Topic Of The Day:-“Korean consensus? : on Kim Jong-un’s visit to China“
Kim Jong-Un’s Visit To China Is Likely To Force Next Steps After The Singapore Summit
The visit to China of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, is significant for two distinct reasons. It is evidence of the continuing calm in the Korean peninsula for nearly a year since the thaw between Pyongyang and Washington that culminated in the Singapore summit in June 2018. The meeting also coincides with the resumption of trade negotiations this week between U.S. and Chinese delegations in Beijing. Expectations are that the dialogue between the regional neighbours could impact the trade dispute between the world’s two largest economies. Whereas Mr. Xi is keen on securing sanctions relief for Mr. Kim, U.S. President Donald Trump will be equally eager that his peace deal continues to resonate in the region and beyond, notwithstanding the practical hurdles it has encountered. The Xi-Kim meeting cannot have overlooked the stalled progress on the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula that Mr. Kim and Mr. Trump agreed on in Singapore. The American and North Korean leaders have in recent days reiterated their willingness to schedule another bilateral summit, a hope they have held out for months. But unlike the ambiguous promises issued in the Singapore declaration, Mr. Kim now wants to talk specifics. This could raise the stakes beyond diplomatic niceties and sound bites. In his New Year address, he emphasised the easing of economic sanctions as a priority, on which Beijing’s diplomatic clout could prove critical despite the lack of movement on the nuclear question. In that speech, Mr. Kim also insisted on a permanent end to the annual joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea. Another demand was for multilateral negotiations to declare a formal end to the Korean war in place of the truce that has obtained since 1953. The latter issues have acquired greater weight in view of the ongoing rapprochement between Seoul and Pyongyang. This is exemplified by their decision to convert the Demilitarised Zone that separates the two countries into a peace park, and to disarm the joint security area.
Formal negotiations between North Korea and the U.S. have made little headway since the Singapore summit. Access to North Korea’s nuclear installations has proved elusive to U.S. officials. The sudden cancellation of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit to Pyongyang last August was an indication of the stalemate. A North Korean test of a new tactical weapon in November was seen as a way to pressure Washington for concessions, if not a return to the hostile posturing of previous years. The uneasy calm that has been sustained on the peninsula for over a year now is no doubt a respite from Pyongyang’s successive nuclear tests to rattle the U.S. mainland. But Washington is impatient for information on the North Korean weapons stockpile. Pyongyang is anxious about sanctions relief. Something has to give.
MEANINGS AND WORDS
1) evidence
Meaning : the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.
Tamil Meaning : ஆதாரங்கள்
Synonyms : clue
Antonyms : denial
Example : “the study finds little evidence of overt discrimination”
2) thaw
Meaning : a period of warmer weather that thaws ice and snow(n).
Synonyms : dissolve
Antonyms : worry
Example : “the thaw came yesterday afternoon”
3) culminated
Meaning : reach a climax or point of highest development.
Tamil Meaning : முடிவடைந்தது
Synonyms : conclude
Antonyms : commence
Example : “weeks of violence culminated in the brutal murder of a magistrate”
4) coincides
Meaning : occur at the same time.
Synonyms : concur
Antonyms : disagree
Example : “publication is timed to coincide with a major exhibition”
5) resumption
Meaning : the action of beginning something again after a pause or interruption(n).
Tamil Meaning : மறுதொடக்கமாக
Synonyms : restoration
Antonyms : hiatus
Example : “with peace came the resumption of foreign imports”
6) delegations
Meaning : the action or process of delegating or being delegated(n).
Synonyms : appointment
Antonyms : keeping
Example : “the delegation of power to the district councils”
7) impact
Meaning : the action of one object coming forcibly into contact with another.(n)
Tamil Meaning : தாக்கம்
Synonyms : brunt
Antonyms : loss
Example : “there was the sound of a third impact”
8) dispute
Meaning : a disagreement or argument(n).
Tamil Meaning : சர்ச்சை
Synonyms : conflict
Antonyms : concord
Example : “a territorial dispute between the two countries”
9) relief
Meaning : a feeling of reassurance and relaxation following release from anxiety or distress.
Tamil Meaning : நிவாரண
Synonyms : comfort
Antonyms : hindrance
Example : “much to her relief, she saw the door open”
10) resonate
Meaning : produce or be filled with a deep, full, reverberating sound(v).
Tamil Meaning : போகின்றன
Synonyms : reverberate
Example : “the sound of the siren resonated across the harbour”
11) reiterated
Meaning : say something again or a number of times, typically for emphasis or clarity(v).
Tamil Meaning : வலியுறுத்தி
Synonyms : renew
Antonyms : take back
Example : “she reiterated that the government would remain steadfast in its support”
12) diplomatic
Meaning : of or concerning diplomacy(adj).
Tamil Meaning : தூதரக
Synonyms : gracious
Antonyms : rude
Example : “diplomatic relations with Britain were broken”
13) emphasised
Meaning : give special importance or value to (something) in speaking or writing(v).
Tamil Meaning : வலியுறுத்தினார்
Synonyms : indicate
Antonyms : deny
Example : “they emphasize the need for daily, one-to-one contact between parent and child”
14) prove
Meaning : demonstrate the truth or existence of (something) by evidence or argument(v).
Synonyms : convince
Antonyms : conceal
Example : “the concept is difficult to prove”
15) despite
Meaning : contemptuous treatment or behaviour; outrage(n).
Tamil Meaning : போதிலும்
Synonyms : although
Antonyms : exalt
Example : “the despite done by him to the holy relics”
16) negotiations
Meaning : discussion aimed at reaching an agreement(n).
Tamil Meaning : பேச்சுவார்த்தைகள்
Synonyms : agreement
Antonyms : disagreement
Example : “a worldwide ban is currently under negotiation“
17) truce
Meaning : an agreement between enemies or opponents to stop fighting or arguing for a certain time(n).
Tamil Meaning : சமாதான
Synonyms : detente
Antonyms : continuation
Example : “the guerrillas called a three-day truce”
18) exemplified
Meaning : be a typical example of.
Tamil Meaning : நிரூபிக்கப்படும்
Synonyms : elucidate
Antonyms : conceal
Example : “the best dry sherry is exemplified by the fino of Jerez”
19) convert
Meaning : change the form, character, or function of something(v).
Synonyms : follower
Antonyms : remain
Example : “modernization has converted the country from a primitive society to a near-industrial one”
20) elusive
Meaning : difficult to find, catch, or achieve(adj).
Tamil Meaning : மழுப்பலாக
Synonyms : illusory
Antonyms : definite
Example : “success will become ever more elusive”
21) indication
Meaning : a sign or piece of information that indicates something.
Tamil Meaning : அறிகுறி
Synonyms : hint
Antonyms : misinformation
Example : “the visit was an indication of the improvement in relations between the countries”
22) posturing
Meaning : behaviour that is intended to impress or mislead.
Tamil Meaning : வெளிப்பாடுகள்
Synonyms : display
Antonyms : withhold
Example : “a masking of fear with macho posturing”
23) sustained
Meaning : continuing for an extended period or without interruption(adj).
Tamil Meaning : நீடித்த
Synonyms : continued
Antonyms : ending
Example : “several years of sustained economic growth”
24) respite
Meaning : a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant(n).
Tamil Meaning : ஓய்வுக்கான
Synonyms : letup
Antonyms : continuation
Example : “the refugee encampments will provide some respite from the suffering”
