April 25, 2024
Opinion

What exactly is North Korea’s “cultural heritage”?

Pompeo last month used a unusual euphemism when discussing a deal with Pyongyang

Late last month, during talks with North Korean official Kim Yong Chol in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted: “POTUS has made it clear that if Kim Jong-un denuclearizes, there is a brighter path for #DPRK. We envision a strong, connected, secure, and prosperous #NorthKorea that maintains its cultural heritage but is integrated into the community of nations.”

While the need for North Korea to denuclearize is nothing new in U.S policy towards Pyongyang, Pompeo’s turn of phrase that the country could maintain its “cultural heritage” is curious.

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