Korean nuclear problem in 2019: challenges for the region and for Russia

Abstract

Despite the détente of 2018, the situation remains tense on the Korean Peninsula. Although the United States of America and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea summits have become almost regular, the two countries struggle to move forward with practical diplomatic work of nuclear issue, and their relations slowly creep towards a new crisis. The aim of this study is to describe the state of affairs on denuclearization or autumn 2019 and offer solutions for political progress. Current negotiations on the Korean Peninsula nuclear problem are exclusively bilateral. As a result, the entire region’s security depends on the outcome of Pyongyang and Washington. At the same time, these two players have very disparate goals and, lacking mutual trust, rarely make concessions on principal issues. For almost the entire 2019 the slipping of real negotiations was accompanied by intensive protocol communication between the leaders of North Korea and the USA. Both parties seemingly realize that they will not be able to agree, but they do not want to proceed to an open conflict just yet. Given the situation, other regional countries first and foremost, Russia should not to remain indifferent observers and call for a switch to multilateralism to ensure equal access to constructing common security.