Now we're joined by Professor Kim Hyun-wook from the Korea National Diplomatic Academy
to look at the implications of this a bit further.
Professor, thank you for coming in today.
My pleasure.
1 - The U.S. detainees are now back on American soil.
This seems like a significant gesture by Pyongyang, saying that they are serious about their intentions.
Would you agree?
1a.
- Of course it's not the first time North Korea has released American detainees.
But the previous detainee who was released, the student Otto Warmbier, was released in
a comatose state and died shortly after.
Should we view this occasion as particularly meaningful or is it another example of North
Korea using U.S. detainees as a bargaining chip
2 - Mike Pompeo previously said North Korea is ready to make a 'denuclearization road
map'.
We can assume that's what he discussed further on his trip to Pyongyang as well.
North Korean media has also confirmed that a summit with the U.S. is on the way.
How close do you think the two sides are to an agreement?
3 - The U.S. has recently upped its pressure on North Korean denuclearization.
They're now calling for permanent denuclearization, or PVID, an upgrade (if you will) from the
complete denuclearization of CVID.
What do you think of this change?
Is Washington just testing how far they can push Pyongyang?
4 - The nuclear inspection process is expected to be the biggest there has ever been.
The international community will also of course be keeping a close eye on how the dismantling
of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site goes.
What do you think are the key things to look out for?
5 - Trump continues to tease us about when and where the North Korea-U.S. summit will
take place.
But he did seem to rule out Panmunjom now, and reports today suggest the location has
been set for Singapore.
What do you make of those reports.
6 - President Moon Jae-in and Donald Trump spoke on the phone yesterday.
What do you think they talked about?
7 - Today is also the first anniversary of Moon Jae-in's presidency.
He has approval ratings over 80-percent at the moment, the highest ever among Korean
presidents at this stage in their terms.
Why do you think that is?
Do you think it could be skewed by the inter-Korean summit?
8 - Moon's highest approval ratings have been on the diplomacy front.
As an expert in international relations yourself, how do you rate his diplomacy skills?
It felt like he spent most of his first year reversing moves made by the previous administration?
9 - The hotline between Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un has been installed, but is yet to
be used.
When do you think they will make use of it, and what will
it be about?
10 - Along with the release of U.S. citizens, naturally people here will be thinking about
the 6 South Korean citizens that are still in captivity.
The Blue House said they are working on it, but politically it is quite a different situation
from the U.S. wouldn't you say?
This release could be more difficult.
11 - Yesterday the leaders of South Korea, Japan and China held a
trilateral summit for the first time in 2 and half years.
They pledged to
cooperate on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, but they do have differing opinions
on how to deal with North Korea.
Do you think they will be able to work together?
Well for today at least, we can celebrate the return of the three Americans.
Thank you for
time Professor and hope to have you
with
us
again soon.