Seliger, Bernhard

Abstract
The relations of the European Union (EU) with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (henceforth North Korea) have been thus far “special,” as the EU is not a regional power with its own regional agenda. Consequently, there is neither direct interest nor viable solutions to the numerous conflicts and problems confronting North Korea and the Northeast Asian region, foremost the nuclear issue. The EU is not a member of the six party talks; moreover, none of the participating countries has an interest in inviting the EU to become a member of this body. At the same time, the distance offers some advantages for the EU. Being not specifically interested in the region, but being generally interested in the peaceful development of the world, without the burden of a colonial history, the EU has the chance to support peace initiatives – namely, not by direct diplomacy, but by “soft power” (Nye). While the European presence in North Korea grew from the mid-1990s to 2002, the nuclear issue and the reduction of humanitarian assistance, since the end of 2005, posed difficulties; the year 2006 reflected a low mark in the relationship, given the twin missile and nuclear tests. However, new avenues for cooperation opened in relationship-building with the progress of the six party talks in 2007 as the springboard for deepening cooperation.
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