Handling North Korea: Strategy and Issues

In many aspects policies toward North Korea have been driven by perceptions of its regime and prospects for its future. Handling Pyongyang, however, includes dealing with various critical issues, such as weapons of mass destruction, human rights violations, Korean unification, the U.S.-ROK alliance, and stability in East Asia. Those issues must be carefully prioritized for any effective coordination between Washington and Seoul. Engagement or containment alone will not untangle these complex issues. A more cautious, gradual, and selective approach is required.