The 70th anniversary of the Korean War’s armistice is marked by growing uncertainty about the U.S.’s relationship with North Korea. The history of the war and its aftermath, including America’s failure to prevent North Korea’s nuclear armament, provides a troubling context to the current tensions. Lt. Gen. Dan Leaf advocates for a different approach to North Korea, including diplomacy, mutual liaison offices, acceptance of North Korea’s nuclear status, and support for North Korean citizens’ rights and health.
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Key Points:Â
- The Korean War began with North Korea’s invasion of South Korea in June 1950, and despite a series of events including America’s near-loss and subsequent military push to the Chinese border, the conflict resulted in a stalemate along the 38th parallel.
- Former President Trump’s negotiations with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un to abandon the nuclear program failed, leading to North Korea’s significant expansion of its nuclear capacity.
- Current observations reveal North Korea is conducting missile tests at a record pace, now capable of delivering over 40 nuclear warheads anywhere in the continental U.S.
- Lt. Gen. Dan Leaf recommends a formal peace treaty between the U.S., South Korea, and North Korea, and encourages serious and urgent diplomacy with North Korea, including the establishment of liaison offices in both countries. He also suggests that the U.S. should abandon the idea of North Korea’s eliminating its nuclear weapons.
- Successive U.S. administrations have failed to prevent North Korea from becoming a nuclear-armed state, and this new approach proposed by Leaf is worth considering in light of past failures.
