North Korea's Kim Jong Un could be playing the US: Gordon Chang
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s announcement that the country will suspend its nuclear and long-range missile tests and shut down a major nuclear test site could be a ploy to fool the United States.
“This is important. We haven’t seen anything like this. Of course, Kim could be playing us and we’ve seen this before,” Gordon Chang, author of ‘Nuclear Showdown,’ told FOX Business’ David Asman on Friday.
The announcement came weeks before a planned summit between Kim and President Donald Trump.
“From April 21, North Korea will stop nuclear tests and launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles," the Korean Central News Agency said, according to Yonhap News. "The North will shut down a nuclear test site in the country's northern side to prove the vow to suspend nuclear test.”
The president reacted to the news, tweeting: “North Korea has agreed to suspend all Nuclear Tests and close up a major test site. This is very good news for North Korea and the World - big progress! Look forward to our Summit.”
Chang said the Hermit Kingdom leader has proven record of backing out of international commitments.
“In 2008, [North Korea] detonated the cooling tower at Yongbyon, their nuclear facility. And then the year after that, they walk away from the six party talks,” he said.
Chang said Kim has too many commitments to regional neighbors and the international community for him to walk away.
“He’s got a problem because you got now so many dramatic developments one right after the other. He’s going to be swept away by events. This is how history occurs,” he said.