CASS-India Reaction
US-N Korea relations: Mutual suspicion still exists
Introduction
The US and North Korea have made a good start but uncertainty still persists. Singapore summit is, in fact, the beginning of a great gamble for both sides. Now it turns out in real terms, North Korea continues to be under economic sanctions and the US continues to be suspicious of Pyongyang's commitment to complete, irreversible and verifiable denuclearisation. Washington will lift sanctions only when nukes are no longer an issue. Both leaders can pat themselves on the back, though, because the US has got Kim to sign off on denuclearisation in a manner that, although ill-defined, suits it, while Kim has been able to get the US-South Korean military exercises called off.
Analysis
The US has given up on CVID as China has been vocal about step by step approach rather than high speed programs which might collapse.
Senior US officials who discussed with Japanese and Korean officials recently have narrated that the US will wait for solid proof of dismantling of nuclear and WMD programs of North Korea.
It appears the US will continue to be apprehensive until it is verified that North Korea is no longer capable of launching a nuclear strike against the US mainland.
The US may have halted its military exercises with South Korea, but what eff..