Douglas H. Paal
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}Source: Getty
North Korea Missile Threat
In China, Kerry needs to focus on the broader context of the U.S.-China strategic relationship and how North Korea will harm this relationship.
Source: BBC World News
Speaking with BBC World News, Douglas Paal argued that North Korea is unlikely to change its course of action anytime soon and that the U.S. message is mainly intended for China to reconsider the risks of Kim Jong Un's actions.
Meanwhile, Paal continued, there is not much more that can be done with sanctions at this stage. The primary way that North Korea may alter its course is if Kim Jong Un fails to prove himself as the leader that his grandfather was, by failing to deliver goods, fuel, and food to the North Korean people.
As to Kerry's visit to Asia, Paal noted that the secretary of state needs to reaffirm the U.S. alliance with Seoul and Tokyo. In China, Kerry needs to rise above the short tactical measures preoccupying the Western media and focus on the broader context of the U.S.-China strategic relationship and how North Korea will harm this relationship.
About the Author
Distinguished Fellow, Asia Program
Paal previously served as vice chairman of JPMorgan Chase International and as unofficial U.S. representative to Taiwan as director of the American Institute in Taiwan.
- America’s Future in a Dynamic AsiaPaper
- U.S.-China Relations at the Forty-Year MarkQ&A
- +1
Douglas H. Paal, Tong Zhao, Chen Qi, …
Recent Work
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
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