Moon: Dismantlement of Yongbyon facilities means irreversible denuclearization

After a failed Hanoi summit, South Korean President Moon Jae-in mentioned that the dismantlement of Yongbyon nuclear facilities would imply an entry into an irreversible stage of denuclearization of North Korea.

In a National Security Council meeting, Moon said that the Yongbyon nuclear facilities, which serves as a core of the North’s nuclear plan, may likely be decommissioned with U.S. representatives in presence for inspection and verification. As the South Korean president's viewpoint is considered closer to that of Pyongyang than that of Washington shown during the Hanoi summit talk, there is growing attention to the U.S.’ reaction to his remarks.

In a press conference held after in a press conference his second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, U.S. President Donald Trump made sure that removing the Yongbyon facilities is not enough for a complete denuclearization measure.

U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton revealed on Sunday (local time) that the North Korean leader was delivered a set of documents regarding a "big deal" that entails the removal of nuclear and biochemical weapons, and WMD. Bolton told Fox News that President Trump persuaded his North Korean counterpart to accept the big deal but the North had lack of will to do so.


weappon@donga.com · lightee@donga.com