ABSTRACT
The run-up to North Korea’s October 2006 nuclear test was marked by growing tensions between North Korea and its neighbours and in bilateral relations between the Kim Jong Il government and the George W. Bush administration. These two sets of tension were in marked contrast to the improvement in relations that had characterized the April 2003–September 2005 period. Inter-bureaucratic differences in the Bush administration continued throughout this period. The hawks sought to put pressure on the Kim Jong Il government. A major change occurred in the international system which had an indirect impact on the North Korean nuclear crisis when Washington became directly involved in resolving the Iranian nuclear issue. The election of hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the presidency of Iran in mid-2005 led to a tougher stance from Tehran regarding its nuclear programme. The Hu government became more actively involved in resolving the Iranian nuclear issue, and eventually joined the European Union-3 talks with the USA and Russia.
