Opinion: Two Koreas Running Rings Around U.S.

Korean Peninsula, Demilitarized Zone Area, political map. North and South Korea with red Military Demarcation Line, capitals and borders. English labeling. Gray illustration, white background. Vector.

By Tim Willasey-Wilsey

Tim Willasey-Wilsey served for over 27 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and is now Visiting Professor of War Studies at King's College, London. His book “The Spy and the Devil” will be published in the UK on 8th May and in the U.S. on 16th September. His first overseas posting was in Angola during the Cold War followed by Central America during the instability of the late 1980s. His final years were focused mostly on South Asia.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with North Korea’s foreign minister on Wednesday and says he will visit Pyongyang next month to pave the way for a second summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean President Kim Jong Un.

The announcement follows a bilateral agreement signed by President Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in in New York earlier in the week. President Trump took that opportunity to reiterate his optimism about his relationship with the North Korean leader, but – writes former Senior British Diplomat Tim Willasey-Willsey, there are serious concerns among U.S. allies that competing agendas won’t work in the U.S.’ favor.

Access all of The Cipher Brief’s national security-focused expert insight by becoming a Cipher Brief Subscriber+ Member.

Sign Up Log In


Related Articles

Search

Close