NKG'S STRATEGIC GOAL OF LIBERATING SK PRECLUDES MOON'S PEACE VISION
FULL WITHDRAWAL OF US FORCES FROM SK WILL NOT BUY CVID FROM KIM
KIM WILL NOT HONOUR PEACE AGREEMENT AND CO-EXISTENCE WITH SK
STRONG SECURITY OF SK NEEDED TO REALISE MOON'S PEACE VISION
MOON FAILED SUPPORTING AND DEFENDING SK'S CONSTITUTION
NUCLEARISATION OF SK AND JAPAN WON'T BRING ABOUT POWER BALANCE
NO TWO "SONS OR SUNS" IN THE KOREAN PENINSULA
Washington, D.C. September 1, 2020 (ICAS) — A twelfth new poll conducted by the Institute for Corean-American Studies (ICAS) continues to identify issues surrounding the Korean Peninsula from a national security standpoint of the U.S.
Conducted to an ICAS audience on the Hill, the respondents continued to show a deep sense of mistrust on Chairman Kim of North Korea (NK) and the NK Government (NKG) on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, a growing sense of rift between the US and South Korea (SK) on security issues while showing reluctance in nuclearizing SK and Japan as a way to bring about a strategic balance of power in the Korean Peninsula.
87% of the respondents do not believe that building peace, prosperity, and stability would be possible in the Korean Peninsula while the NKG's strategic goal, i.e., a unification of the Peninsula under the stated doctrines - liberation of SK - of the NK's Korean Worker's Party (KWP) - remains the same; 9% believe so. 70% of the respondents are of the view that Chairman Kim of NK would not agree to and comply with the CVID demand in return for the full withdrawal of the US forces from SK; 17% think so. 91% of the respondents do not think that Chairman Kim would subscribe to, honor, and accept the terms of a peace agreement and implement reconciliation and co-existence with SK; 4% think so. Given the foregoing, 78% of the respondents do not think that a preemptive concession by Washington to Pyongyang would bring about the denuclearization of NK, while 9% think so.
Turning to SK, the poll showed that 83% believe President Moon of SK would need strong and enduring security of SK as a priority to realize his vision of peace in the Korean Peninsula, while 9% do not believe so. Similarly, 78% of the respondents think “there may be cohorts of useful idiots in SK.” 13% disagree. 35% believe President Moon’s vision of achieving peace in the Peninsula would be congruent with the US national interest, but more than a majority of the respondents (61%) disagree. Moreover, 70% do not think that President Moon has been faithfully supporting and defending the Constitution of SK based on the respondents’ knowledge and available information, while 22% think so.
Turning to the possible nuclearization of SK and Japan, 48% do not believe a nuclearization of SK would bring about a strategic balance of power in the Korean Peninsula vis-à-vis the NKG’s inability and unwillingness to denuclearize, while 43% said yes. On nuclearizing Japan, though, 65% view that it could not bolster a geopolitical power balance in the Northeast Asia while 30% said yes.
Interestingly, 35% are of the view that there could be two "sons/suns" in the Korean Peninsula, while 48% believe not.
The survey was conducted from August 15, 2020 to August 24, 2020 via email with a moderate credibility interval. Supplemental graphic data are available on www.icasinc.org/strategy.html.
Inquiry to ICAS@icasinc.org
About Institute for Corean-American Studies (ICAS)
ICAS was established in 1973, as a non-profit, non-partisan, and private educational and research organization and it is incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. ICAS is not an agent of any government and/or a foreign principal, and is solely supported by voluntary contributions. Its activities and programs rely on the private donations of the general public, i.e., individuals, foundations, and corporations. ICAS promotes pertinent relations and conducts appropriate activities with a special emphasis on multilateral relations between the United States and Asia-Pacific rim nations. Its membership includes individuals from varied sectors embracing academic, corporate, cultural, educational, international and other related fields. ICAS strives to provide public services pro bono publico.