US must cooperate with DPRK to restore peace

Talks between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United States have not progressed as expected after the historic summit between US President Donald Trump and DPRK leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore on June 12. Relations between the two sides took a different turn recently with Pyongyang accusing Washington of "double-dealing" after Trump abruptly called off Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit to the DPRK.

The US and the DPRK both insist the other side take the first step to further the process of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula - Washington expects Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear program while Pyongyang wants Washington to provide foolproof security guarantee.

Contrary to the US demand that it completely abandon its nuclear program, the DPRK appears ready to give up its nuclear weapons but preserve its nuclear capability, because that is the DPRK's only bargaining chip against the US. But Washington is determined to maintain extreme pressure on Pyongyang to force it to completely abandon its nuclear program.