"Don't Underestimate" Tweet
Kim's Letter Disclosure Seems Conscious
Expert Says "Possible Impact on Denuclearization Talks"
[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] On the 10th (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump suddenly posted on Twitter that North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un is healthy and should not be underestimated, drawing attention to the background. This is interpreted as an action to manage the situation after the media reported on a new book by journalist Bob Woodward containing the contents of a letter Kim sent to Trump the day before. North Korea experts in the U.S. expressed concerns that the disclosure of Kim’s letter could negatively affect future North Korea-U.S. negotiations.
On the morning of the same day, President Trump briefly posted on his Twitter that there are no problems with Kim Jong-un’s health. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in an interview with Fox News that day, said, “I have seen reports and information about (Kim Jong-un’s health), but I cannot comment on it,” but President Trump specifically stated that there are no issues with Kim’s well-being.
This is interpreted to be related to the mention of Kim Jong-un in Woodward’s new book, Rage. According to CNN, President Trump warned Woodward in January, “Don’t mock Kim Jong-un. I don’t want to enter a nuclear war ruined by your mockery.”
However, Woodward secured Kim Jong-un’s letters and included them in his book, and the full texts of two letters have been disclosed. This could be a considerably difficult situation for North Korea.
Secretary Pompeo also avoided commenting on North Korea-related matters revealed in Woodward’s book but said, “North Korea is facing many challenges. We hope to help with their challenges through humanitarian aid. Then we hope to persuade them toward denuclearization.”
Regarding the disclosure of letters exchanged between the leaders, North Korea experts in the U.S. have expressed concerns that it could impact future North Korea denuclearization negotiations.
Mark Berry, Deputy Editor of the World Peace International Journal, told Voice of America (VOA) in an interview, “Internally in North Korea, the contents of the letters may appear as if Kim Jong-un is pleading to President Trump.” This means Kim’s room for maneuver in negotiations with the U.S. could narrow. Catherine Botto, an East Asia security expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP), said, “North Korea might cite the disclosure of Kim’s letters as a reason to refuse North Korea-U.S. talks.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
