The North Korean Nuclear Crisis and U.S. Strategy in Northeast Asia

The nuclear crisis tested the U.S. in four distinct periods from 2002 to 2007, as slowly its strategy shifted toward multilateralism. After failing to rally any state but Japan to its side, the U.S. approved the Joint Agreement by working more closely with China. With Phase 1 finishing, Phase 2 puts a premium on multilateralism for which the U.S. is unprepared.