U.S. North Korea policy

Two days after the U.S. defense secretary’s visit to Seoul, the North Korean Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson published a statement to denounce Washington’s moves.

Kicking off his visit to Seoul, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to defend South Korea.

After the position lay vacant for six years, the U.S. finally has a nominee to tackle North Korean human rights issues.

The three countries discussed ways to strengthen their joint commitment in the face of North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.  

In the trilateral summit on Sunday, Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo reaffirmed their joint commitment in the face of Pyongyang’s missile threats, but no new measure to renew the stalled dialogue were announced. 

Even as Pyongyang’s missile tests reach record highs, a new survey shows that fewer Americans are worried about North Korea.

Washington might be looking for a course correction on engagement with North Korea, but don’t expect any change to sanctions policy.

The Yoon administration is trying to carry out a policy toward North Korea that has already been tried -- with no success.

Some say Pyongyang’s artillery shots were to respond to the South Korea-U.S. joint military drills, but there is another rationale.

North Korea’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the country will beef up its self-defense capabilities against the U.S. and its allies. 

A mutually assured deterrence could be an alternative diplomatic strategy toward Pyongyang.