Getting North Korea to Negotiate | Asia Society Skip to main content

Unsupported Browser Detected.
It seems the web browser you're using doesn't support some of the features of this site. For the best experience, we recommend using a modern browser that supports the features of this website. We recommend Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge

  • Back to asiasociety.org
  • Topics
    • Prosperity
    • Security
    • Sustainability
  • Countries & Regions
    • East Asia
    • Southeast Asia
    • South Asia
    • Central Asia
    • West Asia
  • Publications
    • All Publications
    • ASPI Notes
  • Initiatives
  • Watch & Listen
    • Video
    • Podcasts
  • Events
    • AsiaX
    • Past Events
  • About
    • Mission
    • How We Work
    • Institutional Independence
    • Staff
    • Fellows and Advisors
    • Network of Experts
    • Supporters
    • News
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Schwartz Book Award
    • Join Our Email List
  • Support Us
Search
Asia Society Policy Institute
  • Topics
    • Prosperity
    • Security
    • Sustainability
  • Countries & Regions
    • East Asia
    • Southeast Asia
    • South Asia
    • Central Asia
    • West Asia
  • Publications
    • All Publications
    • ASPI Notes
  • Initiatives
  • Watch & Listen
    • Video
    • Podcasts
  • Events
    • AsiaX
    • Past Events
  • About
    • Mission
    • How We Work
    • Institutional Independence
    • Staff
    • Fellows and Advisors
    • Network of Experts
    • Supporters
    • News
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Schwartz Book Award
    • Join Our Email List
  • Support Us

Getting North Korea to Negotiate

Daniel Russel Op-ed in Nikkei Asian Review

Mike Pompeo and Ri Yong Ho

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (L) chats with North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho (R) as Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano (behind) looks on, during the 51st Association of Southeast Asian Nations Ministerial Meeting in Singapore on August 4, 2018.


Mohd Rasfan—AFP/Getty Images
October 4th, 2018 by Daniel R. Russel

Following is an excerpt of an op-ed first published in the Nikkei Asian Review.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is gearing up for another trip to Pyongyang, accompanied by his Special Envoy Steve Biegun. These are two smart and determined people who, while new to the Korea portfolio, have plenty of experience in negotiations.

It is obvious that Secretary Pompeo is highly motivated to engage in bilateral talks. He pursued North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho in Singapore, trying unsuccessfully to get a sit-down meeting when they both attended the ASEAN Ministerial meeting in August. Pompeo finally caught up to Ri in New York during the United Nations General Assembly, after issuing a public challenge to the foreign minister that seems to have convinced North Korea that rejecting the invitation might undermine its "charm offensive." Unfortunately, the meeting amounted to very little.

The good news is that Pompeo is determined to engage in dialogue with North Korea. The bad news is that instead of reciprocating, North Korea is playing hard-to-get. Nearly four months after the Singapore Summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Pyongyang has not yet entered into promised negotiations over denuclearization or even clearly identified Pompeo's counterpart.

If North Korea wanted to explore ways to obtain relaxation of sanctions, presumably it would now want the direct negotiations that Kim promised in Singapore. Pyongyang's skillful veteran diplomats are eminently capable of using negotiations to drive up their asking price and to whittle down the other side's demands.

Read the full article.

About
  • Mission & History
  • Our People
  • Become a Member
  • Career Opportunities
  • Corporate Involvement
visit us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
global network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC
resources
  • Arts
  • Asia Society Magazine
  • ChinaFile
  • Current Affairs
  • Education
  • For Kids
  • Policy
  • Video
shop
  • AsiaStore
initiatives
  • Arts & Museum Summit
  • Asia 21 Young Leaders
  • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Society Museum: The Asia Arts & Museum Network
  • Asia Society Policy Institute
  • Asian Women Empowered
  • Center for Global Education
  • Center on U.S.-China Relations
  • China Learning Initiatives
  • Coal + Ice
  • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
  • Global Cities Education Network
  • Global Talent Initiatives
  • U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit
  • U.S.-China Dialogue
  • U.S.-China Museum Summit
Connect
Email Signup For the media
Asia Society logo
©2022 Asia Society | Privacy Statement | Accessibility | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Contact

Asia Society takes no institutional position on policy issues and has no affiliation with any government.
The views expressed by Asia Society staff, fellows, experts, report authors, program speakers, board members, and other affiliates are solely their own. Learn more.

 

 

  • Visit Us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
  • Global Network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC