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North Korea
This Week in AsiaOpinion
Andrew Injoo Park
Elliot Silverberg
Andrew Injoo ParkandElliot Silverberg

Opinion | With China distracted, now is the time for Donald Trump to act on North Korea

  • The US president needs regional support if he is to revisit the playbook on ‘maximum pressure’ against Pyongyang
  • A gloomy economic outlook means Beijing may be a more pliable negotiating partner than usual

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US President Donald Trump meets Kim Jong-un in the demilitarised zone between the two Koreas. Photo: AFP
Andrew Injoo ParkandElliot Silverberg
Amid souring US-North Korea talks, Washington and Seoul are struggling to patch a growing rift over South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s plans to soften Pyongyang through benign means “not banned under international sanctions”.
Frustrated with the current impasse between the two Koreas, Moon used his 2020 New Year’s address to suggest reopening the Kaesong industrial complex – a symbol of inter-Korean unity – as well as South Korean tours to Mount Kumgang in the North. Seoul’s Ministry of Unification also made official a plan to facilitate “individual tourism”, which would allow South Koreans with individual visas to visit North Korea.

In response, US ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris warned that Moon’s actions could constitute a violation of sanctions, cautioning that “things should be done in consultation with the US”.

The Blue House did not take kindly to Harris’ remarks, calling them “very inappropriate”. The unification ministry asserted a claim of “sovereignty” over inter-Korean policy, while the ruling Minjoo Party accused Harris of interfering in domestic affairs.

Harry Harris, the US ambassador to South Korea. Photo: AP
Harry Harris, the US ambassador to South Korea. Photo: AP

Aspersions have been cast on Harris’ character, ability and even appearance – he has been called “haughty”, his diplomatic skills “immature”, while his moustache has become a favoured target of netizens who claim it evokes those worn by Japan’s despised governor-generals during Korea’s annexation (Harris is Japanese by descent).

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