It has been five years since the DPRK dismissed former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton’s suggestion that the “Libya model” be used to dismantle its nuclear program. While the U.S. and South Korea continue to push for denuclearization, the regime says it has no plan to disarm and accuses Washington and Seoul of plotting to use nuclear weapons against it. 

It seems self-evident why the Libya analogy would fail to impress Pyongyang. Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed by NATO-backed insurgents in 2011 after surrendering his nuclear and chemical facilities. North Korea’s foreign