Welcome back.
On VIEW POINT... today...
we address...
speculations...
about an imminent nuclear test... by North Korea... as... the U.S.... on this Monday...
marks Memorial Day... in honor... of all the military personnel... who lost their lives...
while serving...
their country.
For more...
I have Doctor BRUCE BENNETT... from RAND Corporation...
here... in the studio.
It's a pleasure... to have you... here...
Dr. Bennett.
And...
I also have Professor KIM Young-jun ... at the Korea National Defense University...
LIVE on the LINE.
Professor Kim... welcome... to the program.
1) Dr. Bennett...
first... then... does...
North Korea have a history... of provocations... against countries...
during the latter's national holidays?
((What do you suppose... is the reason... for
this deliberate timing?))
2) Professor Kim... what are your thoughts... on talk... about a 7th nuclear test... by
North Korea...
"within days"?
((Do you believe...
a nuclear test... is likely... in the very near future?))
3) Dr. Bennett...
China and Russia recently vetoed... a UN motion... for stronger sanctions...
against North Korea... led by the U.S.... in response... to Pyeongyang's latest missile
tests.
Do you predict... a similar impasse...
within the UN Security Council... even... in the event
of a nuclear test... by North Korea?
((And if so... what do you propose... to tackle... this lack of consensus?))
4) Professor Kim... pundits believe...
Russia's invasion of Ukraine... has confirmed to...
Kim Jong-un ... the importance...
of
nuclear weapons... in addressing external threats... and accordingly... calls... for
complete denuclearization... will fall... on deaf ears.
Do you agree?
5) Dr. Bennett... given the tragic events... unfolding... in Ukraine... it appears highly
unlikely... that North Korea will surrender...
its nuclear ambitions.
Given this scenario...
what are your thoughts... on the feasibility... of the South Korean and U.S. policy.. of denuclearization...
on the Korean peninsula?
((I mean...
some say...
such demands... in the absence of actual engagement efforts... have only provided...
North Korea...
with more time... to strengthen...
its military capabilities.))
6) Professor Kim... during the first five months of this year... alone...
North Korea has tested...
its missile capabilities...
on 17 different occasions.
How do you explain... the frequency... and also... the variety... of missile tests?
((ICBM... short-range...
intermediate-range...
tactical missiles... submarine-launched...
train-launched...
hypersonic missiles... cruise missiles.))
7) Dr. Bennett... contrary to expectations...
North Korea's latest acts of provocation did NOT take place...
DURING...
U.S. President Joe Biden's stay...
here in Asia.
Some scholars...
here... say... this "inaction" reflects...
Pyeongyang's wariness.
How do you respond?
8) Professor Kim... shortly after...
North Korea's missile tests...
last Wednesday...
South Korean and U.S. militaries...
each... launched... a land-to-land missile...
off the east coast.
Also... 30 South Korea F-15K fighter jets performed an "elephant walk" on the tarmac.
How
do you interpret...
these responses?
9) Dr. Bennett...
North Korea's state-run media has been unusually silent... about the country's latest missile
launches.
What are your thoughts...
regarding...
this silence?
10) Moving forward...
Professor Kim... what do you propose... in dealing with North Korea... to ensure... peace
and stability...
here... in this part of the world?
11) Dr. Bennett...
this year marks... the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties... between South Korea and
the U.S.
That being said...
what looks... to be the toughest challenge... to bilateral ties... as we look ahead...
to greater collaboration?
12) Professor Kim... how does North Korea's campaign against COVID-19... look... to affect...
Kim Jong-un 's power... over his people?
13) Dr. Bennett...
could North Korea's challenges...
amid COVID-19... serve as... opportunities... for
constructive engagement...
between...
the
regime...
and the international community?
All right...