US military-industrial complex afraid of peace breaking out on Korean peninsula: Academic

A lot of people in the United States who have vested interests in the military-industrial complex are afraid of peace breaking out on the Korean peninsula, an American human rights expert and peace activist says.

“First of all I think instead of threatening North Korea people should be happy that peace maybe on the horizon for the Korean peninsula. I think that’s a welcome development and long overdue. There has not been true peace since 1953, really since before, back to the World War II,” said Daniel Kovalik, who teaches international human rights at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in the state of Pennsylvania.    

“So first of all I think instead of threatening North Korea we should thank them for their willingness to denuclearize Korea,” Kovalik told Press TV on Wednesday.

“No that said, this is a very predictable response not only from McConnell but also from a number of Democrats who are also taking the same position. You know there are people, a lot of people in the United States who have vested interests in the military-industrial complex, who are actually threatened by peace, and I think you are seeing it exhibited in that kind of threats,” he added.

US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday threatened North Korea with the policy of maximum pressure if it does not stick to the outcome of the historic summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

McConnell, speaking during the opening session of the Senate, said he supported the goals contained in the Trump-Kim’s joint statement on denuclearization but added that Washington must be prepared to respond if Pyongyang failed to comply.

Trump and the North Korean leader signed a joint statement on Tuesday at the end of their historic meeting in Singapore, promising a new relationship between the nations and pledging to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

“You know, it worries me,” Kovalik said. “There’re a lot of people who want to derail the process that’s happening right now, and are very much opposed to that effort.”

“I think the US in these situations can installed all the cards because has the economic and military superiority. And I think that’s all at risk. Of course we saw with Libya for example. Gaddafi gave up his nuclear ambitions in return for what he hopped would be welcoming back into the community of nations and into the West,” he stated.

“You know ultimately NATO bombed his county to smithereens and ended up dead. So I mean obviously North Koreans are looking at that as a possible feather for them in this event,” he noted.

“But all that said, I am cautiously optimistic that we could have a comprehensive deal that both parties would keep. And I certainly hope for that. I think frankly both leaders should be supported in that effort,” the analyst concluded.

On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States wants to see North Korea taking concrete steps toward denuclearization before the end of Trump's first term.

Pompeo said that the Trump administration wants quick progress on North Korea's promise to end its nuclear weapons program.

He added that the two countries have yet to hammer out the specifics of the plan but claimed that understanding between them was inked into the agreement signed by Trump and Kim on Tuesday in Singapore.

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