▲ Policy seminar, 'Korean Peninsula Situation and Inter-Korean Relations,' co-sponsored by Director of the Diplomacy, Commerce and Unification Committee of the National Assembly Park Jin and Korea’s Future Foundation

Yoo Ho Yul, a Professor of North Korean Studies at Korea University, believes that North Korea only wishes to negotiate a peace pact with the U.S. and other nations in order to maintain the status quo whilst developing its status as a nuclear power.

Speaking at a policy seminar, “Korean Peninsula Situation and Inter-Korean Relations,” co-sponsored by Director of the Diplomacy, Commerce and Unification Committee of the National Assembly Park Jin and Korea’s Future Foundation on Thursday, Professor Yu asserted that, “Kim Jong Il will not make the decision to denuclearize, including a complete declaration and verification of his nuclear weapons programs, if it means the complete abandonment of nuclear weapons. Not even if North Korea-U.S. talks are held soon or any other multi-lateral negotiating framework is set up.”

He emphasized, “Negotiations on the abandonment of nuclear weapons, missiles, biochemical weapons or other WMD will continue to be held, but Kim Jong Il will continue to use his conventional tactics of deceit, including brinkmanship and salami tactics.”

Meanwhile, on the subject of the succession system, Professor Yu believes, “Since August of last year when Kim Jong Il’s health began to drastically deteriorate, the North Korean authorities have probably agreed with the early adoption of the succession system. In order for Kim Jong Eun to emerge as the successor rapidly, though, he needs to grasp the power of the military forces.”

“However,” Yoo warned, “the succession may not safely settle, but instead cause a fundamental cataclysm on the Korean Peninsula.” Therefore, “The alliance of the U.S. and South Korea and the other three countries in North-East Asia need to prepare.”