Decoding N. Korea's latest moves

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Hello and welcome. You’ve tuned in to Arirang’s Within the Frame. I’m Han Da-eun in Seoul.
North Korea is continuing to build up its belligerence and hostility toward South Korea and the U.S.
After resuming its missile provocations, leader Kim Jong-un declared an early completion of the state’s five-year plan to develop strategic weapons.
That’s as South Korea welcomed top U.S. diplomat Antony Blinken and high-level officials from some 30 countries hosting the "Summit for Democracy."
For an in-depth analysis of North Korea’s latest moves, we now invite Go Myong-hyun, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy to the studio.
We also have Mark Barry, Associate Editor Emeritus at the International Journal on World Peace joining us from New York.

(GO) Q1. Kim Jong-un has declared that North Korea’s five-year plan to develop strategic weapons is now complete. What kind of weapons are we talking here, and how concerned are you about this?

(BARRY) Q2. Kim Jong-un, meanwhile, was quick to congratulate Russian President Vladimir Putin on his reelection. Kim wrote that he will “firmly join hands with Putin to meet the demands of the times and to provide a new turning point for the Russia-DPRK friendship.” How do you anticipate the trajectory of the two countries’ relations unfolding from this point on?

(BARRY) Q3. North Korea has been placed under stifling sanctions for years, but the latest reports suggest that the pressure on the North is weakening. We saw Kim receive a luxury car from Putin in blunt violation of sanctions, we’re also seeing the sanctions-busting sending of North Korean workers overseas not to mention its trade with China and its long list of illicit cyber activities. How do you assess the current state of sanctions on the North?

(GO) Q4. The possibility of Kim Jong-un’s daughter Ju-ae being the possible heir apparent is brewing once again, after the KCNA called her, along with her father, the “great persons of guidance" . South Korea's unification ministry said there is a possibility that Ju-ae could become his successor. Explain to us the term "Hyang-do," and how significant is the new labeling of Ju-ae?

(BARRY) Q5. Meanwhile, calls appear to be growing for the U.S. to find a new North Korea strategy with many experts acknowledging the fact that the North is unlikely to give up its nuclear program, already having reached the stage where it can be considered a de facto nuclear state. Experts suggest Washington should seek a breakthrough by using Pyongyang’s economic woes as leverage. Your thoughts?

(GO) Q6. Analysis is pouring in about what will happen if the world recognizes North Korea as a nuclear state after President Putin said the North has its own nuclear umbrella. You’ve previously mentioned that you don’t see Putin’s remarks as an official acceptance of North Korea as a nuclear power, but IF we are headed in that direction, how should South Korea deal with the new change?

(BARRY) Q7. The rematch between Biden and Trump is now official, and some experts say Kim Jong-un will be hoping for Trump’s return so he can have another shot at direct negotiations with a U.S. leader. But you argue otherwise. Tell us a little bit about this.

(GO) Q8. North Korea is preparing to replace its ambassador to Cuba Ma Chol-su after Cuba's surprising establishment of diplomatic ties with South Korea. Ma recently paid a visit to Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel before concluding his mission. How do you see this, and what lies ahead for North Korea-Cuba relations?

And that brings us to the end of this show.
Thank you for watching, and be sure to tune in same time tomorrow to join our conversation.
Good bye for now.

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2024-03-20, 18:30 (KST)