Opinion

Kim Jong-un’s strategy suggests US has a choice: change stance, or talks will go nowhere

North Korean leader has sought ‘bold decision’ from Washington by the end of the year

July’s displays of nuclear capability, following indications of support from China and Russia, suggest Kim is serious

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un watches the launch of a ballistic missile on Wednesday. Photo: AFP/KCTV

Ankit Panda is an Adjunct Senior Fellow in the Defense Posture Project at the Federation of American Scientists, a Senior Editor at The Diplomat, an online magazine on Asia-Pacific affairs, and a Contributing Editor at War on the Rocks.

Published: 4:00pm, 4 Aug 2019Updated: 4:00pm, 4 Aug 2019

Kim Jong-un’s campaign of “maximum pressure” against the United States has continued despite the pageantry of the June 30 summit between him and US President Donald Trump at the inter-Korean Military Demarcation Line.

In July alone – a little more than three weeks after that summit – Kim was photographed inspecting a new submarine and overseeing tests of a new short-range ballistic missile system – which poses a huge threat to South Korea-based missile defence systems – and a new multiple-launch rocket system.

The submarine inspection marked the first time since February 2018 that North Korea had shown the world any military hardware explicitly intended to carry and launch nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles. Slowly but surely, Kim is ramping up the volume on his continued development of nuclear capabilities.

The objective of this campaign of pressure is straightforward. After the failed Hanoi summit, which Trump and Kim left without any agreement, Kim has said he seeks a “bold decision” from Washington before the end of the year. That “bold decision” pertains to its position on sanctions relief.