(EDITORIAL from Korea Times on May 26)

Setback to detente
: US, North Korea should build mutual trust

U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to cancel the planned June 12 summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has dealt a setback to the pursuit of the North's denuclearization and the peace process on the Korean Peninsula. It has also frustrated President Moon Jae-in who was playing an active role as a mediator to help make the summit a success.

The cancellation came as a surprise not only to Seoul and Pyongyang, but also the world. It did also the more because President Trump announced his decision right after Kim delivered on his promise to demolish the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, a first -- though symbolic -- move to show his genuine intention of denuclearization.

What prompted Trump to call off the summit Thursday seems to be the North's abrupt change of tone to hostility toward Seoul and Washington. Trump made the decision especially after North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui lashed out at U.S. Vice President Mike Pence for stating that the North could end up with the Libyan model for denuclearization. Her harsh rhetoric followed a threat by the North's First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan to cancel the Kim-Trump summit after criticizing National Security Adviser John Bolton for calling on the North to follow the Libya model.

In this context, Trump's action against the summit appears to be the direct result of the tit for tat with Pyongyang. In his letter to Kim Jong-un, Trump cited the North's "tremendous anger" and "open hostility" toward the U.S. as the reason for the cancellation. But he did not forget to tell Kim, "If you change your mind having to do with this most important summit, please do not hesitate to call me or write."

Therefore it can be inferred that Trump has not slammed the door shut in the face of Kim. Actually Trump called on Kim to change his mind so that they can probably have talks later. This brings a ray of hope for the revival of talks between the two leaders. And the North also expressed its hope for the summit to take place. In this regard, Trump's decision could be seen as a diplomatic gambit to warn the North that its outdated brinksmanship tactics will not work anymore.

For now, it is important for Washington and Pyongyang to keep the momentum for detente. Both sides should refrain from any act that might exacerbate the current situation. To keep the summit alive, the U.S. and North Korea must narrow the gap over the terms of denuclearization.

Most of all, the North should accept the U.S. demand for complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization. Likewise, Washington needs to accommodate Pyongyang's calls for security guarantees and economic assistance in return for abandoning its nuclear program. Most important is to build mutual trust between the two. President Moon is also required to help Trump and Kim come to terms with each other to settle peace on the Korean Peninsula.
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