North Korea ‘may back down’ after Seoul gets missile boost from Donald Trump
NORTH Korea is seeking a face-saving end to tensions after Seoul’s military might was strengthened, experts said last night.
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US President Donald Trump yesterday agreed a deal allowing South Korea to have bigger missiles and new military hardware in the face of ratcheting tensions with Pyongyang.
In a call with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Trump shared the view that “it was necessary to strengthen South Korea’s defence capabilities in response to North Korea’s provocations and threats”, a statement from Seoul said.
On Wednesday despot Kim Jong-un launched a missile that flew over Japan.
Our take is that he wants Washington to treat him with respect as a leader
Crucially, however, he has backed down from threats to launch missiles at Guam, home to a US base.
Experts said the move showed signs he is willing to negotiate.
“Kim made what appeared to be a credible threat but in reality may be an offer to place on the negotiating table a willingness to bargain away his missiles – perhaps in exchange for US recognition,” said Raymond Tanter, of the US National Interest think tank.
North Korea ‘may back down’ after Seoul gets missile boost from Donald Trump
North Korea launched a missile over Japan last week
“Our take is that he wants Washington to treat him with respect as a leader.”
Former British charge d’affaires James Hoare agreed.
“There is no doubt Kim wants to find a way out of this, a way that allows him to save face,” he said. “Kim is not suicidal. He wants the US and the world to finally respect that North Korea is a sovereign state.
“That’s something which has never been officially recognised.”