Nervous About a Nuclear Neighbor: Japan's Policy on North Korea

Abstract

Every chapter includes a review of each nation's diplomatic history and existing policy with Japan regarding North Korea as the foundation for policy recommendations provided at the beginning of each chapter. Additionally, the chapters on Japan-US, Japan-DPRK, and Japan-ROK include leadership analyses, which evaluate the North Korea policies of the relatively new administrations in the US and Japan as well as the two presidential candidates from South Korea. Our research demonstrates that a coordinated, multilateral policy approach is the only method to restart the stalled denuclearization efforts with the DPRK. As North Korea faces a contracting economy, natural disasters, and potential food and energy shortages in 2022, it is a prime opportunity for Japan and its allies to reform their coordinated policy approach and begin negotiating a denuclearization policy linked to a gradual normalization of relations with further incentives. The current international climate presents new opportunities for Japan to play a central role in the normalization of diplomatic relations and the denuclearization of North Korea.