North Korea Missile Test: U.S. Should Consider Talks With Kim Jong-Un's Regime, Says Nuclear Weapons Expert
In The News Piece in Newsweek
July 13, 2017
Suzane DiMaggio was interviewed by Newsweek about steps the U.S. should take following North Korea's most recent missile launch.
Suzanne DiMaggio, a senior fellow at the Washington-based New America Foundation, told the South China Morning Post that entering into talks with the country should be America’s focus to stop North Korea from more missile testing. “The best bet would be to focus on preventing the further development of Pyongyang’s ICBM capabilities through an agreement that would suspend their nuclear and missile testing,” DiMaggio said.
She added that the United States should consider “maximum pressure and engagement” and encouraged Washington to open talks with Pyongyang. In an interview with the Hong Kong-based newspaper, DiMaggio said pressure should continue to be put on the reclusive state using sanctions as a strategy.
The United States has long discussed demilitarizing the North Korea peninsula, but DiMaggio recommends that that goal is put aside for the time being, saying “there is a need to be realistic, at least in the near term.” In the exclusive interview, she recommended that the focus should be on restraint and turning down the rhetoric with North Korea first. “Placing an immediate focus on reducing tensions and deterring North Korea from using and proliferating its nuclear weapons makes greater sense.”