Tense times on Korean peninsula
President Donald Trump has matched North Korean threats with his own brand of aggressive rhetoric promising Pyongyang a "fire and fury" response. Not since the Cuban missile crisis has the world come this close to the prospect of a serious conflagration and today the world sits back in dismay as the two sides blatantly talk about war. The latest round of UN-imposed sanctions imposed upon Pyongyang is bound to hurt the North Korean economy to the tune of USD 3 billion in lost export earnings. The latest outburst from Washington has now been matched by a threat from North Korea to launch a pre-emptive strike against the United States with statements like "turn the US mainland into the theatre of a nuclear war."
We need neither nuclear threats nor a nuclear war. Yes, past negotiations under the Obama administration have failed to yield results. North Korea refused to dismantle its nuclear programme. But now, with its principal ally China backing tougher sanctions, there is possibility of serious Chinese involvement working with the US towards achieving long term peace on the Korean peninsula.
Threats do not work with Pyongyang and Washington knows it. It is time to step back from this continuous brinkmanship that could easily be misinterpreted by either of the two sides and begin a conflict that will end in horrendous loss of life. What would work are direct talks with the regime in the north and to that end the US administration should be giving its attention. It is inconceivable that Pyongyang will give up its deterrent without some sort of assurance of regime integrity. Such an outcome can only be possible when all parties come to the negotiating table and agree to de-escalate a very dangerous situation. The time has come to restart 6-Party talks.
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