CRS Issue Statement on the Korean Peninsula and Japan

The Korean Peninsula and Japan represent a study in contrasts for U.S. foreign policy interests the established democracies of Japan and the South Korea are long-standing U.S. military allies, while totalitarian North Korea represents one of the United States biggest challenges through its production of nuclear weapons and missiles and its record of serious human rights abuses. Issues for Congress with respect to the three states relate to strategy and policies to maintain U.S. interests in security, stability, human rights, and trade and financial relationships both with and within the region. The most prominent issue is North Koreas nuclear weapons program. For Congress, the major policy question is to what extent it should support a policy of engagement through diplomacy and incentives or a policy of coercion through additional pressure and confrontation, or a combination of the two. A challenge for the United States is balancing its desire to achieve a full dismantlement of North Koreas nuclear weapons program and prevent proliferation with concerns about North Koreas willingness to stick with any deal, the continued evolution of its long-range missile capabilities, and the interests of the four other parties China, South Korea, Japan, and Russia in the Six-Party Talks over North Koreas program. The six parties have not held talks since December 2008. Chinas position as North Koreas dominant provider of energy, trade and aid, and diplomatic support raises questions about how hard Washington should pressure Beijing to cooperate with U.S. goals. Additional uncertainty has been added to the entire basket of North Korean issues by the emergence of signs of instability inside North Korea, including North Korean leader Kim Jong-ils reported health problems, an anticipated succession process, and an apparent crackdown against market activity inside North Korea.