Trump’s Libya confusion makes North Korea less likely to give up nukes, expert reveals
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s recent confusion over what is meant by the “Libya model” is increasing North Korean jitters and making Kim Jong-un less likely to give up his nuclear weapons, a former diplomat has warned.
Mark Fitzpatrick, executive director of the Americas division of the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS), made his remarks in the wake of Mr Trump’s comments on the issue last week.
Quizzed about the 'Libya model', which is generally understood to refer to the process by which former President Muammar Gaddafi allowed British and US inspectors full access to his country as he voluntarily gave up his nuclear weapons programme in 2003, Mr Trump appeared to believe it referred to the military operation by which Mr Gaddafi was ousted from power in 2011.
Mr Fitzpatrick explained: “When President Trump sought to reassure North Korea, he made a hash of it by misunderstanding what his National Security Advisor John Bolton meant by the 'Libya model'.
“Bolton meant how Gaddafi allowed the US to pack up and take away his nuclear-weapons-related equipment.
“He didn't mean what subsequently befell Gaddafi: his brutal torture and murder.
“But that's indeed what the North Koreans remember about the Libya case: how US assurances of good relations if he gave up nuclear weapons aspirations counted for nothing in the end.
“The North Koreans have good reason to be alarmed by what Trump meant as assurances but what came across as a threat to 'decimate' their country if it didn't surrender its nuclear arms.
“Rather than cry uncle in hearing such a threat, North Korea has all the more reason to keep its nuclear weapons.
“And it may have more reason to fear that the US is again warming up to a military attack option.
“It’s a example of how diplomatic signalling can be easily misperceived.”
Mr Trump stunned the world when he confirmed that he and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would be meeting for talks following a agreement apparently brokered by South Korean President Moon Jae-in.
But both sides have expressed doubts as the summit, scheduled for next month in Singapore, draws closer, Mr Trump yesterday said there was a “very substantial chance” the meeting would not happen.
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Speaking on the day he welcomed Mr Jae-in for a White House visit, Mr Trump told reporters: "We'll see what happens.
"There are certain conditions that we want and I think we'll get those conditions and if we don't we don't have the meeting.”
On the North Korean side, a notice written by top negotiator Ri Son Gwon expressed unhappiness at a recent military joint US/South Korea military drill called Max Thunder, which resulted in the cancellation of talks between Pyongyang and Seoul.
Mr Son Gwon labelled the drills a “deliberate provocation.”