Abstract
The North Korea nuclear challenge, urgent on the US foreign policy agenda since Donald Trump took office, has prompted unilateral,bilateral and multilateral moves to address rising tension on the peninsula. The underlying logic of US policy, which in November placed the DPRK back on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, promotes negotiation by imposing Maximum Pressure and by enlisting China’s support. Possibly, North Korea will return to negotiations with its nuclear and missile development suspended temporarily. Other possibilities are a stalemate with North Korea joining the ranks of countries with credible nuclear deterrent, or an emerging crisis that escalates to military or other conflict. The lingering uncertainty is central to northeast Asia security.
PDF (must purchase access)