The European Union’s Policy Toward North Korea: Abandoning Engagement

Abstract

This article helps understand the change in the European Union (EU)’s policy toward North Korea. In the first phase of their relationship, the EU actively participated in the security dialogue on the Korean Peninsula and engaged North Korea through economic and humanitarian assistance. Since 2003, Europe abandoned the conciliatory approach and repeatedly condemned Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile tests, while disengaging from regional security initiatives. This change was a byproduct of the consolidation of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. Two of its main features restricted the range of diplomatic options available to the EU in dealings with North Korea. The first was the designation of a possible Weapons of Mass Destruction arms race in the Middle East as an issue of highest security concern for Europe. The second was a firm commitment to the relationship with the United States in addressing security threats. In order to maintain the consistency of its foreign strategy, the EU stopped tolerating activities related to the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Moreover, its policies became consistent with Washington’s line of action, which required terminating economic support and discontinuing independent diplomatic engagement with the “rogue” state.