North Korea says no plans to meet US officials at Olympics; Washington seeks more sanctions

North Korea has no intention of meeting U.S officials during the Winter Olympics that start on Friday, the KCNA news agency reported, dampening hopes the Games will help resolve a tense standoff over the North's nuclear weapons programme.

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/north-korea-says-no-plans-to-meet-us-officials-at-olympics--washington-seeks-more-sanctions-9938888
08 Feb 2018 11:45AM

Ricky Lim · 

Singapore

There are 2 options for talk :-
(1) Put a stick in front of the table and say let's talk - else whack you with a stick.

(2) Let us talk - this issue has bug us for very long - and it is unpleasant and painful for both of us.
Let us talk to work out something.

Do you think N Korea will respond better to Option 1 or Option 2?

Think N Korea will respond better to Option 2.

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Ricky Lim · 

Singapore

Think that, US understanding of N Korea Asian culture will have helped to break the ice.

By extendling the olive branch, a soft approach will be better to get N Korea to talk.

Putting a stick in front and say let's talk --- may have turned off the mood to talk - because it may be seen as a coercion to talk.

It is quite unlikely N Korea is playing the card - of breaking up the coalition of US and SKorea - because they know it will not work.
US will still be able to carry forward the sanction and will still be able to carry out military strike.

Thus N Korea know that they will still talk to US ultimately - because it is between N Korea and US - that are in a "lock horn".

Removing the stick may help - and soothing up the climate - could help to precipitate talk.

That is, if US is able to rub N Korea the right way - a breakthrough could be possible - because Asian dislike to "lose face".
As N Korea has more to lose if time drags on.

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Ricky Lim · 

Singapore

Posted on :- 05 Feb 2018
The below opinion will still be useful.
----
Ricky Lim ·
Singapore
Asia culture is one that start slow, build trust, build confidence, start with something that seems small, a small step, do something that seems unimportant - and slowly move into something that is of interest to both parties.

This is unlike Western culture that go straight into the main topic and want immediate result - that is still cold, very sensitive and still unyielding - and if things don't happen as expected - try to use high-hand tactics. This will not work for Asia culture.

Hence, let S Korea Leaders lead the way in this - as they understand N Korea culture better than anyone do.

"Exchange of Heart" 交心 - is the crux that may lead to breakthrough.
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Ricky Lim ·
Singapore
When Mr Lee Kuan Yew visit China and meet the then Mr Deng Xiao Ping - "Exchange of Heart" 交心 - is the crux that lead to the breakthrough - that change China's heart to integrate with the World economically.

Think this could be possible if the "right key" is used correctly on N Korea.
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Ricky Lim ·
Singapore
We should take a cue on how China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos - break out from economic and political isolation to embrace the World and integrate with the World economically.

(1) China by "Exchanging of Heart" with Singapore and then open up economically and integrate with the World. China work with someone they can trust - which is Singapore.
(2) Vietnam work with Asean by joining ASEAN to open up economically.
(3) Cambodia, Laos work with both China and joining ASEAN to open up economically.

N Korea will have to work with "someone" he can trust - and do similar things like what China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos did.
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