SIX-PARTY TALKS SIX-PARTY TALKS Initiated: 27 August 2003 Russian Federation: Russia exerts less influence on Participants: China, Democratic People’s Republic the DPRK than China, as Russian trade with the of Korea (DPRK), Japan, Russian Federation, DPRK has hit historic lows in recent years. Due to a Republic of Korea, and the United States. shared border, Russia is also concerned about the flow of refugees that would occur in the event of a conflict. Russia wishes to see the DPRK’s nuclear Background: weapons program dismantled in order to prevent the proliferation of nuclear materials and technology to The goal of the Six-Party Talks is to identify a course both state and non-state actors. of action to bring security and stability to the Korean Peninsula. The main issue that the talks address is the Republic of Korea: In 1953 the United States, DPRK nuclear weapons program. The Six-Party China, and the DPRK reached an armistice that ended Talks began in 2003, shortly after the DPRK the fighting of the Korean War. This agreement was announced its intention to withdraw from the Treaty not signed by South Korean President Syngman on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Rhee; therefore, the two Koreas technically remain at The United States requested the participation of war. South Korea is interested in seeing the DPRK China, Japan, South Korea, and Russia due to the dismantle its nuclear weapons program as it poses a DPRK’s breaches of the bilateral Agreed Framework direct security threat to peace and security on the of 1994. Talks have taken place in Beijing, China. Korean Peninsula. Due to a change in policy towards the DPRK that occurred in the late 1990’s with the Sunshine Policy, which aimed at promoting Participants: reunification, another one of South Korea’s main goals within the Six-Party Talks is to create a China: China, the DPRK’s main trading partner, has political atmosphere in which reunification of the two provided Pyongyang with an enormous amount of nations can be achieved. humanitarian and energy assistance. Because of this United States: The United States wishes to see the relationship, China plays a vital role in acting as a DPRK nuclear weapons program dismantled in order mediator for the Six-Party Talks. China has an to prevent the proliferation of nuclear technology and interest in preserving stability in the DPRK due to the materials to both state and non-state actors. The large number of refugees it would receive if tensions United States is committed to defend South Korea in rose. Regional stability is also needed to ensure accordance with the Mutual Security Agreement China’s continued economic growth. signed in 1953. The United States has approximately DPRK: The leadership of the DPRK has made it 37,000 troops stationed in South Korea. clear that it believes its nuclear weapons program provides vital national security benefits. Energy production is also one of the primary concerns of the Developments: DPRK leadership. The DPRK economy is weak, and the nation has suffered multiple famines in recent For related information, see sections on Joint years that have killed large numbers of its citizens. Declaration of South and North Korea, KEDO, and Within the Six-Party Talks, the leaders of the DPRK IAEA seek to gain security, energy, and economic benefits. 2011: Despite threats from North Korea, the United Japan: Japan believes that the DPRK’s nuclear States and South Korea started their annual joint weapons program directly threatens its national military exercises on 28 February. The exercises, security. Besides seeking the denuclearization of the designed to test force preparedness for a conflict with Korean Peninsula, Japan wishes to address other North Korea, were described by both parties as issues in the Six-Party Talks, such as the abduction of “defensive in nature” but were viewed by the DPRK Japanese citizens by the DPRK government. as acts of aggression. They will continue through 30 April. Inventory of International Nonproliferation Organizations and Regimes SP-1 Center for Nonproliferation Studies Last updated: 8/4/2011 SIX-PARTY TALKS On 15 March, North Korea indicated to Russia its North Korean visit and neither side has disclosed willingness to return to the Six-Party Talks if they what the parties discussed. were resumed unconditionally. Russia responded the 2010: On 11 January, DPRK Foreign Minister Paek next day indicating its readiness to restart the Six- Nam Sun stated that the formation of a peace treaty Party Talks. with the United States was a precondition for his Also on 15 March the G8 Foreign Ministers country’s return to the Six-Party Talks. condemned DPRK’s continued violation of UN On 4 February, Kurt Campbell, U.S. Assistant Security Council Resolutions 1718 and 1874 Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs following DPRK’s disclosure of uranium enrichment responded by announcing that United States would activities. continue to hold the DPRK’s return to the Six-Party On 17 March, South Korea rejected North Korean Talks as an essential precondition to discussing a proposals to return to the Six-Party Talks to discuss peace treaty or lifting any sanctions imposed by the its uranium enrichment capabilities. The South United Nations. Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan said that On 26 March, a South Korean warship, the Cheonan, the DPRK must show its commitment to sank after coming into contact with a torpedo, killing disarmament not just in words but also in action, 46 soldiers. In May, South Korea formally accused demanding disarmament steps taken by the DPRK DPRK of launching a torpedo against its warship, but before resuming negotiations. North Korea denied having any involvement in the On 22 July, nuclear negotiators from South Korea explosion. South Korean officials stated they would and the DPRK met on the sidelines of the ASEAN not resume Six-Party Talks until the Cheonan Regional Forum in Bali. The meeting represented the incident was resolved and an official policy response first direct engagement between the two countries from North Korea was given. since 2008. After the meeting, both sides confirmed On 22 April, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that they were prepared to undertake efforts to restart called for a reconvening of Six-Party Talks, after Six-Party Talks. DPRK announced it would not eliminate its nuclear U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, who attended weapons program, but instead wanted to work with the ASEAN Regional Forum, declared that the “other nuclear weapons states” in their United States was encouraged by the dialogue nonproliferation efforts. between the North and South, but that the DPRK On 27 August, North Korea’s Kim Jong-il met with must undergo a “change in behavior” before talks can Chinese President Hu Jintao in an attempt by China be resumed. Clinton then met with Japanese Foreign to re-engage North Korea in Six-Party Talks. During Minister Takeaki Matsumoto and South Korean the meeting Kim Jong-il expressed hope for “the Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan. Following the early resumption of the talks.” meeting, they issued a trilateral statement declaring that talks between the two Koreas must be “a 8 November, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano sustained process” and that Six-Party dialogue would called on Six-Party countries to resume talks “at an not resume until the DPRK displayed a “sincere appropriate time.” However, South Korean military effort” to reconcile with South Korea. On the last day exercises near a disputed sea border prompted DPRK of the Bali forum, Clinton invited Kim Kye Gwan, to shell South Korean Yeonpyeong Island on 23 North Korea’s vice foreign minister and former chief November. Artillery fire was exchanged amidst nuclear envoy, to New York for “exploratory” talks international fears of further attacks and military on the resumption of Six-Party dialogue. escalation. On July 28 and 29, the U.S. Special Envoy to North On 28 November, China called for emergency talks Korea, Stephen Bosworth, met with North Korean with the Six-Party nations in an attempt to ease First Vice Minister Kim Kye Gwan in New York to tensions on the Korean peninsula and strengthen discuss the possibility of a resumption of Six-Party communication among the Six-Party. Although Talks. Following their meetings, Kim stated, “I am China stated that emergency consultations do not satisfied with talks this time,” and expressed North mean a resumption of Six-Party Talks, the idea was Korea’s intention to continue dialogue in the future. negatively received by South Korea, Japan, and the Kim specifically called for “more bilateral” talks to United States who felt the timing was not right for precede a resumption of Six-Party negotiations. talks and that DPRK needed to fulfill its disarmament However, the U.S. has not issued a statement on the obligations before Six-Party talks could resume. Inventory of International Nonproliferation Organizations and Regimes SP-2 Center for Nonproliferation Studies Last updated: 8/4/2011 SIX-PARTY TALKS In that same month, North Korea unveiled its secret On 25 May, the DPRK conducted an underground 2,000 centrifuge uranium enrichment facility at the nuclear test about 70 kilometers northwest of Yongbyon complex. North Korea stated that the Kimchaek, the site of the 2006 underground nuclear facility will produce LEU for a light-water reactor test. This international community, including all five under construction in the same complex. However, permanent members of the United Nations Security the plant can also be converted to produce HEU for Council, strongly condemned this act. nuclear weapons. On 12 June, the United Nations Security Council After returning from an unofficial visit to North unanimously adopted Resolution 1874.