eepening concerns surround the government's approach to North Korea's nuclear issue, as Pyongyang continuously emphasizes the unceasing expansion and strengthening of its nuclear arsenal and the thorough exercise of its status as a nuclear-armed state, repeatedly ruling out any dialogue predicated on denuclearization.

Diplomatic circles noted on July 6 that North Korea is exploiting the current volatile international political landscape to solidify its status as a nuclear-armed state. Taking advantage of the war in Ukraine, Russia has emerged as a staunch blood ally for Pyongyang. Moscow vetoed the extension of the UN Security Council's panel of experts monitoring sanctions on North Korea in April 2024 and went as far as openly backing Pyongyang by refusing to include language targeting North Korea's nuclear program in the final document of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference last May. Meanwhile, China, which has traditionally maintained its stance on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, remained entirely silent on the matter during the bilateral summit last month. Furthermore, Washington's strategic focus remains heavily diverted toward the Middle East, and the UN Security Council has long been rendered toothless, further complicating any resolution to the nuclear crisis. Experts suggest that denuclearization must be pursued by maintaining sanctions, strengthening South Korea's military capabilities to counter North Korea's nuclear threats, and securing diplomatic leverage through China and Russia.

Kim Tae-woo, former president of the Korea Institute for National Unification, stated, "As North Korea's nuclear threat intensifies, South Korea must acquire corresponding capabilities to neutralize Pyongyang's leverage," adding, "We must make North Korea realize that an escalating arms race only brings disadvantages to both sides, which is the only way to kickstart nuclear arms control negotiations." In this context, Kim emphasized the need to swiftly advance security consultations under the South Korea-U.S. Joint Fact Sheet (JFS) to build nuclear-powered submarines, secure nuclear latency, and reinforce the credibility of Washington's extended deterrence.

Additionally, experts urge the government to launch an aggressive diplomatic offensive targeting Beijing and Moscow, given their massive leverage over Pyongyang. The goal should be to recreate the diplomatic environment of 2016 and 2017, when the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a series of high-intensity sanctions. Analysts point out that it was ultimately these crushing sanctions that dragged North Korea to the denuclearization negotiating table during the 2018–2019 inter-Korean and Washington-Pyongyang summits. A former high-ranking diplomatic official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, remarked, "The fact that every sector in North Korea except for its military remains completely outdated is a direct result of international sanctions," adding, "As long as we do not abandon these sanctions over the long term, I believe there is still hope for the denuclearization of North Korea."

                                                                                                           Mok Yong-jae