North Korea’s Plan on Denuclearisation

Why in news?

North Korea agreed to close its Punggye-riatomic test site and invite U.S. delegations.

What is N.Korea’s plan on denuclearisation? 

• The leaders of North Korea and South Korea had a meeting and signed a joint statement to seek a peace treaty to formally declare the Korean War over.
• According to a recent decision N.Korea would carry out the closing of the Punggye-rinuclear test site.

• The nation would soon invite experts of South Korea and the U.S. as well as journalists to disclose the process to the international community with transparency.
• Recently the administration has also expressed readiness to hold direct candid talks with USA and South Korea.
• Apart from this N.Korea has also indicated that no fresh missile or nuclear tests will take place until talks are in progress.

What are the reasons behind N.Korea’s moves?

• In 2017, Pyongyang carried out its sixth nuclear test and launched missiles capable of reaching the US mainland.

• USA was eager to play up his role in achieving a breakthrough with Pyongyang through a tough rhetoric, strengthened global sanctions and diplomatic efforts to further isolate the authoritarian regime.
• Due to this North Korea realized that the safety and security of its regime can be guaranteed only by USA and it is necessary for the nation to engage with USA.
• South Korea confirmed the common goal of realising, through complete denuclearisation, a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.
• Pyongyang has long wanted to see an end to the U.S. military presence and nuclear umbrella over the South.

What are some uncertainties in the outcomes?

• There are speculations that terminating Punggye-ritest site is useless as it has been already destroyed during earlier nuke tests, apart from this site there are two more test sites that are even bigger.
• It is also unclear whether North Korea would host U.S. experts at its Punggye-ri underground testing site before or after the summit.
• USA is pressing for the N.Korea to give up its weapons in a complete, verifiable and irreversible way.
• For which Pyongyang is demanding as yet unspecified security guarantees to discuss its arsenal.
• Even agreeing a treaty to formally close the conflict will be complicated as both Seoul and Pyongyang claim sovereignty over the whole Korean peninsula.

Source: The Hindu