Asia Geopolitics Inside the Story of America’s Failure to Disarm North Korea
Oct 15, 2025
Joel Witt, a distinguished fellow at the Stimson Center and former U.S. State Department official, shares insights from his book on U.S. failures regarding North Korea. He reveals surprising near-deals from Hanoi and discusses John Bolton's opposition to diplomacy. Witt highlights North Korea's growing ties with Russia as a challenge for talks, emphasizes their commitment to nuclear weapons, and reflects on missed opportunities in U.S. policy. He also suggests practical measures to reduce tensions without immediate denuclearization.
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Hanoi Nearly Reached A Deal
- Joel Witt discovered a multi-page summit document in Hanoi that nearly resolved decades-old U.S.-North Korea issues except denuclearization.
- He says the summit almost succeeded and only denuclearization and sanctions remained unresolved.
Bolton Called 'Father Of The Program'
- Joel Witt recounts that North Koreans called John Bolton "the father of the nuclear program" because Bolton helped destroy the 1994 agreement.
- Witt says Bolton was part of a cabal that undermined past diplomacy and long opposed agreements with Pyongyang.
Geopolitics Make Denuclearization Implausible
- Joel Witt argues that North Korea's geopolitical options have shifted and Kim Jong-un can no longer credibly offer denuclearization.
- He warns future U.S. engagement must account for Pyongyang's strengthened ties and different strategic aims.
