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| ▲ This computer-generated image shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) and U.S. President Donald Trump. (Yonhap) |
US-N Korea-poll
70 pct of experts doubt tangible results even if U.S., N. Korea resume talks: survey
SEOUL, Feb. 5 (Yonhap) -- Seventy percent of domestic experts on Korean Peninsula issues doubt that any tangible results are possible even if the United States and North Korea resume dialogue under President Donald Trump's new administration, a survey showed Wednesday.
The Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University released the assessment following a survey of 40 local experts on security issues involving the Korean Peninsula, conducted online from Jan. 10-20 to predict security trends under Trump's second term.
Of the 40 polled, which included researchers, journalists and former diplomats, 70 percent, or 28 individuals, predicted that even if the U.S. administration resumes dialogue with North Korea, it would be "difficult" to achieve tangible, substantial outcomes, the survey showed.
Only 27 percent said results could be expected from U.S.-North Korea talks if they resume.
Asked about North Korea's future stance on its nuclear and missile programs, the experts were evenly divided. Half predicted Pyongyang would use them as a bargaining chip to seek negotiations with Washington, while the other half said it would maintain its nuclear and missile expansion policy.
Sixty percent, or 24, of the experts surveyed also predicted that inter-Korean relations would remain fractured, regardless of any changes in relations between Pyongyang and Washington.
The survey also showed that 39 experts expected Seoul-Pyongyang relations to either worsen or remain unchanged, with only one person predicting an improvement.
All but two experts said Seoul-Tokyo relations may either weaken or remain at the current level. Regarding Seoul-Beijing ties, 15 experts predicted an improvement, while 18 said they will stay the same.
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