North Korea is no friend of America, that much should always be clear. But transnational problems such as the coronavirus pandemic require transnational solutions. That is why President Trump made the right call by offering anti-coronavirus aid in a letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Although it is unclear what exactly Trump wrote, it looks like he was hoping to assist North Koreans and maybe attempt to use aid as a jump-start to long-stalled denuclearization talks. These are worthy goals, and the United States leads best when it fights against global threats such as pandemics.
Unfortunately, North Korea turned down America’s offer even though North Korea’s oppressed people are likely to suffer mightily from the virus. Not surprisingly, Pyongyang instead complained about sanctions and restated its desire for lifted sanctions. It is true that some sanctions could impede the flow of vital humanitarian aid. This is an area where Washington has acted and can do more. But this is not the same thing as unilaterally lifting general sanctions and giving in to Kim’s demands. It is possible to alleviate the suffering of North Koreans and stop the virus from spreading further without aiding and abetting the Communist Party in Pyongyang.
