Washington Report, 2006-11

Abstract

For nearly 15 years, North Korea's quest to be achieve nuclear power status has created a tense environment in Northeast Asia. Those tensions came to a head on October 9 when Pyongyang tested a nuclear device, an act that not only appalled and outraged North Korea's neighbors but also provoked harsh condemnation and sanctions from the international community. By the end of October, North Korea had agreed to return to multilateral negotiations aimed at ending its nuclear program. However, it is far from clear whether the closed, recalcitrant dictatorship can be persuaded to fully abandon its long-held ambitions. James A. Kelly, former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, discusses how the pressures being brought to bear on North Korea by both internal and external forces may affect diplomatic efforts to bring North Korea into the global community in a peaceful manner. Washington Report is a bimonthly newsletter that provides an "inside-the-Beltway" perspective on developments in U.S.-Asia Pacific relations. The centerpiece of the report is an interview with a leading authority on an economic, political, and/or strategic issues of importance to transpacific relations.