The Denuclearization and Peace-building on the Korean Peninsula and the Second U.S.-North Korea Summit in Vietnam

The second summit between the United States President Donald Trump and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Chairman Kim Jong Un has been scheduled to take place February 27-28, 2019 in Hanoi, Vietnam. We, Korean Americans and KAPAC members, firmly believe that a successful summit between President Trump and Chairman Kim will not only contribute to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, but also constitute an excellent stepping stone for peace and prosperity for the US, ROK, DPRK, and the world.

At the first summit in June 2018 in Singapore, President Trump and Chairman Kim agreed to “establish new U.S.-DPRK relations, “join their efforts to build a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula,” and “work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” Despite some criticism, the historic summit replaced the belligerence of the past with a flurry of diplomatic activities. As a consequence, no nuclear test has been conducted since September, 2017, and no ICBM has been launched since November, 2017.

In Hanoi, we hope President Trump and Chairman Kim will continue to build peace and achieve disarmament in the Korean Peninsula. Because the final, fully verified denuclearization (FFVD) may only be achieved by a long and phased process, a negotiated settlement through sustained diplomacy, reciprocity, and real peacebuilding are the only viable option for success. The upcoming summit is another significant opportunity for advancing peace and prosperity of the Korean Peninsula and the world.

At the upcoming summit, we also hope President Trump and Chairman Kim reach an agreement on the roadmap for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, a formal declaration of the end of the Korean War, partial easing of economic sanctions against North Korea in exchange for North Korea’s concrete steps for denuclearization, and the establishment of the liaison offices for the diplomatic normalization between the two countries. We believe that the denuclearization and the peace regime of the Korean Peninsula should be achieved simultaneously, for they are two sides of a coin.

Based on the value of a solid U.S.-ROK alliance, we, Korean Americans, and KAPAC members, will do our best to achieve a complete denuclearization and a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.

P.S. This is a briefing note prepared for Congressman Andy Kim (D-NY).