The regime of North Korea is not happy at the latest round of sanctions imposed by the US on some senior members because of human rights abuse. Pyongyang looks at this as a sort of provocation and an attempt to derail the process. Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump met for the first time in June in Singapore and decided North Korea will go in for denuclearization. However, six months down the line, the extent of implementation is not clear.
The Guardian reports a statement in the official KCNA news agency. It praises Donald Trump for his desire to have better relations with Pyongyang, but the US decision to impose sanctions on some of its officials could be an impediment to the success of bringing peace to the Korean peninsula. Kim’s regime feels such actions are not conducive to confidence-building.
Denuclearization is a tricky subject
North Korea blames the US for pressurizing Kim’s regime to abandon its nuclear program by imposing sanctions. Pyongyang cautions that such actions could lead to difficulties on the road to denuclearization on the Korean peninsula.
During the June summit in Singapore with US President Donald Trump, the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had agreed on this but there is not much progress on that front.
There were plans for working-level talks between the two sides in New York in November but it is postponed indefinitely. While Kim’s regime wanted the withdrawal of sanctions, the US assigned priority to denuclearization. However, both sides are trying to salvage the issue and a US special representative familiar with North Korea policy will be visiting Seoul to discuss the impasse with officials in South Korea.
North Korea insists on withdrawal of sanctions
According to NBC News, it is obvious that the US sanctions are hurting Pyongyang.
The latest sanctions for alleged human rights abuses imposed on December 10 affect three individuals and one of them is close to Kim Jong-un. North Korea reacted by condemning the Trump administration for putting on pressure and warned that it could lead to serious consequences. North Korea has praised Donald Trump for his "willingness" to improve relations but accused the State Department of hampering the progress.
2018 began on a positive note for peace in the Korean peninsula. It began with Kim Jong-un taking the intuitive to mend fences with the South by reactivating the hotline. The South reciprocated by inviting the North to attend the Winter Olympics. Then came the Singapore summit between Donald Trump, and Kim Jong-un and talks of denuclearization across the table. The working levels on both sides must now evolve a plan that will ensure a Korean peninsula free from fears of nuclear tension.