Moon: North Korea Agrees to Allow Nuclear Inspections

Inspectors would observe dismantling of nuclear program

In the course of this week’s inter-Korean summit, South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in announced on Wednesday morning that North Korea has agreed to several moves, including allowing international nuclear inspectors into the country to observe the continued dismantling of the nuclear program.

This appears to have been the result of early discussions on how to get the denuclearization process started up again. Kim Jong Un agreed to permanently dismantle a missile engine test site and launch pad, and that would be where the inspectors are to be in attendance.

Tentatively, North Korea is also committed to permanently dismantling the Nyongbyon nuclear complex if the US takes “corresponding measures.” It is unclear what the US is expected to do in return.

The answer may be disclosed later in the three-day summit, with both Kim and Moon seeking a peace deal out of this summit. The US is said to be opposed to agreeing to a peace deal at this point in the process, but this may be what is needed to get denuclearization going in a major way.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.