DPRK, US move closer to second meeting

Both countries say logistics are being worked out for possible Hanoi summit

Pyongyang demanded reciprocal sincerity from the United States, as the leaders of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United States prepare for a possible second summit.

Munhwa Ilbo, a newspaper in the Republic of Korea, reported on Monday that US State Department officials have met multiple times with DPRK officials in Vietnam's capital Hanoi, fueling speculation that Vietnam could host the anticipated second summit between DPRK top leader Kim Jong-un and his US counterpart President Donald Trump.

It reported that the US and the DPRK officials are discussing the schedule and logistics issues for the possible summit in the city, citing unnamed diplomatic sources in Seoul and Washington. Vietnam has diplomatic ties with both countries, and the DPRK has a diplomatic office in Hanoi.

Yonhap News Agency said the spokesperson for the US embassy in Seoul did not immediately respond to this information.

Earlier on Sunday, Trump told reporters that Washington and Pyongyang are currently "negotiating a location" for a second summit.

"It will be announced probably in the not too distant future," Trump said, "They do want to meet and we want to meet and we'll see what happens", he added.

Saying the two sides had "a very good dialogue", Trump said, however, sanctions against Pyongyang would still be enforced until "more progress is made".

Strict sanctions imposed by the US on the DPRK have sparkled criticisms from Pyongyang many times.

Arirang Meari, a news website based in the DPRK, released an editorial on Monday, according to Yonhap News Agency, saying, "our republic has granted an excessive amount of goodwill and generosity to the US, and now is the time for the US to act with corresponding measures for the republic's sincere efforts".

"For countries with a hostile past, it is an essential process to seek reciprocal principles to build new relations ... But the US has acted in a rude way without knowing such basic principles of the world," it read.

The editorial blamed the US for little progress in their denuclearization talks, calling for the implementation of the Kim-Trump summit in Singapore.

It also warned of "consequences" if Washington sticks to sanctions and pressures and tests Pyongyang's patience.

Li Jiacheng, a research fellow at the Liaoning University, said Pyongyang has shown constantly dissatisfaction with Washington's sanctions and pressure. He pointed out in Kim's 2019 new year speech, the leader has indicated Pyongyang may choose to explore a "new path" if US sanctions and pressure against the country continued.

"Although Kim did not offer an explanation of what this 'new path' might be, this will be a dangerous signal that the efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula may go to waste if the US sanctions infuriate the DPRK at a certain time", Li said.

In his speech, Kim said "I am always ready to sit together with the US president anytime in the future, and will work hard to produce results welcomed by the international community without fail".

Li said now the key problem is to what extent the two sides can reach a compromise in their expected second summit.

"For the future summit, the DPRK may promise to carry out denuclearization measures, allow US experts to inspect the demolished Punggyeri nuclear test site, destroy Dongchang-ni site and even demolish the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center.

"In return, Washington may open up cultural exchanges with Pyongyang, restart humanitarian aid, establish liaison offices, grant exemptions of sanctions, stop joint military drills with Seoul and the use of strategic weapons in the ROK", he said.

"It is still positive that both leaders demonstrated their sincerity and goodwill for dialogues, although they will face numerous twists and obstacles in the days to come."

panmengqi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 01/08/2019 page11)