ABSTRACT
The presidency of George W. Bush began in January 2001. The Bush administration encountered a relatively stable international environment, with the USA as the undisputed hegemon and no apparent direct threat to its security. Pyongyang sought to continue with the modified Agreed Framework regime inherited from the Bill Clinton years, failing to recognize the change in US policy following the inauguration of the Bush administration. The Bush administration only extended an offer to Pyongyang to establish a dialogue about the expansion of its nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction activities. Bolton had denounced North Korea’s possession of biological and chemical weapons, development of a nuclear programme, and human rights record. With regard to the Bush administration, divisions between the hawks and doves made the principles and goals behind Washington’s policy towards North Korea difficult to discern. North Korea’s acceptance of the regime was initially hesitant at best.
