TEHRAN – Professor Frank N. von Hippel, former assistant director for national security in the White House Office of Science and Technology says that it will have to be a long step-by-step process to denuclearization Korean Peninsula including other agreements that accomplish mutual confidence building.

“I worry that President Trump does not understand that,” Frank N. von Hippel tells the Tehran Times in an exclusive interview.
He also says “I think that China would be happy if North Korea continues as an independent state but with no nuclear weapons.”
Following is the full text of the interview:

Q: North and South Korean leaders hold historic summit. Why two parts reach to this point?

A: Key to progress on the denuclearization issue is a reduction of tensions between North and South Korea.  The two countries made a big step on that today.

Q: The leaders of North and South Korea also pledged to “cease all hostile acts” amid a “new era of peace” after a historic summit. Kim Jong Un agrees to denuclearization of Korean Peninsula. Can they materialize this goals?

I think that, in the end, that it will have to be a long step-by-step process to denuclearization including other agreements that accomplish mutual confidence building.  I worry that President Trump does not understand that.

Q:  Trump gave the deal a cautious welcome, tweeting that "time will tell" if it leads to an end to nuclear missile tests. "The United States, and all of its GREAT people, should be very proud of what is now taking place," he added. What will the impact of this historic summit on the decision of Trump on JCPOA?

A: I am very worried that, despite all the advice he has been receiving from experts and leaders in the U.S. and from abroad, President Trump will refuse to continue the suspension of sanctions on Iran that the United States agreed to under the JCPOA.  I hope I will be pleasantly surprised.  If President Trump realizes our worst fears, however, I hope that Iran will not over-react and make the situation more dangerous.  President Trump’s power to do such damage should be reduced after this year’s election.  Most Americans appear to be alarmed by his arbitrary and capricious actions in many areas – not just his actions on the JCPOA.

Q: What will the impact of this summit on the security order eastern Asia’s (Impact on China and N. Korea relations)?

A: I think that China would be happy if North Korea continues as an independent state but with no nuclear weapons.