Introduction

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, or North Korea) joined the ranks of nuclear powers in October 2006 when it exploded its first nuclear device. The test, which was partially successful, unequivocally demonstrated the DPRK’s nuclear weapons capability. The DPRK wants to be recognized as a nuclear power, but the four major powers (the U.S., Russia, China, and Japan) surrounding the Korean peninsula are reluctant to accept the fact, and seek to bring about North Korea’s denuclearization. North Korea’s acquisition of nuclear weapons had far-reaching repercussions for peace and security in Northeast Asia and nuclear proliferation worldwide. The six-party talks, which first began in summer 2003 to resolve North Korea’s second nuclear crisis, have convened intermittently. Despite some setbacks, the talks for North Korea’s denuclearization continue moving forward.