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Subject
North Korea-US relations.
Significance
The ruling Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) held a Plenum on December 28-31. Supreme leader Kim Jong-un’s uncompromising keynote speech included an explicit abrogation of his two-year moratorium on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests, plus a pledge to reveal an unspecified “new strategic weapon” soon. Personnel changes, both announced and apparent, also suggest a turn away from diplomacy.
Impacts
Chinese economic support will be vital for North Korea, despite Kim’s rhetoric of self-reliance.
Nuclear testing would anger Beijing, whose cooperation Kim needs, so an ICBM launch is likelier.
South Korea, unmentioned in Kim’s speech, will be sidelined; President Moon Jae-in’s peace process is in tatters.
Keywords:
North Korea,
AP,
United States,
China,
Iran,
international relations,
defence,
foreign policy,
military,
nuclear weapons,
security,
talks
© Oxford Analytica 2020. All rights reserved. This content contains general information about geopolitical, macroeconomic and social developments or (where stated) other matters. It does not contain advice or recommendations that may be relied on. Where links to external websites are provided, this does not indicate that Oxford Analytica or Emerald agree with, endorse or have checked for accuracy the contents of said sites.
2020
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