Publication

This paper discusses the role of the EU in attempting to dissuade North Korea from developing nuclear weapons. Every strategy to reign in North Korea's weapons programmes have been unsuccessful. Neither sanctions, incentives nor ‘strategic patience’ have succeeded in the long-term. The author argues that there appears to be no prospect that North Korea would barter its nuclear arsenal for diplomatic or economic gain and that the EU have played nothing more than a supporting role. If North Korea moves towards market reforms in order to overcome its poverty trap, however, there may be opportunities for a greater role.