By Kim Bo-eun
Libya's process of denuclearization, in which rewards were provided after the regime made an instantaneous decision and completely dismantled its nuclear program, cannot be applied to resolving the North Korea nuclear issue, a Cheong Wa Dae official said Friday.
He hinted at solutions through phased disarmament and verification, which is somewhat different from hard-line U.S. officials' preference for a package settlement similar to the Libya disarmament process
Libya gave up its nuclear and other destructive weapons in 2003, in return for normalization of relations with the U.S. and easing of economic sanctions. Attention has grown over the Libyan case as the White House's newly appointed national security adviser, John Bolton, has backed this model as a means to address North Korea.
"I believe it is impossible to apply the Libyan process to North Korea," the senior official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
Citing that the North Korean nuclear crisis has dragged on for 25 years, he said it cannot be solved instantly like pulling a TV plug out.
"The reality is that verification and nuclear disarmament can only be done sequentially," the official said.
Earlier this week, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stated in a surprise visit to China that the regime would be willing to denuclearize, on a step-by-step basis.
"Once the U.S. and South Korea take phased and simultaneous measures in response to our peace efforts, the issue of denuclearization on the peninsula can be resolved," he said.
The U.S. has said that it will maintain maximum pressure on North Korea until complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of its nuclear program is achieved. Hardliners contend that looking back over the past 25 years, a step-by-step process has only enabled the North to buy time to develop its nuclear program.
Despite differences in stance, the Cheong Wa Dae official said both Washington and Pyongyang appear to be willing to resolve the issue.
"We are able to tell, from the announcements that U.S. President Donald Trump and Kim will meet by May, that they are willing to deal with the issue," he said.
Following Kim's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, Trump posted on Twitter, "Now there is a good chance that Kim Jong-un will do what is right for his people and for humanity. Look forward to our meeting!"
The Cheong Wa Dae official said, "The views of the parties coming to the negotiation table will differ. (South Korea) will attempt to adjust the differences and aid compromise, as a mediator."
President Moon Jae-in and Kim will hold a summit April 27; and Trump and Kim, in late May to discuss Pyongyang's denuclearization.
Regarding the Washington-Pyongyang summit, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said "it is something of global importance and we want to make sure that it's done as soon as we can, but we also want to make sure it's done properly," in a briefing Thursday.
Meanwhile, Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi met with Moon, Friday, as Xi's special representative, to brief him on details of Kim's meeting with Xi earlier this week.
He also held a meeting with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha.
"We support the hosting of the inter-Korean summit and the Pyongyang-Washington summit, and we are hoping for important achievements to be made through them," Yang told Kang.
"We wish to strengthen communication with South Korea so that tension on the Korean Peninsula can be eased even more."
A day earlier, the Chinese official spoke with National Security Office chief Chung Eui-yong about the Kim-Xi summit.
