George W. Bush's Six Party Talks

When George W. Bush became president in 2001, his administration decided to postpone negotiations with North Korea and displayed doubt about Pyongyang sticking to the Agreed Framework (2). In 2002, Bush’s administration claimed that North Korea was secretly improving their uranium, but Pyongyang denied this claim (2). In that same year, the fuel oil shipments that were accepted to while President Clinton was in office were suspended. By the end of 2002, the Agreed Framework had been ended (2). By January 2003, the relationship between the U.S. and North Korea was at its worst point when North Korea’s official removed from the Non Proliferation Treaty (2). Four months later, U.S. officials conveyed that North Korea admitted to having at least one nuclear weapon

(2). Later in 2003, the Bush administration made it clear that they wanted to reconnect with North Korea by joining the Six Party Talks (2). The Six Party Talks included South Korea, Japan, Russia, and China (2).

In 2005, a comment was made by the Six Party Talks in which North Korea decided to abandon its nuclear weapons program, accept IAEA inspections, and rejoin the Non Proliferation Treaty while maintaining the right to peaceful nuclear energy (2). The other countries decided to provide energy assistance and discuss giving North Korea light water reactors. In July 2006, the development was stopped when North Korea was irritated by the U.S. targeting its financial assets and pace of the light water reactor project (2). In October 2006, North Korea performed its first nuclear test and the U.S. answered by requiring North Korea to end testing its nuclear weapons and to abandon its missile program. A spokesperson from North Korea’s government stated that the test was “entirely attributable to United States threats, sanctions and pressure.” (2). The spokesperson also accused the Bush administration of replying to North Korea’s “patient and sincere efforts with sanctions and blockades” (2). In July 2007, North Korea closed its nuclear facilities at Yongbyon in return for fuel oil and separation from the U.S list of state sponsors of terrorism

(2). In 2009, President Barack Obama started his first term with addressing “leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict” that “we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your first” (2). North Korea attempted to launch a satellite in space by launching a Unha 2 rocket, but it failed. On May 24, North Korea held a second nuclear test to help “settle the scientific and technological problems” in increasing the strength of its nuclear weapons (2). In December 2011, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il died after serving for 17 years and his youngest son, Kim Jong-un was then named the leader of North Korea (2). A year later, North Korea successfully launched the Unha-3 rocket by placing an object into orbit (2). The Unha-3 rocket was similar to a missile and could reach as far as California (2). Between 2013 and 2016, North Korea completed three more nuclear tests (2). In September 2016, North Korea commented that it tested its first hydrogen bomb (2). In 2017, President Trump had stated that “if the U.S. was forced to defend itself or its allies, it would have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea” (2). Trump stated that the North Korean leader was “on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime” (2). Kim Jong-un responded to Trump’s comment by stating that he is “mentally deranged and that he would pay dearly for threatening to destroy North Korea” (2). He also responded to Trump’s comment by saying that “have convinced me, rather than frightening or stopping me, that the path I chose is correct and that it is the one I have to follow to the last” (2). Kelsey Davenport, director for nonproliferation policy at the Arms Control Association stated that “North Korea has typically responded to threats with threats, to provocation with provocations” (2). Davenport also stated that “in part North Korea is responding to the dangerous and bellicose rhetoric of President Trump” (2). On the Fourth of July, North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile, powerful enough to reach Los Angeles in thirty minutes (5). Kim Jong-un stated that the launch was a “Fourth of July gift” to the Trump administration (4). In reply, Trump stated that he wants to increase spending on missile defense by “many billions of dollars” (4). On September 3, North Korea tested the largest nuclear weapon it had ever tested before (4).
In March 2018, Kim Jong-un had reportedly invited Trump to meet for negotiations about North Korea’s nuclear program (2). The White House has confirmed that Trump had accepted this invitation by Kim Jong-un. Trump tweeted that “great progress being made but sanctions will remain until an agreement is reached.” (2). On April 20, North Korea reported that it would discontinue nuclear testing and shut down the site where its six previous nuclear tests happened (2). This would be the first time a meeting between a U.S. president and North Korean leader would take place. The White House has stated that “President trump wants Kim to take specific steps toward eliminating his nuclear weapons before any sit-down” (3). The United States is in a commanding position in these negotiations because Kim’s intentions don’t directly threaten our national security (6). The U.S. is in a dominant position because Trump has no pressure to have to make a deal and the U.S. has military superiority over North Korea (6). Also, as a result of military superiority, Trump will demand a lot from Kim while offering little in exchange (6). Kim will experience pressure to make a deal and as a result, will make the process for making a deal longer (6). The longer it takes for sanctions to be given, the higher the risk that Kim will lose power (6).