A Call for "Comprehensive Settlement" in Korea

[Followup to Advices for Obama's North Korea Policy Abound] More advice for the Obama administration on North Korea policy is surfacing. Here is the Atlantic Council's policy brief that calls rightly for a "comprehensive settlement" in Korea. As inter-Korea relations deteriorates and the six party process is stalled, a new approach by the Obama's Korea policy team is much needed.

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Summary excerpts from the Atlantic Council's brief issue on "Achieving Peace and Security in Korea and North East Asia: A New US Diplomatic Strategy toward North Korea":

Unless President Obama adopts a new strategy of seeking a comprehensive settlement in Korea, the U.S. is unlikely to eliminate North Korea’s nuclear program.

Adopting a new diplomatic strategy to end the nuclear threat from North Korea is the core proposal of the Atlantic Council Final Report, with detailed recommendations for the Obama administration on policy toward the reclusive communist state.

Seeking a comprehensive settlement in Korea – including a peace agreement that replaces the 1953 Armistice – will facilitate the success of the Six Party Talks and resolve other critical security, political and economic issues on the peninsula that underlie the nuclear issue and fuel tensions in Northeast Asia.

Strategic Recommendations in Summary:

- Seek a Comprehensive Settlement: Express a firm U.S. commitment to achieve a comprehensive settlement in Korea both to facilitate the success of the Six-Party Talks on eliminating North Korea’s nuclear program and to resolve other critical security, political and economic issues on the peninsula that underlie the nuclear issue and fuel tensions in Northeast Asia.

- Appoint a Special Envoy: Name a Special Envoy with presidential authority to address outstanding security, political and economic issues with North Korea at the highest level, where decisions are made.

- Conclude a Denuclearization Agreement and other Accords: In parallel with a denuclearization agreement, a comprehensive settlement would take the form of a series of accords, including a peace agreement that replaces the 1953 Armistice, a U.S.-North Korea agreement for normalizing relations, a trilateral U.S.-South Korea-North Korea agreement on military measures, and a North-South accord based on the 1991 Basic Agreement.

- Offer Diplomatic Recognition of North Korea: Express a willingness to announce near-term U.S. diplomatic recognition of North Korea as soon as North Korea meets a number of stringent conditions.