New Books in American Studies Joel S. Wit, "Fallout: The Inside Story of America's Failure to Disarm North Korea" (Yale UP, 2025)
Dec 26, 2025
Joel S. Wit, a distinguished fellow in Asian security studies and former U.S. State Department official, dives deep into the complex history of U.S.-North Korea negotiations. He reveals how six presidents approached this issue and highlights the critical failures under Obama and Trump, leading to North Korea's nuclear capabilities. Wit shares insights from over 300 interviews, dispelling myths about Kim Jong Un and emphasizing the importance of strategic empathy. He warns against complacency as new regional tensions rise, urging for a realistic and diplomatic approach to a nuclear North Korea.
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Decades Of Diplomatic Failure
- Joel S. Wit argues four decades of diplomacy failed to stop North Korea from developing weapons able to strike U.S. cities.
- He grounds this claim in interviews, negotiations, and policy debates across six U.S. presidencies.
'A Million And A Trillion' Warning
- Joel recounts the 1994 crisis when Clinton asked about war costs and was told "a million and a trillion."
- The warning highlighted how close diplomacy had come to catastrophic conflict on the peninsula.
Ultimatums Backfired In 2001
- The Bush administration rejected Clinton-era leverage and issued ultimatums that prompted North Korea to exit the deal and restart its program.
- That frontal approach lacked a plan for the consequences and set back nonproliferation efforts.