At the end of the Cold War, North Korea changed its military interventions into an approach to negotiations in order to use diplomatic talks to advance its political and propaganda aims. Since then there has been a long period of mistrust and provocation between the involved countries, notably North and South Korea, the USA, China and Japan.
After the nuclear weapons test in North Korea in 2006 it has become even more important to rethink the security policy concept of the whole region. The most important way to prevent an outbreak of the “cold war” to a “hot war” is to keep the
negotiation process going on.
To find out the main interests of the parties and negotiate between them, China initiated the so-called Six-party talks, which have started in 2003 and since then had to cope with several difficulties. They aim to find a peaceful resolution to the security
concerns of the participating states. The most important issue is the North Korean nuclear weapons program that is provoking the stability of the whole region. For that reason are the six-party talks “a matter of extreme importance” to develop a world nuclear security (Lee 2004: 120).
After North Korea made public that it has built a nuclear weapon one of the main risks is that South Korea, Japan and maybe also Taiwan could also build one which would raise the risk for a military escalation of the conflict. Another dangerous threat is North Koreas export of nuclear weapons into countries that are part of America’s so-called “axis of evil”.
In December 1991 North Korea agreed to sign two documents with South Korea. The first was an agreement on reconciliation, non-aggression, exchanges and cooperation; the other was the Joint Declaration on the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Thereafter the two Koreas entered a difficult negotiation to implement a nuclear inspection regime, which broke down without agreement. [...]
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
3. THE KOREAN CONFLICT
3.1 WHAT IS IT ABOUT?
3.1.1 The struggle about the absolute power
3.1.2 North Korea`s nuclear programme
3.2 MAIN CONFLICT PARTIES AND THEIR RELATIONS
3.2.1 North Korea, China and Russia
3.2.2 South Korea, USA and Japan
4. NEGOTIATION EFFORTS IN THE KOREAN CONFLICT
4.1 MEDIATION EFFORTS OF JIMMY CARTER AND THE AGREED FRAMEWORK
4.2 THE KOREAN PENINSULA ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION (KEDO)
4.3 THE SIX-PARTY TALKS
4.3.1 The parties and their interests
4.3.2 Outcomes
4.3.3 North Korea’s strategy within six-party talks
5. RESULTS
6. REFERENTS
Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the role of multilateral negotiation efforts in mitigating the Korean Conflict, specifically focusing on the Six-Party Talks. It analyzes how different states attempt to manage North Korea's nuclear program through diplomatic channels, despite significant mistrust and differing national interests.
- The historical development of the Korean Conflict and its impact on modern diplomacy.
- The effectiveness and limitations of international mediation efforts, such as the Agreed Framework.
- Strategic behavior of North Korea, including its use of "cliff diplomacy" and nuclear leverage.
- The divergent interests and power dynamics between the participating nations in the Six-Party Talks.
- The role of China as a regional mediator and the influence of U.S.-North Korean relations.
Excerpt from the Book
4.3.3 North Korea’s strategy within six-party talks
The question is why North Korea goes so far to war and again and again provokes positive negotiation outcomes with its threats to leave negotiations or the continuation of its nuclear programme and military tests. First it is North Korea’s unconventional “cliff diplomacy” in which it drives all events “at the brink of collapse [...] to enhance its negotiation leverage”. Second it is because of the high rate of mistrust of the USA (Lee 2000: 69).
As long as it does not come to a military de-escalation (which no party does really want) it is for North Korea a play for time, because meanwhile it is probably working on the completion of its nuclear weapons programme, which increases its negotiation power.
Chapter Summaries
1. INTRODUCTION: Outlines the shift in North Korea's policy towards diplomatic negotiation following the Cold War and defines the scope of the paper regarding the Six-Party Talks.
2. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: Reviews the colonial period and the division of the Korean Peninsula as a foundation for understanding the current conflict dynamics.
3. THE KOREAN CONFLICT: Analyzes the core ideological struggles and the significance of North Korea's nuclear program within the context of regional security.
4. NEGOTIATION EFFORTS IN THE KOREAN CONFLICT: Discusses specific diplomatic initiatives including Jimmy Carter's mediation, the KEDO program, and the structure of the Six-Party Talks.
5. RESULTS: Evaluates the overall effectiveness of these negotiations in preventing a full-scale "hot war" and maintaining regional stability.
Keywords
Korean Conflict, North Korea, Six-Party Talks, Nuclear Proliferation, Diplomacy, Multilateral Negotiation, Agreed Framework, KEDO, Foreign Policy, Regional Stability, Cliff Diplomacy, International Relations, USA, China, South Korea.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research?
The paper examines the role of multilateral diplomatic efforts, specifically the Six-Party Talks, in attempting to manage and resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis and prevent military escalation.
What are the primary themes addressed in the text?
Key themes include the historical roots of the conflict, the strategic utilization of nuclear programs by North Korea as leverage, the role of mediators, and the complex interplay of interests between the involved regional powers.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to provide an overview of the most significant negotiation efforts in the Korean Conflict and to analyze how these multilateral processes functioned despite the inherent difficulties and mistrust.
Which scientific method is utilized?
The work employs an analytical approach based on political science literature, historical review, and a qualitative assessment of negotiation processes and diplomatic documents.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
It covers the historical background, the motivations and interests of the conflict parties, the failure of earlier bilateral efforts, the implementation of multilateral frameworks like the Agreed Framework and KEDO, and finally the Six-Party Talks.
Which keywords best describe this work?
The work is best characterized by terms such as North Korean nuclear program, multilateral diplomacy, Six-Party Talks, regional security, and conflict management.
How does North Korea utilize "cliff diplomacy" in its negotiations?
North Korea uses "cliff diplomacy" by driving events to the brink of collapse, such as through nuclear tests or threats of withdrawal, to increase its bargaining power and force other nations to engage in negotiations on its terms.
What was the outcome of the Six-Party Talks mentioned in the paper?
While the talks did not achieve total denuclearization, they served as a crucial venue for making public commitments and preventing a "hot war" by maintaining a dialogue that established conditions for regional stability.
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- Sabine Forkel (Autor:in), 2014, Negotiation as Prevention of Violent Conflict, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/273555
