Toward a Comprehensive Understanding of North Korea's Nuclear Conundrum: The Six Parties in Complex Interdependence from 2002 to 2008

In order to address the tensions that erupted out of North Korea's nuclear crisis, a multilateral framework, known as the Six-Party Talks, was arranged between the United States and North Korea along with four other countries in Northeast Asia. On the surface, Washington seems to possess many of the requisite means to win other countries to its side, whereas Pyongyang is widely considered a pariah with little influence over the given issue. However, North Korea has posed strategic challenges to the major powers, including the United States, over the years by accumulating more nuclear materials and conducting nuclear tests in between subsequent negotiations. This study is designed to shed light on the security conundrum caused by North Korea's nuclear crisis. In particular, I seek to examine the differences and compatibilities of the six negotiating parties' major policy objectives and priorities, the effects of which can explain bargaining positions and subsequent negotiated outcomes (or lack thereof) in complex multilateral talks, dealing with North Korea's controversial nuclear program.