Abstract
The relation between the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) is of substantial strategic prominence in the security landscape of Northeast Asia. The longstanding incompatibility between the two countries can be illuminated by drawing on three factors: the conflict of interest in the DPRK–ROK unification; the strategic interests of the nuclearization and the denuclearization-normalization dilemma; the Sino–U.S. dual power structure in Northeast Asia. In addressing these issues, this paper discusses the possibility of achieving diplomatic normalization between the U.S. and DPRK by examining in a comparative framework the feasibility of existing mechanisms. The paper concludes that unconventional mechanism is required to establish the initial momentum for a necessary political breakthrough, especially in light of the Trump phenomenon. Specifically, the author proposes a stepwise model to assist the diplomatic reconciliation and to further promote the restoration of peace, security and stability in Northeast Asia.