Abstract
After the second launch of the “Kwangmyongsong-3” satellite and the third nuclear test, North Korea’s peripheral diplomacy was put in a tight spot. The Sino-DPRK relationship has stepped into a rough patch; the DPRK-US relationship remains in a stalemate condition; and the DPRK-Russia relationship has warmed up but is still unable to rapidly change the internal and external difficulties facing North Korea. Under these circumstances, North Korea has to make a concession on the “Abduction Issue”, which successfully prompted Japan to lift its unilateral sanctions. North Korea’s concession on the “Abduction Issue” this time was an attempt to break through its peripheral diplomatic dilemma. However, the brief easing of the DPRK-Japan relationship due to the progress from the “Abduction Issue” does not mean that the relationship between these two countries will have a substantive change. Subject to the Japan-US alliance, the US-Japan-ROK trilateral coordination mechanism and Japan’s position on North Korea’s nuclear and missile issues, Japan’s policy towards DPRK is difficult to be substantively changed and adjusted.
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