The US and North Korea

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CWA # 482, 7 June 2021
The US and North Korea
Between "strategic patience" and "grand bargain," Biden's policy options on Pyongyang are limited

  Dhanushaa P

Given the regional political equation in East Asia and the growing differences between the US and China, North Korea will remain a challenge for Biden

On 30 April, Jen Psaki the White House press secretary, announced: "... we've completed our DPRK policy review, which was thorough, rigorous, and inclusive. We consulted closely with outside experts and our predecessors from several previous administrations, and our way forward draws from their lessons learned and shared. Our goal remains the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula...Our policy calls for a calibrated, practical approach that is open to and will explore diplomacy with the DPRK, and to make practical progress that increases the security of the United States, our allies, and deployed forces."

A day later she said: "Our Policy will not be focusing in strategic patience, nor will it rely on grand bargain."

What does the US want in North Korea?
The primary objective of the US is to denuclearize that region because of the threats that are being initiated and possessed by North Korea.  Since 1985, this has been the US approach but was not a success. The nuclear proliferation in North Korea endangers three critical aspects of America's commitment to military support and potential use of nuclear weapons and global nonproliferation of nuclear weapons. 

On North Korea, what are Biden's options? 
The strategies that the present US administration can use is the calibrated and more of a practical approach, according to the statement made by the US spokesperson to the media. 

The US might target the dire economic conditions that North Korea is facing for a long time, especially during the pandemic, to meet their demands. 

Biden has to plan a long-term multilateral approach in denuclearizing the Korean peninsula by getting coordinated help from the other countries and also by imposing sanctions through the UN legal framework, a method of comprehensive coercion. 

Biden's stated strategy stands between Obama's and Trump's administration. The sanctions and statements made by Obama regarding denuclearization are more of a hands-off approach of a dual-track policy that kept its engagement open for the good behaviour and imposed sanctions for the bad behaviour. On the other hand, the Trump' administration followed a policy of grand bargain and initiated direct talks with the North Korean President. There were two big summits at the highest level during Trump's presidency with North Korea. 

Biden is likely to work with other countries. The following statement from the administration reflects the approach: "We are going to be working closely with our allies to address the threats posed by both of these countries through diplomacy as well as stern deterrence." Biden's strategy in seeking the help of China, Japan and South Korea reflects his interests in making multilateral policies and citing the initiatives of the 'six-party talks' and also has shown interests in resuming the Singapore talks initiative that affects Trump's strategy.

With North Korea, neither Obama's sanctions approach, not Trump's grand bargain approach succeeded. Now Biden wants to pursue an approach that is neither Obama's nor Trump's. Will he succeed? Outside the above two options, there are not many for Biden. Given the regional political equation in East Asia and the growing differences between the US and China, North Korea will remain a challenge for Biden.

About the author

Dhanushaa P is currently pursuing post-graduation at the Department of Political Science in Madras Christian College, Madras University. Her research interests include science diplomacy, maritime security, refugee crisis in South Asia, and India's climate change policy. Currently, she is an intern at the School of Conflict and Security Studies, NIAS.

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