Kim Ready to Talk Denuclearization, Seoul Says

Council on Foreign Relations Newsletter If you are unable to see the message below, click here to view. March 6, 2018 Daily News Brief   TOP OF THE AGENDA Kim Ready to Talk Denuclearization, Seoul Says South Korean envoys say Pyongyang is willing to discuss giving up its nuclear weapons and start negotiations with Washington following an unprecedented meeting with the North's Kim Jong-un. Pyongyang said it would freeze all weapons testing (NYT) during the proposed negotiations, according to Seoul. South Korea also announced that President Moon Jae-in and the North Korean leader will attend a summit (Yonhap) in the border village of Panmunjom late next month. North Korea said it would not need nuclear weapons (Korea Times) if the security of its regime could be secured, said Chung Eui-yong, who led the South's delegation. Kim also said denuclearization was his father's dying wish (Yonhap), according to Blue House officials. ANALYSIS "The prospect of a summit in Pyongyang distinguishes Moon as the most likely (and at present only) external counterpart for Kim, yet this role places additional pressure on Moon to serve as an effective conduit and broker for a denuclearization dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang," writes CFR's Scott A. Snyder. "North Korea has consistently asserted, as it did in the 2013 Law on Consolidating its Position of Nuclear Weapons State, that the regime’s nuclear weapons are for deterrence and that the reason for the North’s position is the United States," Jung H. Pak writes for the Brookings Institution. "Visible, direct diplomatic outreach would clarify North Korea's understanding of U.S. bottom lines, reduce the likelihood of miscalculation, improve U.S. capacity to manage escalation should an incident occur, and satisfy allies' and partners' desire to see the the U.S. make a meaningful effort to manage tensions," Ryan Hass writes for Axios. PACIFIC RIM China Boosts Diplomacy Budget The government presented a budget for 2018 that includes a 15 percent increase to China's foreign affairs budget compared to last year, part of its doubling of such expenditures (FT) under President Xi Jinping. CFR's Elizabeth C. Economy discusses Xi's vision for China's future on CNN. SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA Sri Lanka Declares State of Emergency Hundreds of security personnel were deployed to the central district of Kandy, where a curfew was imposed following mob attacks (Colombo Gazette) on members of the country's Muslim minority. At least one man was killed in the attacks (NYT). UZBEKISTAN: Tashkent will host an Afghan peace conference (UzDaily) later this month that will be attended by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and foreign ministers from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States, according to the Uzbek foreign ministry. CFR's Courtney Cooper says now is the time to talk to the Taliban. MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA U.S. Pauses Operations Against Islamic State in Syria A Pentagon spokesperson said U.S. ground operations against the self-proclaimed Islamic State in eastern Syria have been put on hold, though he said U.S. air strikes against the group continue (AP). The move comes as U.S.-backed Kurdish forces have turned their attention to a Turkish offensive in the north. UAE: Leaked emails show that a businessman with links to the United Arab Emirates and prominent fundraiser for Donald J. Trump's campaign urged the U.S. president to fire Secretary of State Rex Tillerson for insufficiently backing the UAE (BBC) in disputes against Qatar. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Ethiopia to Choose New Leader Following a surprise resignation last month by Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, the ruling coalition is expected to choose a leader from the Oromo ethnic group (Reuters) in a bid to quell anti-government sentiment. SOUTH AFRICA: Namibia joined Mozambique, Zambia, and Botswana in banning processed meats from South Africa (Business Day) following an outbreak of listeria. EUROPE EU Threatens Retaliatory Tariffs on U.S. The European Commission announced a hundred U.S. products (FT) that could be subject to new tariffs, including ones on items such as motorcycles and denim that appear to target prominent brands (Bloomberg) based in U.S. states with strong Republican constituencies. CFR's Edward Alden says new U.S. tariffs are the most significant U.S. import restrictions in nearly half a century. GERMANY: President Frank-Walter Steinmeier proposed Chancellor Angela Merkel be elected to a fourth term (DW) following six months of political uncertainty as Merkel struggled to form a coalition government. AMERICAS Trump Brand Name Removed From Panama Hotel A worker used a crowbar to remove the Trump brand name (WaPo) from a Panama hotel after the majority owner said he won a legal battle with the company run by the U.S. president's family over management rights. CHILE: In her final days in office, President Michelle Bachelet announced she will send a new constitution to lawmakers (Reuters) that would guarantee equal pay for women and the right of workers to strike. UNITED STATES Ex-Bolivian Leader on Trial in Florida Former Bolivian President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada and his defense minister are on trial in a federal court in Florida for allegedly ordering the murders of eight Bolivians (AP) among thousands the prosecution says they planned to have killed in 2003. Russia's deputy foreign minister said Russia has suggested a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and his Russian counterpart in Ethiopia later this week while both are on trips to Africa (Reuters).         Council on Foreign Relations — 58 East 68th Street — New York, NY 10065 CFR does not share email addresses with third parties. Forward This Email | Subscribe to CFR Newsletters | Unsubscribe - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  

From: dailybrief@e.cfr.org

Date: March 06, 2018 at 11:02PM