Kamala Harris on North Korea: Change or Continuation?

Mats Engman

Commentaries and Op-eds September, 2024

Despite many efforts and different strategies, both previous and current U.S. administrations have been unsuccessful in preventing the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) from developing its nuclear and missile programs, a main objective of the U.S. policy on DPRK.

According to the SIPRI 2024 Yearbook, the DPRK is now estimated to have approximately fifty warheads, a sharp increase from the thirty that had been developed by early 2023. Heavy sanctions for decades, deterrence and defense strategies, alliances, and partnerships have all failed to achieve the stated objective of denuclearization. However, they have prevented a resumption of open hostilities whilst maintaining a fragile peace on the peninsula.

With the recent strategic partnership with Russia, continued arms race in the region, and ongoing provocations, tensions on the Korean Peninsula are rising, involving a key U.S. ally and some 28,000 U.S. troops. These developments raise questions about how a new president will shape U.S. foreign policy on North Korea.

 

Read the full article in The National Interest here.

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