Stimson Center 106d ago

Despite stringent international economic sanctions imposed primarily through the United Nations Security Council, North Korea's progress in nuclear and missile development as well as in its nuclear doctrine has been remarkable, particularly since negotiations with the Trump administration stalled in 2018-19. North Korea’s position that denuclearization is nonnegotiable was again emphasized at their most recent Party Congress held in February 2026. For Japan, the only nation to have suffered atomic bombings in war, a “world without nuclear weapons” is not merely an aspirational goal. Like the relationship between the long-term policy goal of “a world without nuclear weapons” and the short-term policy of realistic and practical nuclear disarmament measures, denuclearization and risk reduction can be distinguished as policy goals on different timelines in approaches to North Korea as well. In advance of Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi’s planned visit to Washington this month, three Japanese panelists discuss their views on how and why complete denuclearization should be emphasized in Japan’s, South Korea’s, and United States policy toward North Korea. Stimson expert, Jenny Town, will provide additional insights on American and South Korean perspectives.