Plank solves—US-China collaboration towards dual track denuclearization de-escalates tensions in North Korea

Susan A. Thornton [author of letter below], "Debating North Korea: US and Chinese perspectives," Brookings, letters compiled by Susan A. Thornton, Li Nan, and Juliet Lee, 08-27-2021, https://www.brookings.edu/articles/debating-north-korea-us-and-chinese-perspectives/-- 嘉玮

I have heard Chinese interlocutors argue in favor of U.S.-China cooperation on the Korean Peninsula, in favor of a road map for denuclearization that would outline a step-by-step approach, and for a simultaneous dual track on denuclearization and addressing North Korean security concerns. You indicate that Pyongyang, while regressing in terms of internal repression and state control of the economy, will be more motivated by economic enticements from the outside once it comes out of the pandemic and that this presents an opportunity. I hope you are right; we are still waiting to see. The problem has always been, though, that such economic enticements pale in comparison to what Pyongyang sees as its existential security shield: nuclear weapons capability. The DPRK has shown incredible resilience in the face of sanctions and has even gone as far as to close its border with China, further isolating itself during the pandemic. It is also the case that such economic enticements are exceedingly difficult to offer and bestow, given the objectionable practices of and low trust in the North Korean regime.