Another observation has to do with North Korea’s nuclear program. There is no way for Pyongyang to renounce nuclear weapons. They both protect the regime from a potential U.S.–ROK attack and allow it to gain international assistance through blackmail. They also make North Korea look and feel much more important than the impoverished country actually is. The five countries negotiating with North Korea need to understand that the objective of their currently frozen negotiations—North Korea’s denuclearization—cannot be met within the format of the Six-Party Talks.

Finally, no one can “deliver” North Korea, not even its only ally and main donor China. The way forward is through engaging Pyongyang in various economic projects which meet the needs of the North Korean leadership. Resumption of North Korea–ROK economic ties; more Chinese investment in the North; and building a gas pipeline and a rail road from Russia to South Korea across North Korea look like potential game changers as far as the future development of North Korea is concerned. The nuclear issue needs to be discussed, within the broader context of regional security, but it should not be allowed to block engagement in other areas. Pyongyang needs to be drawn out of its self-made shell, not cornered there. Experience shows that party apparatchiks can be better partners than generals.