China, US can do little to stop DRPK nuclear ambitions

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‍By CGTN's Dialogue

“There is very little that either China or the United States has to offer North Korea at this point. The chance of them abandoning or giving up their nuclear weapons program is extremely small”, said Gregory Kulacki, a senior analyst from the Union of Concerned Scientists, on CGTN’s Dialogue.

His comments come after US President Donald Trump relisted the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) as a state sponsor of terrorism, nine years after it was removed from the blacklist.

Kulacki pointed out the very small possibility of the DPRK giving up its ongoing nuclear program.

“There is a difference between recognizing that North Korea feels it needs nuclear weapons and recognizing it as a nuclear weapon state. We all need to realize that it’s highly unlikely after so many years of effort and so much difficulty to procure nuclear weapons that the North Korean government is going to give it up,” he said.

Kulacki also doesn’t expect much from Donald Trump, regardless of his strong words.

“I think President Trump is trying to find some way to make it look like he is being stronger than his predecessors.”

“But there is no consensus within the US defense community about a plan to pre-emptively take out North Korean missiles or nuclear weapons facilities.”

“If you add one more air craft carrier or you do a few more overflights, you are strengthening your message, but you are not really changing the status quo. And you are certainly not leading North Korea to believe that they should talk to the US.”

Speaking of comparisons between the DPRK’s and Iran’s nuclear programs, Kulacki believed Iran is in a more comfortable position.

“The situation in Iran and the situation in North Korea are very different. Iran is in a much stronger position, it doesn’t need nuclear weapons the same way North Korea needs nuclear weapons to feel safe.”

Dialogue with Yang Rui is a 30-minute current affairs talk show on CGTN. It airs daily at 7.30 p.m. BJT (1130GMT), with rebroadcasts at 3.30 a.m. (1930GMT) and 11.30 a.m. (0330GMT).

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