North Korea has remained a thorn in the side of the United States ever since its creation in the aftermath of the Korean conflict of 1950 1953. Crafting a foreign policy that effectively deals with North Korea, while still ensuring stability and security on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia as a whole has proved very challenging for successive American administrations. In the wake of ruler Kim Jong-il s death in December 2011, analysts and policymakers continue to speculate about the effect his last years as leader will have on the future of North Korea.
Bruce Bechtol, Jr....