Negotiating with the DPRK

Abraham M. Denmark, Zachary M. Hosford, and Michael J. Zubrow | Center for a New American Security | 2009-11-01

One of the most difficult relationships to navigate over the past 15 years has been, without question, North Korea.  A wide range of issues, from the threat of a nuclear arms program to the detainment of American journalists, has found the United States struggling to maintain diplomatic relations with an often unwilling partner.

"Although past agreements have not achieved America's ultimate objective of denuclearizing North Korea, there is a silver lining. Countless hours of engagement between the United States and the North over the last 15 years have yielded valuable lessons for future negotiators. To illuminate these lessons, the authors interviewed a diverse group of more than 50 high-level current and former American and South Korean government officials, politicians, academics, journalists, businessmen, and others experienced in dealing with North Korea over the last two decades. These individuals learned the hard way that, when dealing with the DPRK, negotiation tactics have strategic implications. The top eight obstacles to successful negotiations with the DPRK and the recommended negotiating strategies and tactics for addressing them
are summarized below."