On February 27-28, the 2nd US-North Korea Summit on the peace process and complete denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula took place.Korean Peninsulawill be held in Hanoi. Cong Ly Newspaper reporter had a short interview with Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh (Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi) about this special event.
PV: As an international relations expert, what is your assessment of the current situation on the Korean Peninsula, especially after the summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un in Singapore in June 2018?
Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh:I think that after the first Summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un on June 12, 2018 in Singapore, the situation on the Korean Peninsula has had many positive changes.
US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un shake hands at a private meeting in Singapore in June 2018. Photo: Reuters
However, I believe that positive change was not only influenced by the first summit, but also by the three summits between the two leaders of South Korea - South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un in 2018. During those meetings, the two sides had discussions to reduce tensions at the border between the two Koreas at the 38th Parallel.
On the morning of April 27, 2018, Chairman Kim Jong-un left Pyongyang for a summit with President Moon Jae-in in South Korea. At exactly 9:30 Seoul time (7:30 Hanoi time) on the same day, Mr. Kim Jong-un took a "historic step", crossing the demarcation line in the DMZ between the two Koreas to meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in. After shaking hands, Mr. Kim led Mr. Moon to the North Korean side before the two smiled and held hands across the demarcation line - a historic milestone for both countries.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un hold hands as they take historic steps across the border into North Korea during their meeting on April 27, 2018.
Chairman Kim Jong-un is the first and only North Korean leader in nearly 70 years to set foot on South Korean soil for the historic meeting. Writing in the guest book of the Peace House at Panmunjom, Chairman Kim wrote: "A new history begins today; the era of peace, the beginning of history."
And the visit of the South Korean President to Pyongyang is one of the extremely good manifestations of the relationship between the two countries. The two sides also made commitments to increase people-to-people exchanges, reduce military forces on both sides of the border, guard posts, or radio stations along the border of the two countries... It can be said that these are concrete evidences showing that the situation on the Korean Peninsula is having very positive changes.
Then, the summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore once again affirmed that Washington is ready to reconnect with Pyongyang, on the condition that North Korea's nuclear weapons program must be cut, and must be completely cut.
However, it must be said that there has not been much progress in the relationship between the two countries, and so this second meeting promises to open up good prospects. Personally, I think that after more than half a year of meeting, entering this second meeting, the two leaders of the US and North Korea have built initial trust and therefore promise more specific results.
PV: Can you make a prediction about the progress that the two leaders of the US and North Korea will likely achieve in the second US-North Korea Summit scheduled to take place in Hanoi on February 27-28?
Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh:The international community in general and the leaders of many countries around the world hope for many things, such as a declaration on ending the state of war on the Korean Peninsula, ending the embargo on North Korea. But along with that, everyone certainly hopes to reach a specific agreement on cutting down nuclear reactors, uranium enrichment processes, or specific steps towards complete denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.
But perhaps we also know that it is a very difficult thing, because it can be said that nuclear is considered as the "only tool" for Pyongyang to conduct negotiations, they want the US and Western countries to acknowledge that, want to recognize North Korea as a nuclear weapons power. However, if they want North Korea to completely abandon its nuclear development program, the US and its allies also need to take corresponding actions because in international relations, this is based on the principle of "reciprocity".
President Donald Trump declared that he is “in no rush to pressure North Korea” on a roadmap for complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
In his most recent White House press conference, President Donald Trump was “in no rush to push North Korea” on a roadmap for complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, but he also had confidence in positive developments. In addition, President Trump also said he had a “good relationship” with leader Kim Jong-un. And as President Donald Trump once expressed his hope that North Korea would become an “economic powerhouse,” this will probably be the driving force for both sides to find common ground to move towards development.
It may be difficult to reach a major decision at the second US-DPRK Summit, but I always hope that the two sides will reach specific agreements and practical steps for the peace process and complete denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula. However, it is also necessary to assess that in order to have a second meeting in Hanoi, both sides have shown goodwill, both are aiming for dialogue for peace. Dialogue is always better than confrontation. Only dialogue can reduce misunderstanding, prejudice and tension.
Mr. Trump is a President unlike his predecessors, and so far no US President has been able to meet the leader of North Korea. The direct meeting between the two leaders of the US and North Korea is a concrete manifestation of a new approach, that is, to understand one's opponent, one must at least meet. The two leaders' agreement to meet for the first time in Singapore last February was a great success for the diplomacy of the two countries and for the two leaders personally. Dialogue is a manifestation of reconciliation, and clearly reconciliation is better than war, and seeking dialogue is better than confrontation. And in the meeting, the two leaders had very intimate and open gestures, and this is a very important foundation for the next steps, and it is no coincidence that they had a second meeting in Hanoi.
PV:Are you surprised that Vietnam, and specifically the capital Hanoi, was chosen as the venue for the second US-North Korea Summit, and why?
Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh:The choice of Vietnam, and specifically Hanoi, as the venue for the second US-North Korea Summit, if we say it is surprising, then it is certainly surprising, but it can also be said that it is not surprising. The surprise is because Vietnam is a country that still does not have much experience in the process of international integration, and its infrastructure is not at a high level...
But that choice is not surprising because Vietnam is a common denominator for both the US and North Korea. The two countries can find here some common points that cannot be found anywhere else. Vietnam is a country that has experienced many wars, shed a lot of blood to gain peace, so organizing an event towards peace in this land is very meaningful; this land has revived, risen from bombs, war and 20 years of painful division since 1954 after the Geneva Agreement is also very meaningful for the Korean Peninsula which has been divided since 1953 after the Panmunjom Agreement; Vietnam from a country that confronts the US has now become a comprehensive partner; Vietnam from a centrally planned economy has transformed itself into a market economy, open, and internationally integrated. And those are the things that both the US and North Korea see in Vietnam: an opportunity for reconciliation, an opportunity for unity, and an opportunity for development. It can be said that all of these things are highly symbolic, and help both sides see a prospect for the Korean Peninsula in the future.
The second US-North Korea Summit - a conference on peace held right in the city for peace. Photo: TPO
A very interesting detail is that on February 27-28, the US-North Korea Summit on the progress of peace and complete denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula will be held in Hanoi. The interesting thing here is that a conference on peace is held right in the city for peace. 20 years ago, the capital Hanoi was the only city in the entire Asia-Pacific region to be awarded this title by UNESCO. Over the past 20 years, the city has not only promoted its traditional cultural values, but also become a center connecting global values, a place to exchange regional and international initiatives, for peace, stability and development. Surely everyone remembers one of the particularly interesting legends of the capital Hanoi, the Turtle Tower of Hoan Kiem Lake, with the story of returning the precious sword to the Golden Turtle God after the war ended, showing the love of peace of the people of Hanoi in particular, and the Vietnamese people in general. After sacrificing themselves in the war for independence and freedom, the Vietnamese people are ready to start building a peaceful life. To have today's peace, the Vietnamese people cannot forget the years of war. Only in the spirit of "respecting the past, holding on to the future" can the Vietnamese people overcome countless challenges to enter the era of independence, unity and integration like today.
Hanoi is truly an attractive city, intertwining traditional and modern historical elements, intertwining elements of a subsidy period and elements of a market economy period… Hanoi has a very unique feature that is hard to find in any other city in the world. Here, there is an interweaving, blending, and interaction of different cultures and civilizations. I think that Hanoi truly deserves to be chosen as the venue for the US-North Korea Summit and is an endless source of inspiration for ideas of peace, friendship, and development.
According to congly.vn
Author:Poetry
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