The four‐party peace talks: Lost without a map

Abstract

Peace and stability in Northeast Asia may hinge on the success of the Four‐Party Peace Talks among the United States, China, and the two Koreas. However, the real stake in these talks is obscured by their very nature as “peace talks” and complicated by the intricacies of diplomacy involving four parties. What the United States requires in these talks is confidence building in the Korean peninsula. Indeed, what is at stake is trading tension reduction for a “soft landing” of North Korea. Up to this point, U.S. strategy and leadership necessary to bring about this goal have been lacking. If Washington continues on without a road map of where these talks should be headed, the supposed peace process could lead to dangerous disagreements between the United States and South Korea, complication of Sino‐American relations, and implosion or explosion of North Korea.