Denuclearisation off the table for N. Korea, but a freeze is plausible, say analysts

It may even shut some nuclear facilities in exchange for lifting of US sanctions

- Wendy Teo

A suspension of Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programme is a plausible outcome, say analysts, should rising expectations of a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump come to fruition.

Dr Doo Jin-ho, defence analyst at the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, told The Straits Times that with the current size of its nuclear arsenal, North Korea may be comfortable with the idea of freezing further nuclear weapons development.

It might even shut down some nuclear facilities in exchange for the lifting of US sanctions along with investment promises.

Based on latest research findings of US Congress think-tank Congressional Research Service in May, North Korea is estimated to have in its possession at least 50 nuclear warheads, with enough fissile material for approximately 40 more.

This amount is sufficient for North Korea’s “regime survival”, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Sept 25.

He was speaking at an investment summit in New York, where he had gone to attend the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.

What North Korea lacks, said the President, is that “one final step” — the atmospheric reentry technology for its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to hit the US mainland.