By Cho Chung-un | via Korea Herald: President Park Geun-hye kicked off her official four-day visit to Washington on Tuesday to seek fresh momentum in reinforcing the alliance with the U.S., and bringing the focus back on North Korea’s nuclear ambition.
Expectations are high for the South Korean leader as her trip to Washington comes at a critical juncture in dealing with North Korea amid looming provocations from the North, such as a long-range missile launch, and subtle tensions following Seoul’s closer relations with Beijing -- Pyongyang’s biggest benefactor and traditional ally.
Expectations are high for the South Korean leader as her trip to Washington comes at a critical juncture in dealing with North Korea amid looming provocations from the North, such as a long-range missile launch, and subtle tensions following Seoul’s closer relations with Beijing -- Pyongyang’s biggest benefactor and traditional ally.
Park’s visit is also expected to serve as an opportunity to ensure that South Korea remains one of the strongest allies of the U.S., and to dispel concerns that Seoul has inclined to Beijing both politically and economically, according to observers.
But most importantly, Park is tasked with persuading her U.S. counterpart Barack Obama to engage more with North Korea to push the reclusive regime back to the negotiation table.
“Washington has been reluctant to restart a dialogue with Pyongyang,” said Handong University professor Park Won-gon, referring to North Korea’s repeated reversal of past agreements on its nuclear development.
“This is why President Park has to make utmost diplomatic efforts to convince President Obama that North Korea is crucial in his mission of denuclearization after Iran.”
But most importantly, Park is tasked with persuading her U.S. counterpart Barack Obama to engage more with North Korea to push the reclusive regime back to the negotiation table.
“Washington has been reluctant to restart a dialogue with Pyongyang,” said Handong University professor Park Won-gon, referring to North Korea’s repeated reversal of past agreements on its nuclear development.
“This is why President Park has to make utmost diplomatic efforts to convince President Obama that North Korea is crucial in his mission of denuclearization after Iran.”
