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11:38, 04-Jan-2018
Improved DPRK-South Korea ties could put pressure on Washington
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By CGTN's Asia Today
“The (DPRK) needs to exchange, dialogue, and cooperate with the South,” said Yang Xiyu, a senior fellow from the China Institute of International Studies, indicating that Pyongyang has to work to save the country’s economy.
“After years of efforts on the nuclear program, they indeed have made progress, but they have also damaged the economy.”
His comments come after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Wednesday reopened a cross-border hotline with the South, which had been shut down two years ago.
After the communications link was restored, the two sides held their first contact for 20 minutes, to check the line was functioning properly.
The day before, South Korea proposed senior-level talks with the DPRK for the following week, after DPRK leader Kim Jong Un indicated he was willing to re-start dialogue.
In his New Year address, Kim also said the DPRK would consider participating in the 2018 Winter Olympics hosted by South Korea in PyeongChang.
Yang explained more about the DPRK’s so-called “Dual Track” strategy, which includes the development of its nuclear arsenal parallel to the development of the economy.
Yang Xiyu, a senior fellow from the China Institute of International Studies. /CGTN Screenshot
Yang Xiyu, a senior fellow from the China Institute of International Studies. /CGTN Screenshot
However, pushing both forward is impossible for DPRK said Yang, so it is time for Pyongyang to, “shift its strategic focus from the nuclear program to their economy.”
However, Washington has dismissed the prospect of inter-Korean talks unless Pyongyang suspends its nuclear weapons program. In a tweet, President Donald Trump warned Kim this he also had a nuclear button on his desk which was bigger than the DPRK leader’s.
“Pyongyang’s smart decision puts the US and South Korea in a very difficult position,” said Yang. “A better relationship between the two Koreas will produce huge pressures on the US, for choosing worse relations or improved relations with the DPRK.”
Asia Today is a 30-minute news and current affairs show on CGTN with a focus on issues in the Asia-Pacific region. It airs daily at 7.00 p.m. BJT (1100GMT) with no rebroadcast.
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