North Korea Expert Kelsey Davenport Says More Diplomacy Needed to Resolve Nuclear Crisis

Here is what another so called North Korea expert says should be done to resolve the ongoing nuclear crisis which is basically more of the same that has led to the slow motion acquisition of North Korean nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles:

Diplomacy is the only way to achieve a peaceful resolution of the North Korea nuclear crisis, according to Kelsey Davenport, director for nonproliferation policy at the Arms Control Association.

She said that in order to bring North Korea back to negotiations, U.S.President Donald Trump and his administration should send a sincere, consistent message that the offer of engagement is real.

“Diplomacy is the only path forward to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis,” Davenport said in a recent interview.

“The Trump administration purports to advance a strategy of maximum pressure and engagement but U.S. actions and rhetoric expose a serious diplomacy deficit,” she added.

She pointed out that mixed messages from Trump and top administration officials about U.S.intentions to engage in talks further complicate the environment.

“The Trump administration can and must signal to North Korea that it is willing to engage in talks without preconditions,” she said.

“Direct talks would give the U.S. an opportunity to discuss a path forward with North Korea to reduce tension.”

Davenport stressed that the U.S. Congress should also refrain from activities that heighten tension and muddy the waters regarding the prospects of diplomacy.

“That may require putting denuclearization on the back burner, voicing support for shorter-term, more manageable goals, and giving existing sanctions time to work before pushing new measures,” she said.  [Korea Times]

You can read more at the link, but all I read was more of the same strategy used for the past 25 years that has led to where we are at today.

Ms. Davenport’s strategy is to once again reward the North Koreans for their bad behavior by limiting US-ROK military drills.  She says it would not impact military readiness, how would she know that?  In my opinion cancelling a UFG or Key Resolve exercise would impact readiness considering the constant change over of personnel in Korea and the amount of off-Pen augmentees that participate in the training.

Ms. Davenport believes offering up a military exercise will lead to the “freeze deal” that many in the academic world are calling for.  I think if any freeze deal is pursued it should include robust inspections and the risk of a retaliatory bombing strike if it is not complied with.  However, I am doubtful the Kim regime will ever sign up for vigorous inspections when they know the so called experts are more interested in making a deal than actually denuclearizing North Korea.