ABSTRACT
This chapter on bi-multilateral approaches to defusing North Korea's nuclear crisis in 2002-2005 proceeds in several steps. The prelude to diplomatic opening and China's role in hosting the Six-Party Talks on North Korea is examined first, to be followed by an analysis of each of the three rounds of Beijing talks held and the reasons why the fourth round of talks was stillborn. In order to address the last issue, the broader context and setting for domestic politics and foreign policy issues linkage in some key member countries of the Six-Party Talks are explored. For example, the 2004 US presidential election politics and the effects of the Six-Party Talks on the US-ROK alliance played a role. The chapter concludes by addressing the rationale for going beyond the Six-Party Talks and the challenges of turning it into a regional security forum through institution building in Northeast Asia.
