Tillerson tells Kim Jong-un the U.S. doesn’t want regime change

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Tillerson tells Kim Jong-un the U.S. doesn’t want regime change

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Rex Tillerson

WASHINGTON – The United States hinted at a possibility of guaranteeing the security of the North Korean regime in return for denuclearization, a change from Washington’s previous stance that all options remained on the table including a military option.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Wednesday that North Korea and its nuclear programs are the top priority of Washington’s foreign policy. In remarks to employees of the State Department, he said Washington has put intense pressure on the North not because it wants to end the Kim Jong-un regime, but to end his nuclear programs.

“We are preparing additional sanctions, if it turns out North Korea’s actions warrant additional sanctions. We’re hopeful that the regime in North Korea will think about this and come to a conclusion that there’s another way to the future,” Tillerson said. “We know they have – they’re – they aspire to nuclear weapons because it’s the regime’s belief it’s the only way they can secure their future.

“We are clear – we’ve been clear to them this is not about regime change, this is not about regime collapse, this is not about an accelerated reunification of the peninsula, this is not about us looking for an excuse to come north of the 38th Parallel,” he said. “So we’re trying to be very, very clear and resolute in our message to them that your future security and economic prosperity can only be achieved through your following your commitments to denuclearize.”

Until recently, many officials of the Donald Trump administration stressed that all options were on the table, seen as a reminder that the United States was considering military measures. The latest such remark was made by the commander of the Special Operations Command before Congress on Tuesday.

In testimony to a House subcommittee, General Raymond Thomas said U.S. special operations forces are set to conduct operations against the North’s nuclear and missile facilities, the U.S. media reported.

Tillerson’s remarks on Wednesday, however, were more specific about what Washington is willing to offer if Pyongyang gives up its nuclear programs.

“The remark was a de facto notice that the United States will not push forward a reunification in which the South will absorb the North,” said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies. “The precondition is that the North gives up its nuclear programs.”

Tillerson’s remarks also made clear the central elements of the Trump administration’s North Korea policy, summarized as “maximum pressure and engagement.” While maximum pressure means the inherent threat of military strikes, maximum engagement could mean bilateral talks between the United States and North Korea to guarantee the security of the Kim regime.

“The Trump administration’s North Korea policy means a larger stick and a larger carrot compared to his predecessors,” said Kim Hyun-wook, professor of the Korean National Diplomatic Academy.

To have direct talks with the Kim regime, human rights will be another factor. Last year, the Obama administration imposed sanctions on Kim personally, by blacklisting him for human rights abuses. Tillerson hinted at a possible change on Wednesday, sending a signal that Washington will reduce its emphasis on human rights in its foreign policy.

“In some circumstances, if you condition our national security efforts on someone adopting our values, we probably can’t achieve our national security goals or our national security interests,” Tillerson said. “If we condition too heavily that others must adopt this value that we’ve come to over a long history of our own, it really creates obstacles to our ability to advance our national security interests, our economic interests.”

Tillerson still said the Trump administration won’t talk to the Kim regime for the sake of talking. “We are ready and prepared to engage in talks when conditions are right. But as you’ve heard me say, we are not going to negotiate our way to the negotiating table,” he said. “That is what Pyongyang has done for the last 20 years, is cause us to have to negotiate to get them to sit down. We’ll sit down when they’re ready to sit down under the right terms.”

After showing a glimpse of what “maximum engagement” would be, Tillerson also made clear that the North will face more pressure and sanctions if it refuses to give up the nuclear programs. He also pressured China by saying secondary boycotts will be enforced.

BY CHAE BYUNG-GUN, SER MYO-JA [ser.myoja@joongang.co.kr]
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