North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the testing of as a new ‘tactical guided weapon’ on Wednesday in the country’s first weapons test since talks between Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump broke down in late February.
The weapons test was followed by a statement from the North Korean news agency, saying that US. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo should be replaced in talks between the U.S. and North Korea, calling for the U.S. to send someone ‘more mature’. NPR, CNBC, NBCNews.
The Cipher Brief spoke with Ambassador Joseph DeTrani, who is the former Special Envoy for Six Party Talks with North Korea about whether the U.S. should be surprised by the test and how they should respond.
DeTrani: This is the North Korea playbook. It’s what North Korea has done repeatedly over the last 25 years when they are upset. When there's an element of adversity, they show their unhappiness by doing something.
In the past, prior to us going into plenary sessions for the Six Party Talks, if these were sensitive discussions, they would launch a short-range ballistic missile literally on the day we were having our plenary session, or our working group session.
So, I'm not surprised with this behavior. It's North Korea, using the same playbook, and expressing very clearly their unhappiness with recent developments. They are trying to convey a message to the United States that they could further escalate if they're not happy. Frankly, I'm a little disappointed, because after 25 years, you would think they would move to a different playbook. This is a new time. Kim Jong Un is in touch with the President of the United States. They've had two summits. They're looking at a third summit. Don't go back to the old playbook. Don't do what you've been doing before just to show that you're unhappy. It's the wrong message at the wrong time.
The Cipher Brief: Do you detect any influences coming in from any of the other major actors right now like China or Russia, or is this just more of the same solo North Korean behavior, as you just described?
DeTrani: I think this is uniquely North Korea. I don't think this is something that plays well in Beijing. I don't think China wants to see North Korea further escalating to make the situation that much more tense with the United States and with the potential down the road of conflict on the Korean peninsula.
I think this is North Korea unilaterally saying it's a sovereign state. This is how we react to elements of displeasure, and again, they've been doing it for 25 years. We should not be surprised, although I am a little surprised, because I thought we were in a different type of relationship, given that our President is intimately involved in negotiations with Kim Jong Un.
The Cipher Brief: What do you think the smartest move would be for the U.S. right now?
DeTrani: The smartest play is to ignore them. Ignore what they've done and when they want to engage, make them ensure that they will engage on the issue of de-nuclearization. Complete, verifiable de-nuclearization. Don't let this event affect us in any way. Although we're not pleased with it, do not show our displeasure, which is what they would love to see.
The U.S. should ignore it and remain focused on the core issue and the core issue now is complete, verifiable de-nuclearization.
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Read more from Ambassador Joseph DeTrani in The Cipher Brief…
