What `Christmas gift` will North Korea send to the US?

(Dan Tri) – As US-North Korea relations escalate again, Pyongyang warns that no matter how Washington behaves, it will receive a `Christmas gift` and sets a deadline at the end of this year for Washington to make concessions.

Although US President Donald Trump and North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un have had three summits, the two sides have not achieved significant progress on nuclear disarmament negotiations.

US President Donald Trump and North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un have had three summits in the hope of reaching an agreement under which Pyongyang will stop its controversial nuclear and weapons program to be dismantled.

Observers say that North Korea is not satisfied with what they consider to be the lack of flexibility and creativity of US negotiators.

Satellite launch

Most experts believe that North Korea’s next step is likely to be to use rockets to launch satellites into orbit.

North Korean state media said on December 14 that the country had successfully conducted `another important test` at the Sohae satellite launch site.

While Pyongyang insists its space program is for peaceful and scientific purposes, the international community accuses Pyongyang of satellite launches of using technology to launch nuclear ballistic missiles.

Over the past week or so, North Korea announced that it had successfully conducted two important tests at the Sohae satellite launch site.

The nature of North Korea’s two recent tests is unclear, but according to experts, each satellite put into orbit can provide important information about North Korea’s ballistic missile program.

Evans Revere, a former North Korea expert at the US State Department, said that although currently North Korea has not shown the ability to carry large payloads back into the Earth’s atmosphere, an important requirement for the nuclear program.

“The ominous message conveyed to the US is that North Korea actually has the ability to attack the US with nuclear weapons,” Mr. Evans commented. Adam Mount, senior expert at the Association of American Scientists, said

`This year, North Korea has continuously increased the pressure on the US to make concessions in negotiations. The Trump administration seemed to sleep through that process and only woke up in recent weeks and they are facing a crisis.

Nuclear or intercontinental missile testing

North Korea announced the successful test launch of its first ICBM in July 2017.

An intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or nuclear test by North Korea would be considered more `provocative` than a satellite test and would certainly force the Trump administration to pay attention.

Ami Bera, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in charge of Asian affairs in the US House of Representatives, emphasized: `If North Korea wants sanctions relief, they should not conduct more tests or take further actions.`

Expert Evans Revere said that the US and South Korea can respond to North Korea’s `provocative` tests with military exercises and the deployment of US soldiers on and around the Korean peninsula.

North Korea has not conducted a nuclear test or launched an ICBM since the end of 2017. Last year, North Korea also blew up tunnels used for nuclear testing at the Punggye-ri facility, but no one is certain.

“Whatever the North Koreans think, we should remember that their capabilities are beyond our assessment, they can do whatever it takes to strengthen their nuclear deterrent no matter what the cost.

Minh Phuong Summary