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Resea rch Sevice
Nuclear Talks with North Korea?
September 14, 2017
The accelerated pace of North Korea's nuclear and missile testing, and continued threats against the
United States and its allies have raised questions over the usefulness, timing, scope, and goals of any
diplomatic talks with Pyongyang. An aggressive negotiation strategy is one of many options available to
the United States. The Trump Administration has stated that its approach of maximum pressure-
through strengthened United Nations sanctions, increased economic pressure, and ramped up military
cooperation with allies-is aimed at convincing Pyongyang to de-escalate and return to the path of
dialogue. South Korean President Moon has said, [W]e have to add dialogue to the current menu of
sanctions and pressure under the right conditions.
Trump Administration officials have made a variety of statements on whether or when talks should occur.
On August 30, President Trump tweeted, Talking is not the answer! and in another tweet called the
South Korean President's efforts to resume dialogue appeasement. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and
Secretary of Defense James Mattis, however, called the U.S. strategy peaceful pressure that was
ultimately seeking to convince North Korea to enter negotiations on denuclearization. Pentagon officials
have said that their actions to bolster deterrence are in support of diplomacy.
Timing
Those who advocate for immediately starting talks, including former U.S. officials who faced past nuclear
crises with North Korea, view them as a way to de-escalate tensions and lessen the chance of war.
However, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said after a September 14 North Korean missile test that
dialogue was now impossible and could only be pursued once new sanctions have had a greater impact.
A similar view, expressed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, among others, is that talks in the near
term are counterproductive and possibly embolden or reward Pyongyang for its actions. During the
summer of 2017, South Korean President Moon proposed low-level dialogues, but North Korea rejected
the overtures.
Preconditions
Whether and what conditions should be met before diplomatic talks with North Korea could begin is
unresolved, and may be a key stumbling block to any resumption of dialogue. The United States and
Japan have said that talks would only be possible after North Korea commits to full denuclearization.
Secretary of State Tillerson has said that North Korea must take concrete steps to reduce the threat
posed by its nuclear and missile programs before the United States would consider talks, which would be
conditioned upon an understanding that the ultimate goal is moving toward denuclearization.
CRS iNSIGHT
Prepared for Members and
Committees of Congress](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.crs/govciuy0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)