Astonishing Policy Decisions by North Korea

Path to denuclearization?

North Korea announces 6 pivotal decisions

North Korea's ruling party holds a banquet / Reuters file photo

Pyongyang has declared a new strategic course for the country, announcing an indefinite suspension of all nuclear and ballistic missile tests, in the run-up to the planned meeting between Kim Jon-un and US President Donald Trump.

At a plenary meeting of the central committee of the Worker's Party of Korea, the ruling party has outlined six crucial decisions:

#1. North Korea ‘solemnly’ declared that its previous ballistic and missile tests have allowed the country to successfully miniaturize warheads and develop their means of delivery.

#2. Effective immediately, any further nuclear and ballistic missile tests will be frozen, starting April 21, 2018

#3. North Korea’s nuclear test center will be discarded in order to ensure the transparency of the nuclear research suspension.

#4. Pyongyang will never use nuclear weapons, unless there is a “nuclear threat or nuclear provocation” against North Korea, and “in no case will proliferate nuclear weapons and nuclear technology.”

#5. From now on, all Pyongyang’s efforts will be concentrated on building up a strong socialist economy, while the human and material resources of the country will be mobilized to dramatically raise people’s quality of life.

#6. Pyongyang will establish a favorable international environment and will intensify close dialogue with neighboring countries and the international community, in order to protect the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and the world.

These are simply astonishing and could hardly be any better. The questions are: Is it true? And, if it's true, will they actually do it? North Korea has a history of promising one thing and doing something completely different. Will this time be any different? Not likely, but we can always hope. 

These policies are almost certainly negotiated positions. Pyongyang would not begin negotiations from such a basis. Their announcement makes it look like it's their idea and saves them face, a big deal in Asian cultures. 

If Pyongyang actually follows these policies, the world could be a dramatically different place. 

Let's hope and pray that Kim Jong Un is the real deal and not just trying to put something over on his enemies. Overcoming communist paranoia would be a remarkable accomplishment.