North Korea: the Next Generation - Narushige Michishita
Playing the Same Game: North Korea’s Coercive Attempt at
The nuclear and missile capabilities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) are certainly improving, but that does not mean its strategy has changed. Those who argue that Pyongyang has abandoned diplomacy and chosen a military path risk missing the point: nuclear weapons and missiles are the means, not the ends. North Korea is actually taking necessary steps to prepare for future talks with the United States. In other words, North Korea is playing the same game again.
Three major diplomatic cards are on the negotiating table between North Korea and the United States: the nuclear issue, the missile issue, and the issue of signing a peace treaty or agreement. During the Bush years, the missile and peace issues were missing from the scene largely because the United States was not interested in seriously engaging North Korea and declined Pyongyang’s suggestion to negotiate a deal on missiles. Although North Korean nuclear and missile tests must be strongly condemned, its recent actions suggest that the country has taken a note of the Obama administration’s willingness to engage and has started to prepare for future negotiations by strengthening its bargaining position.
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