EXCLUSIVE: There is no plan to deal with ‘chaos’ in North Korea if Kim Jong-un’s regime is toppled, former US diplomat warns
Mark Tokola said the world needs to ‘prepare for chaos’ if Kim regime topples
Retired US diplomat warned there is no viable plan in place to deal with situation
He believes China is blocking efforts, saying country will not discuss the issue
Comes after Donald Trump raised prospect of US military intervention in country and US officials warned of possible sixth nuclear test
By CHRIS PLEASANCE
DAILYMAIL.COM
21 June 2017
A former US diplomat and think-tank chief says there is no viable plan in place to deal with the end of Kim Jong-un’s regime in North Korea.
Mark Tokola, a retired member of the US senior foreign service and head of the Korean Economic Institute, warned that governments and NGOs need to ‘prepare for chaos’ in the region if Kim is toppled.
Speaking at the Symposium on Human Rights in North Korea, he told Mail Online: ‘My great fear is being called in front of some panel five years from now and have them say: “What were you thinking? Why weren’t you ready for this? What was your plan?”‘
Mr Tokola added: ‘If the North Korean regime collapses, it could happen quickly. No country is going to be able to deal with the situation on their own.
‘It will be a tough challenge and will require coordination and cooperation.
‘All of us, government and non-government, may need to be held accountable after the collapse for not having had a workable plan to deal with the problem.’
The key barrier to drawing up a plan, Mr Tokola believes, is China – with Xi Jinping’s regime refusing to discuss the idea that Kim’s regime will come to an end.
Without cooperation from Beijing, which is North Korea’s closest ally and trading partner, it has been almost impossible for other regional players to draw up plans which could be used, he said.
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