CAN THE QUAD PUSH NORTH KOREA TO DISARM: A TALK ON DENUCLEARISATION

Issue Brief

Gowry Krishna

Can the QUAD push North Korea to disarm: A talk on denuclearisation

Introduction 

“We reaffirm our commitment to the complete denuclearisation of North Korea” (MEA,2026). On 26th May 2026, the foreign ministers of QUAD met in New Delhi and released a collective statement on demanding North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons and mentioned North Korea to follow UNSCRs resolutions. The statement also included concerns regarding North Korea using cyberattacks and overseas IT workers to earn money, which is further used to fund their nuclear programs. QUAD highlights other countries to maintain sanctions on North Korea and avoid military cooperation with it. In response, North Korea stated that denuclearisation is impossible and will never happen. As mentioned in Kim Jong-un’s speech that “denuclearisation can never happen”(James Park,2026) shows how North Korea is not willing to give up on their nuclear weapons. 



Background 

North Korea started its nuclear journey during the Cold War. On 9th October 2006, North Korea conducted its first nuclear test and became the eighth country to openly conduct a test of nuclear weapons. This nuclear test got attention worldwide. It led to the formation of UNSCR resolutions on North Korea which aimed to impose sanctions. Apart from this, North Korea is being implicated in conducting cyberattacks on other countries and using overseas IT workers. Other state governments believe that these funds are used in North Korea’s nuclear program.  Due to this, states like Japan, also started its military expansion in order to deter North Korea. This led to the uneven production of nuclear weapons by North Korea. To stop this, QUAD released a collective statement on denuclearisation of North Korea.



QUAD’s official stance

The QUAD meeting hosted by India in May 2026 addressed many issues in various regions. Out of which North Korea and its nuclear conduct was also highlighted. QUAD jointly stated that North Korea’s nuclear dream has violated various UNSCRs resolutions and should focus on its denuclearisation. After North Korea’s first nuclear test in 2006, several UN resolutions have been passed to impose sanctions on it. Till date, dozens of resolutions have been adopted by the UN (Dr. Tunchinmang Lange,2024) but North Korea is still focused on its nuclear expansion. QUAD also highlighted that all UN countries should follow the sanctions and should not export any kind of military or armed related materials (U.S. Mission India,2026) to North Korea. It further addressed those states having a deep military alliance with North Korea. These ties are concerning as it is weakening the idea of reducing or stopping the spread of nuclear weapons which comes under the principles of Non-proliferation treaty. The states supporting North Korea in this matter are also considered as promoting the proliferation of nuclear weapons. QUAD additionally stresses on the “abduction issue”. This issue remains a major drawback between Japan-North Korea relations as in the 1970s and 1980s, North Korea abducted Japanese citizens for intelligence operations. By linking all these conducts by North Korea over decades, QUAD released the statement on North Korea’s denuclearisation. It aimed to challenge North Korea’s nuclear expansion and sees this as a threat in the global arena.

 

Rejection by North Korea

Denuclearisation ‘tantamount’ to surrender sovereignty (UN,2025), a speech given by the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Democratic Republic of Korea, Mister Kim Son Gyong in 2025, clearly shows North Korea sees its nuclear power as same as its sovereignty and surrendering that means giving up on the sovereignty. Recently, by rejecting the complete denuclearisation idea pushed by the New Delhi QUAD meet, North Korea states that the QUAD group is serving ‘US unipolar dominance’ (Firstpost,2026). According to North Korea, QUAD is dominated by western power and is trying to shape the decisions of the other actors in the group. Moreover, it views QUAD as the Asian version of NATO to encircle the region (Yonhap,2026). And just like any other country, it wants to pursue its national interest in order to deter from the west. 



North Korea's alliance 

North Korea and its deepening relations with Russia and China is posing a direct challenge to QUAD. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty signed between Russia and North Korea in 2024 for mutual defense stands as the backbone of both countries military relationship. Specifically, Article 3 of this Treaty aims to provide both the nations immediate assistance and arms if either of the sides is in a state of war (Bowen, Andrew S.; Manyin, Mark E.; Nikitin, Mary Beth D.,2025). Meanwhile, China remains North Korea's most important economic and diplomatic supporter and continues to maintain its long-standing security relationship with Pyongyang. These relations with Russia and China acts as countersh-sheild for North Korea to deter against QUAD in the region. China and Russia stand as a security and economic provider and their anti-western idea benefits North Korea. This evolving relationship is forming a triangular threat (Brittany Kaylor,2026) to QUAD and it becomes very important for QUAD to counter this.



Theoretical perspective 

“North Korea accused Japan ‌of heightening regional security risks ?by accelerating ?the deployment and development of long-range missiles, ?saying Tokyo’s military buildup amounted to preparations for a future attack” (The Asahi Shimbun, 2026). Japan, due to North Korea’s military activities, is now focused on expanding its own capabilities in the field of arms and weapons. The tensions come as Japan undergoes its biggest military expansion since the Second World War, driven by growing fears over North Korean missiles and regional security threats (Firstpost,2026). The theory of BOP, which is balance of power, is best applicable to explain the situation where due to North Korea’s military activity, Japan is also trying to expand its military. This highlights the risks other states face due to this competition. Similar patterns can be seen during the cold war era, where the US and the USSR were involved in armed race. To balance or to deter each other, North Korea and Japan are acting the same. 





India's Take

India does stand with the QUAD’s stance on the complete denuclearisation of North Korea and tries to push it to follow the UNSCRs resolutions. And India does believe that military expansion is going to cause threats in the global arena and to stop it from happening, it supports the principles of nuclear Non-proliferation. Another threat that India sees a challenge as is the China-Russia-North Korea trio because all the three states possess strong military capabilities. In order to stop or control this, India sticks by the QUAD's collective attempt to push North Korea to denuclearize. 



Challenges 

One of the major challenges is the adoption of military expansion by Japan to deter North Korea. Because of this attempt by Japan, the region is facing a critical situation where both the states are involved in expanding their military capacities. This gives rise to a sphere of tension in the region. Due to this move, other countries in the region and worldwide have to be cautious. This competition can lead to future escalation just like the world witnessed during the cold war. Another challenge is the triangular umbrella created in the region by China, Russia, and North Korea. This challenges the existing QUAD attempt to limit North Korea’s nuclear development. China and Russia act as North Korea’s strong military alliance which makes QUAD more difficult to pressure North Korea to give up on its nuclear weapons. 



Recommendation

An attempt of diplomacy between North Korea and QUAD nations can control the situation without escalation. There is a lack of diplomatic moves initiated by both sides. This will  allow discussions to happen without any misinformation following. Secondly, if North Korea follows the resolutions passed by the UN and the UNSCR, then it will lead to more Non-proliferation attempts. Over production of nuclear weapons can cause tension and threat to other states and in order to deter that, other states will also engage in developing more and can disrupt the status quo. 



Conclusion 

The QUAD stands by its say on North Korea’s complete denuclearisation through measures like economic sanctions,  international pressure, cybersecurity cooperation, etc. But in contrast, North Korea openly rejects QUAD’s attempt and continues its military expansion.  This also includes other major actors like China and Russia which again makes the denuclearisation attempt difficult to achieve. The over production of nuclear weapons is not a solution to eliminate threat or bring in peace but rather it can cause more tension within the system. 




References

 

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