Back on Paektu Mountain on a White Horse after 49 Days: The Korean Central News Agency released images of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and first lady Ri Sol-ju on horseback looking around the revolutionary battle fields in the Paektu Mountain region on December 4. Yonhap News

North Korea responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s comment on the possible use of force and on December 4 warned, “If the U.S. uses force against us, we will also take swift corresponding actions at our discretion.” North Korean leader Kim Jong-un climbed up Paektu Mountain once again with his military leaders, showing his determination to fight the U.S. As the relationship between North Korea and the U.S. turn increasingly sour, attention is on whether U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun’s trip to South Korea, scheduled for mid-December could provide a last minute breakthrough.

■ North Korea to Make Important Decision Later This Month

In a statement released this night, Pak Jong-chon, chief of the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army said, “Using force against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will be a most terrible thing for the United States,” according to the Korean Central News Agency. Pak said, “The chief of our military also found this news to be very disturbing.” He also said, “Even now, the relationship between North Korea and the U.S. is at a cease-fire, which can shift towards a full clash of force in an instant at any inadvertent incident.” He further explained, “Recently, the U.S. military is showing suspicious military actions aiming at our country, and we are analyzing the effect of such military actions on the safety of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and preparing adequate responses.” Unlike the statements released by the officials at the foreign ministry, the senior military officials personally warned of a response using force.

Pak also said, “Amidst such dangerous military confrontation, I think the only thing blocking a physical clash between North Korea and the U.S. is the close relationship between the leaders of our two countries,” and stressed, “Although the U.S. President added a condition with our country in mind this time, we are very disappointed at his comment on the possible use of force.” He warned, “If the U.S. pushes ahead with military action against the DPRK, everyone can guess what kind of action we will respond with.”

The Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Workers’ Party of Korea’s Central Committee convened the fifth plenary session of the seventh members at the end of this month. According to the Rodong Sinmun, the congress was convened to discuss important issues in line with the development of the Korean revolution and changing demands of the international and domestic political situation.” They suggested that if there is no change in the attitude from the U.S., the “new road” declared by Chairman Kim will emerge to show its outline. With no breakthrough in North Korea-U.S. talks in sight, experts suggest it highly likely for North Korea to once again return to its hardline stance.

North Korean media reported that the North Korean leader climbed Paektu Mountain again on horseback, just 49 days after his previous visit. This time, he was accompanied by his senior military officials and took a look around the revolution battlefields where Premier Kim Il-sung once engaged in partisan (guerilla) activities against Japan. This seems to warn that North Korea will stand against the U.S. with its hardline military actions. Chairman Kim said, “At times like this, when imperialists and class enemies are scheming more fiercely to tear down the ideological base and revolutionary sites of our party, we must live and fight with the aggressive philosophy of Paektu.” He appeared to be emphasizing internal unity and resistance, as well as a spirit to build the nation by their own efforts in response to prolonged sanctions.

■ Will Biegun’s Trip to South Korea Change the Situation?

As the relationship between North Korea and the United States deteriorates, South Korea and the U.S. are finalizing plans of a trip to South Korea by U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun. Biegun is expected to meet his South Korean counterpart, Lee Do-hoon, ROK Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs at the foreign ministry and discuss ways to draw North Korea to the negotiation table.

The U.S. has expressed its willingness to resume talks to North Korea through a third country, such as Sweden, even after the working-level talks in Stockholm in early October ended without a deal. But North Korea is demanding the withdrawal of hostile policies on North Korea, such as the suspension of joint military exercises with South Korea as a prior condition to the denuclearization negotiations. The South Korean government is expected to put in its utmost effort in trying to find a breakthrough to resume talks when Biegun enters the country. At an end-of-year event at the Washington D.C. office of the Korea Foundation on December 3 (local time), Biegun said, “Obviously, we have not made as much progress as we would have hoped at this point, but let me be absolutely clear: We have not given up and we will not give up on what we’re doing.”

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