Publication

This paper highlights four frequently repeated misconceptions it argues are connected to the crisis created by North Korea’s progressing nuclear program. More specifically, the author asserts that 1) characterizations of North Korea’s regime as irrational are wrong; 2) paranoid about subversion, Pyongyang is unlikely to exchange its nuclear weapons for greater trade opportunities with democratic countries; 3) the option of military action against North Korea to prevent it from getting nuclear missiles is currently not on the table; and 4) no one should expect China to solve the problem as Beijing fears regime collapse in Pyongyang more than a nuclear-armed North Korea.