Following the failure of recent efforts by the United States to engage North Korea in denuclearization talks, we proposed and tested an approach to negotiations that addresses the reasons for past failures. The purpose of this study is methodological: to propose and test a novel approach to negotiations, termed the portfolio method. The elements of the portfolio method are (1) the inclusion of countries with national interests that overlap those of the United States and North Korea, (2) prior agreement on the goals of negotiation between the negotiating parties, (3) the inclusion of primarily hard commitments in agreements, (4) the incorporation of the preferences of in-country stakeholders, (5) the linking of multiple areas of negotiation, and (6) trust-building mechanisms.

This research was sponsored by the Korea Foundation and conducted within the International Security and Defense Policy Center of the RAND National Security Research Division (NSRD). NSRD conducts research and analysis for the Office of the Secretary of Defense,the U.S. Intelligence Community, U.S. State Department, allied foreign governments, and foundations.

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