Kim Jong-un’s nuclear obsession could WRECK Korean peace talks, Seoul’s new leader warned
SOUTH Korea’s new president-elect has vowed to thaw relations with its belligerent Northern neighbour, but experts have warned leader Kim Jong-un’s nuclear ambitions could destroy the process.
By FRASER MOORE
Express.co.uk
Wed, May 10, 2017
Liberal Moon Jae-in, a former chief of staff who served under previous governments willing to strike a conciliatory tone with Pyongyang, said he will pursue talks with tyrant Kim and deliver the ultimate goal of Korean reunification.
But the advanced state of the North’s nuclear programme may pose an issue, with experts on the Korean peninsula saying Pyongyang must give up its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) before talks.
Kim Yong-hyun, a professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University, said: “Moon will be willing to hold dialogue with North Korea.
“I believe North Korea’s halt to refining its nuclear program would be a starting point from which Moon could implement his North Korea policy.”
North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests since 2006, with two of those occurring last year – sparking fears of an escalation of Kim’s nuclear project.
And in a New Years’ message, Kim announced the North was almost ready to launch an ICBM capable of striking the continental United States.
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