North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Development and Diplomacy

North Koreas first test of a nuclear weapon on October 9, 2006, and its multiple missile tests of July 4, 2006, escalate the issue of North Korea in U.S. foreign policy. These acts show a North Korean intent to stage a nuclear breakout of its nuclear program and openly produce nuclear weapons. The main objective of the Bush Administration is to secure the dismantling of North Koreas plutonium and uranium-based nuclear programs. Its strategy has been 1 terminating the Agreed Framework 2 withholding U.S. reciprocal measures until North Korea takes steps to dismantle its nuclear programs 3 assembling an international coalition, through six party negotiations, to apply diplomatic and economic pressure on North Korea and 4 imposing financial sanctions on foreign banks that facilitate North Koreas illegal counterfeiting activities. China, South Korea, and Russia have criticized the Bush Administration for not negotiating directly with North Korea, and they voice opposition to economic sanctions and to the potential use of force against Pyongyang. China, Russia, and South Korea have expressed support for key North Korean negotiating proposals in six-party talks. The talks have made little progress. North Korea has widened progressively the gap between its core negotiating position and the U.S. core position, for example when it asserted that it would not dismantle or even disclose its nuclear programs until light water reactors were physically constructed in North Korea. Critics increasingly have charged that despite its tough rhetoric, the Bush Administration gives North Korea a relatively low priority in U.S. foreign policy and takes a passive diplomatic approach to the nuclear issue and other issues. This report replaces IB91141, North Koreas Nuclear Weapons Program, by Larry A. Niksch. It will be updated periodically.