North Korea

Should the United States seek negotiations and engagement with North Korea?
Although Victor D. Cha seems like he would know more about the situation with North Korea, being in Asian Studies and Asia director, I believe David C. Kang makes a better argument. David Kang points out the facts. The U.S. and North Korea are in a relationship depending on suspicion. Kang makes the point that with the views the U.S. holds on North Korea it's no doubt they feel threatened. And as North Korea feels threatened they will remain on guard and unwilling to cooperate. "A North Korea that feels threatened and perceives the U.S. administration to be actively attempting to increase pressure on it is unlikely to trust the United States" (176). Both the United States and North Korea need to work and begin to trust each other by "building confidence in the other". No relationship works without trust; even a relationship between countries. Both countries need to work to fulfill responsibilities on the framework. "The United States and North Korea are still technically at war--the 1953 armistice was never replaced with a peace treaty" (179). So yes, the United States needs to seek negotiations with North Korea, not simply sit back or refuse because of our past with the country. Isolating and continuing to pressure North Korea will only heighten their threatened emotion and cause more conflict.