A report on the Korean Peninsula is released in Beijing on February 25, two days ahead of the scheduled summit of U.S. President Donald Trump and leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Kim Jong Un in Vietnam (WEN QING)

A report on how to seize the window of opportunity for peace on the Korean Peninsula was released on February 25, two days before the scheduled summit between the top leaders of the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The report was launched at an event organized by the Charhar Institute, a Chinese think tank, and the Cambodia-based Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, where experts shared their views on the Korean Peninsula situation.

The report says since 2018, a significant level of rapprochement has been achieved between the DPRK, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the U.S., which is “a unique window of opportunity which must be carried forward immediately as this opening could expire as early as 2019.”

To advance the peace process and make it irreversible, the report suggests that humanitarian assistance to the DPRK be decoupled from the political process. The progress in inter-Korean relations should also be decoupled from DPRK–U.S. nuclear arms negotiations.

It also suggests that the U.S. should take the next step by engaging in confidence-building measures with the DPRK to strengthen and sustain the negotiation process.

Han Fangming, Chair of the Charhar Institute, called the report objective and its suggestions pertinent. Han said China has always insisted that the DPRK continue to promote denuclearization of the peninsula and supports the DPRK improving ties with the ROK and the U.S. through dialogue. For the second summit in Vietnam, Han said a rational and prudent attitude should see results.

Yu Hongjun, former Vice Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, was also optimistic about the second meeting. “DPRK leader Kim Jong Un attaches importance to nuclear capability but doesn’t pursue unrestrained development of the military,” he said. With the DPRK having already developed nuclear strike capability, as per reports, Kim’s next step might be economic development and peace, Yu pointed out.

American President Donald Trump is also pursuing a peaceful resolution of the Korean Peninsula issues as this could give him a leg-up in the second presidential election.

Fan Jisheng, a researcher on American studies with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, suggested that a roadmap and timetable be worked out to resolve related technical problems step by step.

Zhao Tong, a research fellow at the Nuclear Policy Program of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace at the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center, echoed Fan, saying in the short term, reducing the missile and nuclear capabilities of the DPRK and mitigating the risks of nuclear arms proliferation should be prioritized.

Since a total transformation of U.S.-DPRK ties might take decades or even longer, the DPRK might have a strong incentive to retain its nuclear weapons to ensure its own safety, Zhao warned. Moreover, “after decades of isolation, the DPRK lacks a balanced understanding and perception of the international society.” So the long-term objective should be to help it return to international society, the researcher added.

Copyedited by Sudeshna Sarkar

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