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Bannon Interview Deepens Confusion Over U.S. Strategy for North Korea Bannon Interview Deepens Confusion Over U.S. Strategy for North Korea
(about 2 hours later)
BEIJING — Conflicting messages from the Trump administration on Thursday deepened more than a week of uncertainty over how it will confront North Korea’s nuclear program, with blunt remarks by a top White House adviser, Stephen K. Bannon, undercutting the United States’ top military official as he sought to persuade China to get tough on the North during a visit to Beijing. BEIJING — Conflicting messages from the Trump administration on Thursday deepened more than a week of uncertainty over how it will confront North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.
In an interview published on Wednesday, Mr. Bannon, Mr. Trump’s chief strategist, said he might consider a deal in which United States troops withdrew from South Korea in exchange for a verifiable freeze in the North’s nuclear program. Stephen K. Bannon, the White House chief strategist, said in an interview that there was “no military solution,” and that he might consider a deal in which United States troops withdrew from South Korea in exchange for a verifiable freeze in the North’s nuclear program.
Such a deal, which would be a radical departure from decades of United States policy, is unlikely to happen. But its mere suggestion stunned analysts in a region still grappling with the implications of Mr. Trump’s threat last week to unleash “fire and fury” on North Korea. But Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the top military official of the United States, on a three-day visit to Beijing, firmly dismissed the possibility of an American troop withdrawal and repeated the president’s earlier position that the United States was prepared to take military action against the North if needed.
Speaking at the end of a visit in Beijing, Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, firmly dismissed the possibility of an American troop withdrawal. “We have a long-term alliance commitment with South Korea,” General Dunford said. “I’ve not been involved in any discussions associated with reducing or removing our presence in South Korea. If that was said, I don’t know about it.” The deal Mr. Bannon suggested would be a radical departure from decades of United States policy, and is unlikely to happen. But its mere mention stunned analysts in a region still grappling with the implications of Mr. Trump’s threat last week to unleash “fire and fury” on North Korea.
In three days of meetings, General Dunford has been trying to persuade the Chinese leadership, including President Xi Jinping, to get tough on North Korea, repeating Mr. Trump’s position that the United States was prepared to take military action against the North if necessary. But that message was undercut by Mr. Bannon, who said in the interview that “there’s no military solution here.”
The contradictory statements added to the confusion surrounding the White House’s approach to North Korea, at a time when America’s allies in East Asia are already nervous about its commitment to defend them, should Pyongyang acquire the ability to strike United States cities. Japan’s defense and foreign ministers were expected to seek assurances in meetings on Thursday in Washington.The contradictory statements added to the confusion surrounding the White House’s approach to North Korea, at a time when America’s allies in East Asia are already nervous about its commitment to defend them, should Pyongyang acquire the ability to strike United States cities. Japan’s defense and foreign ministers were expected to seek assurances in meetings on Thursday in Washington.
In his meetings in Beijing, General Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has been trying to persuade the Chinese leadership, including President Xi Jinping, to get tough on North Korea.
“We have a long-term alliance commitment with South Korea.” General Dunford said.
Referring to Mr. Bannon’s quoted remarks, he said: “I’ve not been involved in any discussions associated with reducing or removing our presence in South Korea. If that was said, I don’t know about it.”
President Moon Jae-in of South Korea, continuing to try to assure his public over Washington’s strategy, said on Thursday that Mr. Trump had agreed to seek his consent before taking any military action against North Korea.President Moon Jae-in of South Korea, continuing to try to assure his public over Washington’s strategy, said on Thursday that Mr. Trump had agreed to seek his consent before taking any military action against North Korea.
Mr. Moon also sought to dispel fears about one particular possibility: that the United States might carry out a unilateral military strike against the North that could lead to full-out war on the Korean Peninsula. Mr. Moon also sought to dispel fears about the possibility that the United States might carry out a unilateral military strike against the North that could lead to full-out war on the Korean Peninsula.
“No matter what options the United States and President Trump want to use, they have promised to have full consultation with South Korea and get our consent in advance,” Mr. Moon said in a nationally televised news conference. “This is a firm agreement between South Korea and the United States. The people can be assured that there will be no war.”“No matter what options the United States and President Trump want to use, they have promised to have full consultation with South Korea and get our consent in advance,” Mr. Moon said in a nationally televised news conference. “This is a firm agreement between South Korea and the United States. The people can be assured that there will be no war.”
He said he thought that Mr. Trump’s combative recent statements were meant to “demonstrate his resolve and put pressure on North Korea.” He said he thought Mr. Trump’s combative recent statements were meant to “demonstrate his resolve and put pressure on North Korea.”
“I don’t think he necessarily made them with an intent to realize a military action,” said Mr. Moon, whose office said that it remained in contact with the White House, including a phone call between the leaders last week. “On this, there is sufficient communication and agreement being made between South Korea and the United States.”“I don’t think he necessarily made them with an intent to realize a military action,” said Mr. Moon, whose office said that it remained in contact with the White House, including a phone call between the leaders last week. “On this, there is sufficient communication and agreement being made between South Korea and the United States.”
In his interview with the magazine The American Prospect, Mr. Bannon said the fact that Seoul, South Korea’s capital, lies in range of the North’s conventional weapons ruled out a military solution. In his interview with the magazine The American Prospect Mr. Bannon said the fact that Seoul, South Korea’s capital, lies in range of the North’s conventional weapons ruled out a military solution.
“Until somebody solves the part of the equation that shows me that 10 million people in Seoul don’t die in the first 30 minutes from conventional weapons, I don’t know what you’re talking about, there’s no military solution here, they got us,” Mr. Bannon was quoted as saying.“Until somebody solves the part of the equation that shows me that 10 million people in Seoul don’t die in the first 30 minutes from conventional weapons, I don’t know what you’re talking about, there’s no military solution here, they got us,” Mr. Bannon was quoted as saying.
Mr. Bannon said the North Korea issue was a “sideshow” to what he called America’s “economic war with China,” the North’s sole major ally. He said the United States should stop hoping that Beijing would use its influence to rein in Pyongyang, and should instead proceed with tough trade sanctions against China.Mr. Bannon said the North Korea issue was a “sideshow” to what he called America’s “economic war with China,” the North’s sole major ally. He said the United States should stop hoping that Beijing would use its influence to rein in Pyongyang, and should instead proceed with tough trade sanctions against China.
Mr. Trump is said to have been considering firing Mr. Bannon, and it is difficult to guess what influence the strategist’s ideas about North Korea might have in Mr. Trump’s unconventional administration. But analysts in East Asia were astonished that Mr. Bannon would suggest pulling all United States troops from South Korea. Mr. Trump is said to have been considering firing Mr. Bannon. It remains unclear what influence the strategist’s ideas about North Korea might have in Mr. Trump’s administration. But analysts in East Asia were astonished that Mr. Bannon would suggest pulling all United States troops from South Korea.
“The idea that anyone in the White House would even consider withdrawing U.S. forces defending South Korea if North Korea would only agree to a verifiable freeze on its current arsenal of an estimated 60 nuclear warheads is stunning,” said David Straub, a former American diplomat who is now a fellow at the Sejong Institute, a think tank near Seoul. “It would be pre-emptive surrender to a regime whose ultimate aim is to unify the Korean Peninsula on its own terms.” “The idea that anyone in the White House would even consider withdrawing U.S. forces defending South Korea if North Korea would only agree to a verifiable freeze on its current arsenal of an estimated 60 nuclear warheads is stunning,” said David Straub, a former American diplomat who is now a fellow at the Sejong Institute, a think tank near Seoul.
“It would be pre-emptive surrender to a regime whose ultimate aim is to unify the Korean Peninsula on its own terms,” he added.
A withdrawal of all 28,500 of the American troops based in South Korea would be far more than North Korea itself has demanded in return for suspending its nuclear and missile tests. Pyongyang wants the United States to halt joint military exercises with South Korea, and Washington has rejected that idea out of hand.A withdrawal of all 28,500 of the American troops based in South Korea would be far more than North Korea itself has demanded in return for suspending its nuclear and missile tests. Pyongyang wants the United States to halt joint military exercises with South Korea, and Washington has rejected that idea out of hand.
In South Korea, a full American withdrawal is widely seen as possible only after North Korea is completely denuclearized and a peace treaty formally ending the Korean War is signed. Even then, many in South Korea argue that the United States military should stay to maintain the regional balance of power. In South Korea, a full American withdrawal is widely seen as possible only after North Korea is completely denuclearized and a peace treaty formally ending the 1950-53 Korean War is signed. Even then, many in South Korea argue that the United States military should stay.
Tsuneo Watanabe, a senior research fellow at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation in Tokyo, dismissed Mr. Bannon as an “amateur” and said his idea “doesn’t make sense for anybody who is seriously watching the military balance in the world.” If the United States withdrew its troops, he said, “Japan would face a direct potential threat from the peninsula, and it may consider its own military options, including nuclear arms.”Tsuneo Watanabe, a senior research fellow at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation in Tokyo, dismissed Mr. Bannon as an “amateur” and said his idea “doesn’t make sense for anybody who is seriously watching the military balance in the world.” If the United States withdrew its troops, he said, “Japan would face a direct potential threat from the peninsula, and it may consider its own military options, including nuclear arms.”
Chinese commentators noted that a full American withdrawal would be in line with China’s long-term goals, but said the idea would go nowhere politically. “I think it is bold, innovative but unrealistic,” said Zhang Baohui, a professor of international relations at Lingnan University in Hong Kong.Chinese commentators noted that a full American withdrawal would be in line with China’s long-term goals, but said the idea would go nowhere politically. “I think it is bold, innovative but unrealistic,” said Zhang Baohui, a professor of international relations at Lingnan University in Hong Kong.
“In reality, this may be the type of bargain that could break the quagmire over the North Korean nuclear issue,” Professor Zhang said. “Only someone like Bannon could entertain such bold initiatives. However, they will be pushed back by the establishment types within the administration and by congressional hawks.”“In reality, this may be the type of bargain that could break the quagmire over the North Korean nuclear issue,” Professor Zhang said. “Only someone like Bannon could entertain such bold initiatives. However, they will be pushed back by the establishment types within the administration and by congressional hawks.”
General Dunford, who was completing a visit to China, said he had told Chinese officials that while the United States favored a peaceful outcome to the standoff with Pyongyang, “we are also being prudent in preparing military options. So we think it’s better to talk about those military options in advance.”General Dunford, who was completing a visit to China, said he had told Chinese officials that while the United States favored a peaceful outcome to the standoff with Pyongyang, “we are also being prudent in preparing military options. So we think it’s better to talk about those military options in advance.”
The general, who met with President Xi on Thursday, said he was eager to improve communications between the American and Chinese militaries, to reduce the risk of miscalculation. The two sides signed an agreement calling for periodic talks between the countries’ top generals, with the first round to start in November. The general, who met with President Xi on Thursday, said he was eager to improve communications between the American and Chinese militaries, to reduce the risk of miscalculation. The two sides signed an agreement calling for periodic talks between their top generals, with the first round to start in November.