North Korea Brief II: Critical Allied Relationships
In part two of The Cipher Brief’s Expert Briefing on North Korea, Ambassador Joseph DeTrani focuses on the critical relationships with allies and partners and […] More
Archive for ‘Joseph DeTrani’
North Korea Brief I: Path to Progress on Negotiations
Experts cited the lack of intercontinental ballistic missiles in North Korea’s 70th anniversary parade celebrations over the weekend as a sign that the nuclear nation […] More
Don’t Compromise Objectives with North Korea
We know from twenty-five years of negotiations that patience and persistence are required if we hope to resolve nuclear and other issues with North Korea. […] More
Lessons Learned From 25 Years of Negotiating with North Korea
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is resetting expectations for a denuclearization timeline for North Korea, saying Monday that it will take ‘decades’ to get North […] More
Why the U.S. Must Trust but Verify with North Korea
As Secretary of State Mike Pompeo heads to North Korea seeking signs of progress after the recent Singapore summit, some of his colleagues in the […] More
Like it or Not, Singapore Summit was a Success
The historic June 12th summit in Singapore between President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jung Un has moved us closer to a peaceful resolution of […] More
North Korea: From Wishful Thinking to ‘Possible’
The Panmunjom Declaration gives us hope that denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is possible. The Summit of South Korean President Moon Jae-in with North Korea’s […] More
Standing Firm on Denuclearization with Kim Jong Un
Getting North Korea to agree to the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of its nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons facilities will be a difficult task […] More
Nuke Mission Accomplished, Kim Jong Un Shifts to Economy
On Saturday, North Korea announced it was suspending nuclear weapons and ballistic missile testing, ahead of this week’s summit with South Korea and ahead of […] More
Deciphering Kim’s Secretive Visit to Beijing
Amb. Joseph DeTrani, Cipher Brief expert and former Special Envoy for the Six Party Talks with North Korea, shared his thoughts on the surprise trip […] More
How Trump Can Separate North Korea From Its Nukes
During two years of intense negotiations with North Korea, from August 2003 to September 2005, North Korea’s constant refrain to U.S. negotiators was, ‘Accept us […] More
Trump “Being Magnanimous” with Kim-Will He Reciprocate?
On Thursday, South Korean national security adviser Chung Eui-yong announced that President Donald Trump had accepted an invitation to meet with North Korean leader Kim […] More
Kim Says He’s Open to Denuclearization—But In Exchange for What?
North Korea’s weekend offer of peace talks over dinner with the first South Korean delegation there in more than a decade seems to be a […] More
With the Olympic Games Done, Let the Talks with North Korea Begin
The Pyeongchang Winter Olympics closed on Sunday, but the games may have opened the door for dialogue between the United States and North Korea. Following […] More
Don’t Talk to Kim if Nukes Are Off the Table
North Korea’s Olympic delegation has left Pyeongchang, and stuck South Korean President Moon Jae-in with a decision: whether to accept an invitation to Pyongyang for […] More
Little Reason for Big Hope from Korea
North Korea made clear its aim to divide the U.S. from its South Korean ally when the North and South negotiators met this week: “All […] More
Stop Firing Missiles and Start Talking
This has been an unprecedented year for nuclear proliferation in East Asia, namely in North Korea. If not halted quickly, it’s very possible the region […] More
Trump’s Trip to Asia Is a Flight He Can’t Miss
President Donald Trump’s trip to the region comes at an opportune time. The subject of North Korea will dominate much of the discussion in Tokyo, […] More
Expect ‘Ferocious’ North Korea Response If U.S. Strikes
The Trump Administration continues to pound away at North Korea, insisting military options are on the table, but so far the threats have not stopped […] More
Expect ‘Ferocious’ North Korea Response If U.S. Strikes
The Trump Administration continues to pound away at North Korea, insisting military options are on the table, but so far the threats have not stopped […] More
Do Not Accept North Korea as a Nuclear Armed Power
Following North Korea’s six nuclear test, reported to be far more powerful than any previous test conducted by the Kim regime, many wonder if denuclearizing […] More
Averting War on the Korean Peninsula
Potential conflict on the Korean Peninsula was averted this week when the North Korea media announced that Kim Jung un delayed a decision on firing […] More
Permitting North Korea Even a Few Nuclear Weapons is a Mistake
My first meeting with the North Korean delegation to the Six Party Talks in 2003 was instructive. Their lead negotiator, First Vice Foreign Minister Kim […] More
Lessons Learned After 25 Years of Failed Negotiations
Twenty-five years of failed negotiations with North Korea. Since 1993, our efforts to halt North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons have failed. What have we […] More