North Korea
SOMEWHERE WILLIAM LA JEUNESSE LIVE IN L.A. THANK YOU. >> Molly: GROWING HOSTILITY FROM NORTH KOREA, KIM SAYING HE WILL HAVE TO MOST ANTI-AMERICAN POLICIES AHEAD OF TRUMP’S SECOND TERM. WE BRING IN JACK KEANE. HERE WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF A NEW YEAR AND SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. I HAVE TO SAY PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD THIS KIND OF ROMANCE GOING WITH KIM JONG UNFOR A WHILE.
THE FIRST PRESIDENT SETTING FOOT IN NORTH KOREA. IS THE ROMANCE DONE? >> IT ENDED IN 2019 WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP WALKED OUT OF NEGOTIATIONS TAKING PLACE IN HANOI. IT WAS AS A RESULT OF THOSE NEGOTIATIONS AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION REALIZED THE KIM JONG UNWAS ALL TALK AND NOT WALK AWAY FROM HIS NUCLEAR PROGRAM.
AS A RESULT OF THAT WE PRETTY MUCH BROKE OFF ANY THOUGHT THAT SOME NUCLEAR DEAL IS GOING TO BE MADE. WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP TOOK POWER KIM WAS TESTING SHORT AND LONG RANGE MISSILES AND DEVELOPED VERY CONCILIATORY TONE. THIS TIME HE HAS A CONFRONTATIONAL TONE AND RECOGNIZES HE IS COMPETING WITH A WAR IN UKRAINE, WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND CHINA’S AGGRESSION IN THE PACIFIC.
U.S
HE IS COMPETING FOR ATTENTION. LIKELY THAT’S WHAT HE IS TRYING TO GET HERE. WHAT IS HE REALLY AFTER? HE WANTS TO BE ACCEPTED AS A NUCLEAR POWER AS THE OTHER NUCLEAR POWERS IN THE WORLD ARE ACCEPTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND WANTS NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS AND REMOVAL OF THE SANCTIONS EVEN THOUGH HE GETS AROUND.
THE U.N. SANCTIONS BECAUSE RUSSIA AND CHINA HELP HIM OUT IN TERMS OF BACK DURING THOSE SANCTIONS. HE REALLY WANTS NORMAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS. THAT’S WHAT HE IS ATTEMPTING TO ACHIEVE IN THE FACE OF WHAT? IN THE FACE OF TWO AGGRESSIVE SOUTH KOREAN ADMINISTRATIONS THAT HAVE INCREASED MILITARY CAPABILITY AND WORKED MUCH STRONGER WITH THE UNITED STATES IN TERMS OF AN EXERCISE PROGRAM AND IN THE FACE OF REGIONAL CONFRONTATION WITH JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA AND THE UNITED STATES COMING TOGETHER IN AN HISTORIC RELATIONSHIP PARTICULARLY BRINGING SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN TOGETHER.
ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THAT IS CERTAINLY CHINA. THE OTHER REASON IS NORTH KOREA. THAT IS WHAT HE IS FACING OUT THERE. HE IS FACING MORE CONFRONTATION, MORE ISOLATION AND TRYING TO CHANGE THE TABLE HERE IN TERMS OF RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE UNITED STATES. >> Molly: THE TONE HE IS TAKING ALSO NORTH KOREA ALIGNING THEMSELVES WITH RUSSIA, HELPING OUT WITH THE WAR IN UKRAINE.
IS THIS A MAJOR CONCERN? >> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. THE REALITY OF IT. IT DOESN’T GET THE PLAY IT SHOULD GET. NORTH KOREA HAS COME IN AND DECLARED WAR AGAINST UKRAINE ON THE SIDE OF RUSSIA MUCH AS ITLY DID ON THE SIDE OF GERMANY IN WORLD WAR II. TWO COUNTRIES TOGETHER TO DEFEAT UKRAINE. THAT’S THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ESCALATION OF THE WAR.
ANOTHER COUNTRY FIGHTING SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH RUSSIA. AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THEY PROVIDE THEM WITH SIGNIFICANT BALLISTIC MISSILES, SIGNIFICANT ARTILLERY. THEY SHARE ARTILLERY WEAPONS THEMSELVES. THEY’RE A MAJOR AID TO RUSSIA IN ITS ATTEMPT TO TRY TO DEFEAT UKRAINE. THAT RELATIONSHIP IS GOING TO CONTINUE.
Molly: CONCERNS ABOUT THE RECIPROCAL NATURE OF ENHANCING NORTH KOREA’S ABILITIES AS WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR ANALYSIS.
North Korea has frequently employed strong rhetoric against the United States, particularly during moments of heightened tension or political transitions in Washington. The reported vow for “toughest” anti-America policies reflects their ongoing strategy to assert dominance and maintain internal solidarity amid perceived external threats. This rhetoric could also be a reaction to expectations of renewed U.S. policies under Donald Trump’s projected second term as president.
North Korea’s approach is likely a combination of strategic signaling to the international community and domestic propaganda. For specific policies or actions North Korea might take, monitoring credible news sources for developments is advised.