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Pyongyang cancelled May 16 high-level inter-Korean talks in response to provocative US/South Korean military exercises, violating the Panmunjom Declaration’s letter and spirit – explained below.

On Tuesday, a North Korean KCNA media report said the following:

This exercise targeting us, which is being carried out across South Korea and targeting us, is a flagrant challenge to the Panmunjom Declaration and an intentional military provocation running counter to the positive political development on the Korean Peninsula, adding:

The United States will also have to undertake careful deliberations about the fate of the planned North Korea-US summit in light of this provocative military ruckus jointly conducted with the South Korean authorities.

Provisions of the inter-Korean Panmunjom Declaration include the following:

• alleviating longstanding bilateral military tension to curb the threat of war on the peninsula;
• ceasing hostile actions by both sides against each other, including transformation of the DMZ into a peace zone;
• establishing a permanent peninsula peace regime, ending an uneasy armistice, and formally ending the Korean War;
• concluding a Non-Aggression Agreement between both sides;
• beginning a process of phased disarmament – providing tensions between both countries ease, along with achieving military confidence-building progress.

Pyongyang justifiably believes US/South Korean military exercises are rehearsals for war on the North.

The Panmunjom Declaration was an important step in the right direction – yet a long way from achieving peace and stability on the peninsula because Washington rejected normalized relations with the PPRK since the late 1940s.

Earlier initiatives to change things failed when less extremist US administrations were in power than now.

World peace and stability are virtually off the table with hardline neocons in charge of Trump’s geopolitical agenda – targeting all sovereign independent countries for regime change, a US imperial objective long before his election.

High-level May 16 inter-Korean talks were scheduled to discuss implementation of what both countries agreed on last month in summit talks.

On Wednesday, DPRK First Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan (image on the right) said

(w)e will not be interested in talks anymore if (the Trump administration) only tries to push us unilaterally into a corner and force us to give up nukes, adding:

It would be inevitable to reconsider whether to respond to the upcoming summit with the US.

North Korea’s minister criticized US unilateral demands, calling them a way to force the destiny of the collapsed Libya and Iraq to our dignified state.

Endless violence and chaos followed US-led war on both countries, devastation the DPKR experienced from Washington’s aggression in the early 1950s – developing nukes as a deterrent to prevent another war on the peninsula.

Minister Kim said he doubt(s) whether the United States really wants sound dialogue and negotiation.

In dealings with other countries, Washington demands, especially sovereign independent ones – most often breaching agreements made, JCPOA pullout the latest example, proving again the US can never be trusted.

If DPRK/US summit talks take place in mid-June as scheduled, chances for ending US hostility toward the North are slim at best – and that’s being generous.

Replacing all sovereign independent governments with pro-Western vassal ones is part of Washington’s aim for global hegemony – naked aggression and color revolutions its favored strategies.

America’s long history of deal-breaking and determination to dominate other nations is the greatest obstacle to peace and stability on the peninsula – and everywhere else.

Things aren’t likely to be different from DPRK/US talks if any occur ahead.

A previous article explained the Korean peninsula remains a hugely dangerous tinderbox. Trump’s rage for warmaking could ignite an uncontrollable firestorm – talks or no talks.

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Stephen Lendman is a Research Associate of the CRG, Correspondent of Global Research based in Chicago.