N.K. nuclear talks will fall behind on U.S. priority list due to Afghan situation: expert
By Yi Wonju
SEOUL, Aug. 19 (Yonhap) -- Nuclear talks with North Korea will fall behind on the priority list of the United States for the next several months as Washington is expected to focus on dealing with the aftermath of its troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, an expert said Thursday.
Harry Kazianis, a senior director at the Center for the National Interest think tank, made the point in an online seminar, saying a big crisis involving refugees and abductions could follow the withdrawal of the U.S.' troops from Afghanistan.
"I think it is very clear that (Afghanistan) will be the United States' top national security priority at least for the next few months, and obviously what that will do is push down all other priorities, including North Korea, for at least the next several months," he said.
Also putting the North Korean nuclear issue on the backburner are domestic issues like fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination, Kazianis said. He predicted relations between the U.S. and North Korea are unlikely to be bright in the short to medium-term.
Frank Jannuzi, head of the Mansfield Foundation, also said the North could provoke the U.S. with a new round of muscle-flexing, including deploying a ballistic missile submarine, as Seoul and Washington prepare for elections next year.
"The DPRK may try to exploit this situation, deliberating provoking the U.S. in an effort to undermine alliance solidarity," he said, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and the North have been stalled since the Hanoi summit between former President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in 2019 ended without a deal.
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
S. Korea marks 30th anniv. of Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale with contemporary art
-
Artist Lee Bae captures ethereal Korean aesthetics at Venice Biennale
-
Ateez member Yunho throws first pitch at MLB match between Dodgers, Mets
-
Gov't likely to accept university chiefs' request to lower med school enrollment quota
-
S. Korea supports resolution backing U.N. membership of Palestine
-
Artist Lee Bae captures ethereal Korean aesthetics at Venice Biennale
-
S. Korea marks 30th anniv. of Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale with contemporary art
-
Gov't likely to accept university chiefs' request to lower med school enrollment quota
-
Looming weekly closure of major hospitals feared to worsen medical service crisis
-
Yoon's approval rating sinks to lowest point since taking office
-
U.S. will take steps for three-way engagement on nuclear deterrence with S. Korea, Japan: Campbell
-
(LEAD) Hybe to file complaint against sublabel executives over internal conflict
-
Looming weekly closure of major hospitals feared to worsen medical service crisis
-
S. Korea reports highest suicide rate, ultra fine dust level among OECD nations: data
-
Author of ADOR's 'internal document' refutes allegations of spinoff plot