get a positive outcome that may pave the way for a window to continue the dialogue.
They cautioned American, at least initially, shouldn’t raise the issue of de-nuclearization or regime change. The proposed meeting should be used to continue comprehensive negotiation to establish American leadership.
