Pyongyang’s intransigence on denuclearization can be baffling. The Kim regime resolutely clings to its nuclear arsenal despite global norms opposing nuclear armament and the impossibility of economic rejuvenation as a rogue state.

The failure of denuclearization negotiations suggests three key reasons for North Korea’s firm stance on nuclear weapons — military paranoia, societal resilience and the prestige of nuclear armaments. Together, these factors refute the dovish arguments of analysts who advocate for continued negotiations on the grounds that Pyongyang might relinquish its nuclear sword.

Prospects for the DPRK’s denuclearization likely lie with a