Strategic Report
Vol.5 No.4 2026
Toward a Nuclear-Free Korean Peninsula : Policy Approa to North Korea
- Date
- 2026-05-26
- Authors
- Sung Hoon Lee, Sunwoo Paek, Jisun Yi, Kyoung-Seok Ha
- Keyword
- Korean Peninsula
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abstractthis report aims to present policy alternatives for halting and reducing north korea’s nuclear capabilities and eliciting north korean engagement amid volatile inter-korean relations. it proposes three pillars for inducing north korean responsiveness: (1) trust-building, (2)economic incentives, and (3) a multilateral arms control (disarmament) x-framework. in other words, the approach seeks to lay the groundwork for negotiations through trust-building between south and north korea, and between the united states and north korea; to elicit engagement through economic incentives; and to enhance the practical feasibility of a nuclear-free korean peninsula by inducing north korean participation in multilateral arms control (nuclear disarmament) platforms.the foremost pillar for inducing north korean engagement is trust-building. regarding inter-korean trust-building, the study examines the preemptive restoration of the september 19 military agreement, the use of north korea’s border reinforcement measures as an opportunity to create conditions for dialogue, the maintenance of humanitarian assistance, and the exploration of cooperation in emerging security areas. regarding u.s.-north korea trust-building, the study proposes measures including the opening of high-level dialogue and liaison offices, the provision of a security assurance x-framework and easing of international sanctions, and the activation of informal contacts with north korea.as economic incentive measures, the report first calls for the creation of a negotiating environment in the trust-building stage through humanitarian assistance and authorization of non-commercial exchanges. beginning in the pre-halt and pre-reduction stage, partial suspension and exemptions from sanctions, authorization of financial activities, economic assistance, and economic cooperation would be progressively expanded.measures to engage north korea in a multilateral disarmament regime can be designed to allow partial participation in the form of supplementary agreements or working groups, subject to north korea’s acceptance of specific agenda-based restrictions, such as a moratorium on nuclear testing, a freeze on fissile material production, and limits on missile testing, where formal membership in an existing arms control regime is not feasible. this approach can gradually draw north korea into a multilateral disarmament regime or multilateral arms control x-framework while preserving the fundamental principles of denuclearization and international norms. policy considerations include strengthening south korea’s role as a pacemaker facilitating u.s.-north korea negotiating momentum in the process of creating conditions for dialogue; enhancing rok-u.s. coordination and strategic communication; building cooperative and favorable conditions at the multilateral and neighboring-country levels; establishing diversified communication channels to broaden points of contact with north korea; and combining pragmatic incrementalism with functional multilateralism when reviewing multilateral arms control measures.
