Russia’s role in the six-party negotiations

The second nuclear crisis over North Korea’s nuclear issue erupted in the winter of 2002–2003. With the convening of the six-party talks in August 2003, an imminent military showdown of the U.S. and the DPRK was postponed, and Russia for the first time was allowed to participate in a multinational conference on North Korea’s nuclear issue. How then did Russia gain a seat at the six-party negotiating table? What are Russian contributions at the six-party talks? What are Russian views on the North Korean nuclear issue ? These are the main questions this paper will address. After three full sessions, the six-party talks are still in impasse. To date, Russia’s contributions in resolving the substantive issues have been most noticeable in the format and procedural matters of the six-party talks. Russia’s drawing the “red-line” and “saber-rattling” contributed to the convening of the six-party talks as well. Russia’s role in the six-party negotiations has been quite visible and positive, but failed to bring a breakthrough in the deadlocked U.S.-DPRK relations. For now, Russia is funneling its diplomatic efforts to create a favourable atmosphere for dialogue and compromises between the U.S. and the DPRK, and will continue to pursue the limited foreign policy objective in the foreseeable future.