North Korea announced a suspension of its tests because it perceived a significantly increased possibility of war from the US, said Zhang Liangui, a renowned North Korea expert at the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, cited by
dunjiaodu.com, an opinion site.
North Korea used to view US threats of war as merely empty rhetoric. That’s why, Zhang said, it sped up devlopment of its nuclear program in 2016 and 2017, in the belief that the US would refrain from military attacks if it attained full nuclear capacity.
However, recent military exercises by the US in the waters adjacent to North Korea led the country to believe that war has become significantly more possible, according to Zhang. US military movements targeting North Korea used to be more for show, but recent actions have become more secretive, which Zhang believes is a sign of more serious intent.
Yet it is still too early to say whether North Korea’s announcement is a real change of mind or a delaying tactic, Zhang said. It is likely US President Donald Trump agreed to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un because he wants to feel out North Korea’s real intentions. If Kim were to ask for unacceptable conditions, he said, Trump would very likely stop the talks and continue pressuring North Korea or even start a war.
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