What will it take for the Trump administration to achieve denuclearization of N. Korea
The premise that the United States and other stakeholders in Northeast Asia should accept the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) as a de facto nuclear weapons state has steadily gained increasing support among North Korea pundits. Many argue that policy should shift away from denuclearization and instead focus on deterrence, management, and coexistence. The […]
The article from Foreign Affairs published in May/June 2026 argues that achieving denuclearization of North Korea (DPRK) is no longer a realistic near-term objective. The authors contend that previous attempts to achieve denuclearization have failed due to misunderstandings of the DPRK's nuclear arsenal and its functions. They reject the notion of recognizing the DPRK as a de facto nuclear weapons state and propose a comprehensive and coordinated approach for denuclearization based on a balance of incentives and deterrents.
The DPRK's nuclear arsenal serves five key functions: deterrence against perceived American threats, strategic parity with South Korea, regime legitimacy and elite loyalty, parallel pursuit of economic development and military strength, and support for aggressive foreign policy backed by weapons of mass destruction. The authors argue that these functions are critical to the regime's survival, making denuclearization a challenging goal to achieve.
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