The Way You Do It Like You Do: Moon Jae-in’s Mediation in the U.S.–DPRK Crisis (2017–2018)
| Published date | 01 March 2025 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/23477970241298839 |
| Author | Amira Schiff |
| Date | 01 March 2025 |
| Subject Matter | Research Articles |
Research Article
The Way You Do It Like
You Do: Moon Jae-in’s
Mediation in the U.S.–
DPRK Crisis (2017–2018)
Amira Schiff1
Abstract
This article examines South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s mediation during the
2017–2018 U.S.–DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) crisis, emphasising
the importance of a multidimensional approach to power in international crisis
mediation. This study argues that both strategic strengths—such as resource-based
powers—and tactical strengths, including personal skills, are critical for successful
mediation. Moon skilfully utilised South Korea’s relational, expert and reward
powers while employing innovative tactics like the ‘borrowing tactic’, where he
drew on South Korea’s international alliances and connections to create a link
between the DPRK’s flexibility and its capacity to secure political concessions.
His mediation helped de-escalate tensions and facilitated dialogue, leading to the
first U.S.–DPRK summit. This analysis highlights the intricate interplay between
a mediator’s resource-based powers and their tactical behaviour in crisis
scenarios, underscoring how both elements are crucial for shaping preventive
diplomacy efforts and their outcomes in high-stakes situations. Ultimately, this
study demonstrates that it is not only what a mediator has at their disposal that
matters, but also—equally importantly—how they use it.
Keywords
Mediation, crisis, pre-negotiation, South Korea, North Korea, U.S., power
Introduction
‘… the road to complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and peace will
never be easy. However, as President, I will take the road and will succeed without
Journal of Asian Security
and International Affairs
12(1) 7–28, 2025
© The Author(s) 2024
Article reuse guidelines:
in.sagepub.com/journals-permissions-india
DOI: 10.1177/23477970241298839
journals.sagepub.com/home/aia
1 The Conflict Management, Resolution and Negotiation Graduate Program, Bar-Ilan University,
Ramat-Gan, Israel
Corresponding author:
Amira Schiff, The Conflict Management, Resolution and Negotiation Graduate Program, Bar-Ilan
University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel.
E-mail: amira.schiff@biu.ac.il
8 Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs 12(1)
fail by fully exercising my authority and fullling the duty entrusted to me by the
Korean people’ (Moon Jae-in, May 27, 2018. The Straits Times, 2018a).
The 2017–2018 U.S.–DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) crisis
marked one of the most critical moments in recent international relations, as
tensions between the United States and North Korea escalated to unprecedented
levels. The crisis was characterised by aggressive rhetoric, including threats of
military action, and a series of provocative missile tests by North Korea. The
potential for a catastrophic war in the Korean Peninsula loomed large, drawing
global concern. Against this backdrop, newly elected South Korean President
Moon Jae-in found himself facing the formidable challenge of navigating a
highly volatile situation as the central mediator between two nuclear-armed states.
His challenge was underscored by the urgent need to de-escalate tensions and
foster direct dialogue between the United States and the DPRK. Moon’s hectic
diplomacy played a key role in reversing the escalation dynamics of the crisis,
ultimately setting the stage for the summit in Singapore at which the leaders of both
sides declared their intention to explore ways to peacefully resolve the conflict.
This study examines the sources of influence Moon leveraged to de-escalate this
intense crisis. It highlights the intricate dynamics of international crisis mediation,
focusing on how mediators assert their influence in volatile conflict situations.
This study is grounded in a multifaceted understanding of power in mediation
(Zartman & Touval, 1985). While previous research has predominantly focused
on the resource-based aspects of social power that mediators exert to influence the
priorities of the conflicting parties in negotiations—such as the application of
hard and soft power in peace process mediation (Aall, 2007; Rubin, 1992;
Vuković, 2016; Zartman & Touval, 2001)—this article argues that a mediator’s
personal capabilities, as demonstrated through their behaviour, actions, tactics,
and manoeuvres, are equally critical in determining the success of mediation.
Carnevale (2002, pp. 28–29) characterises resource-based social power as
‘strategic strength’ and the mediator’s actions and tactics as ‘tactical strength’ that
reflects the mediator’s ‘will and skill’ in determining what moves they will employ
while mediating (Carnevale, 2002, pp. 28). Despite its importance, the empirical
exploration of Carnevale’s conceptualisation of these skill sets, particularly in the
context of international crises, has been limited.
Building on this foundation, this study seeks to deepen our understanding of
the multidimensional nature of power in crisis mediation. President Moon Jae-in’s
mediation efforts during the 2017–2018 U.S.–DPRK standoff serve as a critical
case study, illustrating how a mediator can employ a wide range of capabilities to
navigate the crucial pre-negotiation stage and de-escalate volatile situations. The
analysis traces Moon’s strategic approach from his inauguration in May 2017
through the June 2018 Singapore Summit, at which U.S. and DPRK leaders
signed a document outlining broad objectives that included peace and denuclear-
isation on the Korean Peninsula.
This study contends that in the nonlinear dynamics of international crises,
mediators must act swiftly, utilising a diverse set of tools to prevent escalation.
It underscores the need for a deeper investigation into the sources of mediator
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