By Yi Whan-woo
President Moon Jae-in's initiative for resuming inter-Korean dialogue has hit a snag as anger in the United States is boiling over due to the death of Otto Warmbier.
In an interview with CBS, Tuesday, Moon claimed that his North Korea policy is "not at odds with" that of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been pursuing "maximum pressure and engagement" for Pyongyang's denuclearization.
However, analysts said Wednesday that Moon's strategy is still being perceived in the U.S. as if he is "giving in" to North Korea by putting priority on dialogue while Trump puts weight on sanctions first.
Citing a need for cooperation with the U.S. in resuming inter-Korean talks, analysts said Moon's dovish inter-Korean policy may "lose ground" amid pessimism in the U.S. over any engagement with North Korea.
They cited that Trump denounced the Kim Jong-un regime as brutal amid speculation that Warmbier, an American college student who was detained in North Korea for 17 months, was abused there before being released in a coma last week.
Trump also tweeted that China's pressure on North Korea in line with U.S. demands has been unsuccessful, hinting that Washington could use military options and other unilateral action on Pyongyang as he promised before.
"While I greatly appreciate the efforts of President Xi (Jinping) & China to help with North Korea, it has not worked out. At least I know China tried!" he wrote.
Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, said both Moon and Trump are "on the same page" regarding their roadmap for the denuclearization of North Korea.
"But their plan varies when it comes to the level of sanctions, conditions for dialogue and other details and this is where Moon is perceived as if he is opposite to Trump," Yang said. "I am sure that Moon will clarify his stance and convince Trump during their summit next week. However, whether the American public can be convinced remains uncertain."
Park Won-gon, an international relations professor at Handong Global University said narrowing the differences over details in North Korea strategy will be critical to avoid diplomatic friction.
"For instance, the U.S. may be thinking about an inspection by International Atomic Energy Agency officials on North Korea's nuclear test sites when it referred to engagement. But for South Korea, inter-Korean engagement can happen under much softer conditions," Park said.
He cited that Moon offered to resume inter-Korean dialogue if North Korea stops making additional nuclear and ballistic missile provocations during a speech June 15.
"He has not specified the period of suspension and it can be interpreted as if inter-Korean talks can take place right away considering Pyongyang has not carried out missile launches for days," Park said.
Meanwhile, travel agencies that have been offering tours to North Korea have begun to stop taking American tourists to the reclusive state.
They included Young Pioneers Tours, a China-based company that took Warmbier to Pyongyang in 2016. He was arrested for trying to steal a propaganda poster during his stay there.
President Moon Jae-in's initiative for resuming inter-Korean dialogue has hit a snag as anger in the United States is boiling over due to the death of Otto Warmbier.
In an interview with CBS, Tuesday, Moon claimed that his North Korea policy is "not at odds with" that of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been pursuing "maximum pressure and engagement" for Pyongyang's denuclearization.
However, analysts said Wednesday that Moon's strategy is still being perceived in the U.S. as if he is "giving in" to North Korea by putting priority on dialogue while Trump puts weight on sanctions first.
Citing a need for cooperation with the U.S. in resuming inter-Korean talks, analysts said Moon's dovish inter-Korean policy may "lose ground" amid pessimism in the U.S. over any engagement with North Korea.
They cited that Trump denounced the Kim Jong-un regime as brutal amid speculation that Warmbier, an American college student who was detained in North Korea for 17 months, was abused there before being released in a coma last week.
Trump also tweeted that China's pressure on North Korea in line with U.S. demands has been unsuccessful, hinting that Washington could use military options and other unilateral action on Pyongyang as he promised before.
"While I greatly appreciate the efforts of President Xi (Jinping) & China to help with North Korea, it has not worked out. At least I know China tried!" he wrote.
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Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, said both Moon and Trump are "on the same page" regarding their roadmap for the denuclearization of North Korea.
"But their plan varies when it comes to the level of sanctions, conditions for dialogue and other details and this is where Moon is perceived as if he is opposite to Trump," Yang said. "I am sure that Moon will clarify his stance and convince Trump during their summit next week. However, whether the American public can be convinced remains uncertain."
Park Won-gon, an international relations professor at Handong Global University said narrowing the differences over details in North Korea strategy will be critical to avoid diplomatic friction.
"For instance, the U.S. may be thinking about an inspection by International Atomic Energy Agency officials on North Korea's nuclear test sites when it referred to engagement. But for South Korea, inter-Korean engagement can happen under much softer conditions," Park said.
He cited that Moon offered to resume inter-Korean dialogue if North Korea stops making additional nuclear and ballistic missile provocations during a speech June 15.
"He has not specified the period of suspension and it can be interpreted as if inter-Korean talks can take place right away considering Pyongyang has not carried out missile launches for days," Park said.
Meanwhile, travel agencies that have been offering tours to North Korea have begun to stop taking American tourists to the reclusive state.
They included Young Pioneers Tours, a China-based company that took Warmbier to Pyongyang in 2016. He was arrested for trying to steal a propaganda poster during his stay there.
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