Posted on 05/11/2018 10:04:52 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The United States asked North Korea to remove five nuclear weapons, that would be then flown to France for destruction, according to a South Korean press report.
The Segye Ilbo reported Friday the U.S request from visiting Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was part of a process to verify Kim Jong Un's intent.
Quoting a South Korean diplomat, the newspaper said North Korea's sincerity about dismantlement is being tested.
"It is my knowledge this position was directly conveyed to Kim by Secretary of State Pompeo," the diplomat said, adding the United States wants to shorten the time "as much as physically possible" to inspect and verify the removal of weapons.
Each month, the goal is to "take out" five existing nuclear weapons, the source said, adding there were discussions about the France-bound dismantlement between U.S. President Donald Trump and France's Emmanuel Macron.
If North Korea agrees to denuclearize following the Trump-Kim summit, and Pyongyang accedes to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, or lands a similar deal bilaterally with the United States, the United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency will be the first to investigate the country, South Korean newspaper Munhwa Ilbo reported Friday.
North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missiles would be subject to inspections.
Pyongyang previously withdrew from the treaty in 1993, but later reached an agreement with Washington, the Agreed Framework, in 1994.
Dismantlement could be time consuming.
In 1989, when South Africa ended its nuclear program all bombs were completely dismantled after three years of inspection.
Dismantlement is also costly --- a 2007 estimate from IAEA placed costs at around $4.5 million.
According to the Rand Corp., North Korea may have enough fissile material to build between 13 and 21 nuclear weapons.
The accelerated pace of developments that could lead to weapons removal does not means U.S. concessions were made, some observers say.
Kenneth Bae, the American who was detained in North Korea for two years prior to being released in 2014, said the United States would never make nuclear concessions for recent moves like the release of three U.S. hostages, the Asahi Shimbun reported Friday.
Bae said their release signals North Korea's intent to "improve relations with the United States."
Trump and Kim are to meet on June 12 in Singapore.
With Uranium One products intact?
Don’t count your chickens. We are a long way from declaring victory on this.
“Each month, the goal is to “take out” five existing nuclear weapons, the source said,...”
Just how many do they have? 5 per month over how many months?
I don’t think Kim Un realized just how backward and impovished his country and technology was until he stepped foot outside of his country and saw the contrast. He thought he had a big deal going until he was “educated” about the world, and in the knowledge that his benefactor was sliding down hill, too. The defeated look on his face shows that the wind was taken from his sails.
On the other hand, he can brag to his nation about how he subdued the west.
I think his people will see a rise in their standard of living, and Un will be hailed a hero as he poets the tale of how their steadfast dedication made the difference, and their wisdom for loyalty to such a wonderful leader. The runted tyrant shines as a national hero.
I could be wrong, it’s all sujective but made for a fine ffine fantasy in this upside down world.
Kim Jong Un went to private school in Switzerland.
China read him the riot act after he belched radioactive fallout from his collapsed nuclear test site.
That’s the way to play it. Let him believe he’s won. At the same time, liberalize the economy, introduce market forces, allow them to import products, and eventually re-unify the peninsula. Make him President Emeritus for life or something like that to assuage his ego.
Or keel over with a fatal heart attack?
The French would blow themselves up.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.