MBN Broadcast Appearance
"China Unlikely to Be Lured into Denuclearization Talks"
Cho Tae-yong, Director of the National Security Office, said on the 24th, "There may come a time before our government ends when it becomes even harder for North Korea to hold out."
On the same day, in response to a question on MBN about whether there could be new changes if the principle of pressure on North Korea is maintained, Cho said, "It is an important time to persistently push forward policies if we review our national interests and principles and decide 'this direction is right.'"
He explained, "North Korea's economy has been in negative growth for three consecutive years, and the food shortage has worsened to the point where there are starvation deaths," adding, "It is necessary to make North Korea understand that 'stabilize your regime. If you continue nuclear rampage like now, there is no way out but a dead end.'"
He also stated, "I think it is a very timely moment for South Korea, the U.S., Japan, and the international community to send a message to China to apply pressure on North Korea so that North Korea's nuclear weapons do not become uncontrollable."
Cho said, "China also does not want North Korea's nuclear weapons to become uncontrollable," and added, "The entire international community should urge China to participate in pressure on North Korea and emphasize that this is a natural responsibility as a permanent member of the UN Security Council."
Regarding the solution to the North Korean nuclear issue, Cho responded, "Kim Jong-un must judge that if they continue without denuclearization, it will become economically too difficult and cause immense suffering to the North Korean people, which could also affect the regime, for a genuine dialogue to open."
Regarding Chinese President Xi Jinping's mention of support for inter-Korean reconciliation, cooperation, and peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula during his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo the previous day, Cho explained, "China's principle has never changed."
He added, "I have a low expectation that China can actually bring North Korea to denuclearization talks," pointing out, "Since Kim Jong-un rose to the highest power position in 2011, North Korea has never once agreed to denuclearization talks." He also said, "Even if China proposes the Six-Party Talks, North Korea will not respond."
Regarding North Korea-Russia military cooperation, Cho said, "Since Russia is a military power, it is unlikely to receive advanced weapons from North Korea, so conventional weapons needed for the Ukraine war are the main focus."
He further explained, "Russia traditionally does not share nuclear technology with other countries. Providing re-entry technology, which is key to intercontinental ballistic missiles, would be a direct confrontation with the U.S., so Russia would be very cautious. Reconnaissance satellites and such seem more likely."
Regarding the international community's response to North Korea and Russia, Cho said, "Countries aligned with South Korea, the U.S., and the international community still have room to impose independent sanctions on North Korea and Russia," adding, "There may be follow-up sanctions from G7 countries, Japan, and others." He also relayed that an international affairs analyst described the situation by saying, "Seeing Russia and North Korea engage in summit diplomacy, it looks like Russia has gone as far as it can."
Cho reported that President Yoon Suk-yeol met with leaders from a total of 47 countries during his visit to New York, U.S., from the 18th to the 23rd.
Cho said, "This year alone, he has met with leaders from as many as 89 countries," adding, "Saudi Arabia started the Expo bid activities first, so we are in a position of following, but I think we have caught up considerably and will do our best until the end."
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