Seoul Expresses Concern Over U.S. Democratic Platform Changes on North Korea

Seoul is expressing unease following the omission of "denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula" from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) platform, as reported by The Korea Times. Analysts in South Korea scrutinized the DNC platform released ahead of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, noting that while South Korea was mentioned seven times and North Korea six, the previous commitment to a diplomatic campaign for denuclearization was absent. Instead, the platform emphasized "strengthened trilateral cooperation" among the U.S., South Korea, and Japan, while criticizing former President Donald Trump’s approach to North Korea. The absence of the denuclearization commitment has raised alarms among South Korean analysts, who interpret it as a sign of a shifting consensus within the Democratic Party. Some experts suggest that managing North Korea's nuclear capabilities through disarmament deals may be viewed as a more pragmatic approach than the increasingly elusive goal of complete denuclearization. Cho Han-bum from the Korea Institute for National Unification noted that regardless of the election outcome, the U.S. may pivot towards negotiations aimed at freezing North Korea's nuclear arsenal. Concerns have also been voiced regarding a perceived abandonment of denuclearization by both major U.S. political parties, as they grapple with numerous domestic and international challenges. Additionally, the lack of a successor to Biden's special representative for North Korea, following resignations and retirements, has been seen as indicative of a disconnect in U.S. policy towards North Korea. Despite these concerns, some South Korean commentators downplay the significance of the platform change, asserting that Vice President Kamala Harris likely recognizes the importance of denuclearization and will not drastically alter Biden's policies towards Korea.