NSPR16 Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and Normalization of Relations

Overview

The Center for East Asian Diplomacy and Security (EAI) publishes the National Security Panel Report Series, which offers in-depth analysis of major foreign policy and security issues and presents realistic policy alternatives through the National Security Panel, composed of domestic and international experts in foreign policy and security (chaired by EAI Director Ha Young-sun).

This 16th NSP report is the third report in the series [North Korean Nuclear Crisis and Peace on the Korean Peninsula], which was based on a seven-month in-depth study by the National Security Panel from the Six-Party Talks on September 6, 2005, to April 2006, examining the relationship between North Korea's nuclear abandonment, coercive diplomacy, economic assistance, normalization of relations, North Korean human rights, and a peace regime. The report is titled "Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and Normalization of Relations" and was primarily authored by Commissioner Park Jong-cheol (Korea Institute for National Unification).

The 16th report summarizes the positions of the United States and North Korea on denuclearization and normalization of relations, and suggests the changes in their respective stances required to achieve denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and normalization of relations between the two countries. Commissioner Park Jong-cheol points out that North Korea's position of seeking a package deal for denuclearization and normalization of relations is in sharp contrast with the U.S. position of pursuing gradual normalization of relations after denuclearization, and that both countries must find a compromise to resolve this issue. Commissioner Park argues that the South Korean government should first objectively assess the positions of the U.S. and North Korea, and then persuade both sides to reach a compromise.

"To find a breakthrough, the U.S. and North Korea must move beyond North Korea's package deal approach or the U.S. theory of North Korean regime change and seek a compromise. The alternative is to achieve an intermediate goal of partial progress in relations first." (From the text)

Author

Park Jong-cheol, EAI Research Fellow