Concerns over 'Small Deal' between North Korea and the U.S. Are Real?..."High-level Diplomacy Urgent"

[Anchor]
A series of remarks by candidates for the second Trump administration's foreign and security chief on North Korea policy have raised concerns about the possibility of a "small deal" between the U.S. and North Korea, which is moving toward nuclear disarmament or freezing rather than denuclearization.

It is pointed out that it is urgent to operate high-level diplomacy so that our opinions can be properly reflected in Trump's upcoming policy on the Korean Peninsula.

I'm reporter Lee Jong Won.

[Reporter]
U.S. Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth's controversial comments came in a written response before his confirmation hearing.

It said North Korea's status as a 'nuclear state', increased missile range carrying nuclear warheads, and cyber capabilities pose a threat to the stability of the Korean Peninsula, the Indo-Pacific region and the world.

It was a remark that was clearly different from the position of existing U.S. officials, who have refrained from mentioning North Korea as a "nuclear state" by demanding "complete denuclearization" of North Korea.

The White House later reaffirmed the U.S. government's position that it does not officially recognize North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons, but U.S. Secretary of State candidate Marco Rubio's remarks at the hearing that followed were also notable.

He said that nuclear weapons mean a lot to Kim Jong-un, so no sanctions have prevented nuclear development, and that policy toward North Korea should be taken seriously.

This is why there are concerns that North Korea may have a policy change in mind to a so-called "small deal" that focuses on nuclear disarmament or nuclear freezing, not denuclearization, considering the reality that it has already advanced its nuclear capabilities.

Earlier, the National Intelligence Service had already reported concerns about "Korean passing" to the National Assembly, mentioning the possibility of pushing for a "small deal."

[Park Sun-won/Secretary of the Democratic Party of Korea (last 14th) of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee: Small-scale negotiations such as nuclear freeze and disarmament and "small deal" are also possible if North Korea's complete denuclearization is deemed difficult to achieve within a short period of time.]

The government reiterates that North Korea's goal of complete denuclearization is the international community's consistent position and that the international community does not recognize North Korea as a nuclear power.

However, considering Trump's tendency to put even "no-deal" talks as an achievement in the past, there are growing calls for high-level diplomacy to properly reflect our opinions.

[Park Won-gon/Professor of North Korean Studies at Ewha Womans University: Before the second phase of the Trump administration conducts an overall review of North Korea policy and confirms the policy, I think efforts should be made to reflect South Korea's position by cooperating and cooperating with the U.S. as much as possible]

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it will push for high-level communication between South Korea and the U.S., including Minister Cho Tae-yeol's early visit to the U.S., and that it is continuing related communication between South Korea and the U.S.

I'm YTN's Lee Jong Won.

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