South Korean president's dilemma meets Trump's uncertainty

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By CGTN's Shen Shiwei

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Thursday that Seoul would negotiate with Pyongyang unconditionally if it ceased nuclear and missile tests. The situation on the peninsula is sure to be one of the key topics on the agenda when Moon visits US President Donald Trump in Washington later this month.

Teng Jianqun, director for the Center of Arms Control of the China Institute of International Studies, predicted that Moon will not withdraw the THAAD anti-missile system, but will instead seek more cooperation with the US.

Teng told CGTN's Dialogue that facing continuing THAAD deployment, China should prepare counter measures like deploying its own anti-missiles systems.

Rick Dunham, a visiting scholar of Tsinghua University, said Moon has to get on the same page with China and the US on the DPRK. Trump believes that he has the confidence to talk with Pyongyang directly. US-DPRK direct negotiations maybe an option to solve problems.

Facing a dilemma on the Korean Peninsula and Trump’s unclear policy on Pyongyang, Moon should deal with all parties concerned carefully, advised Dunham.