The Role of Detection in Nuclear Non-Proliferation Regime: The NPT, IAEA, and North Korea

Peh, Kimberly and Park, Soul (2026) The Role of Detection in Nuclear Non-Proliferation Regime: The NPT, IAEA, and North Korea. Global Governance. ISSN 1942-6720 (In Press)

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Abstract

North Korea’s nuclear breakout is often cited as evidence of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)’s failure. This article argues that such judgements overlook the NPT’s critical institutional function of detection. Through screening, monitoring, and verification mechanisms, the NPT and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) exposed Pyongyang’s violations and legitimized a global response, even though it could not by itself prevent North Korea’s withdrawal or weapons development. A case study analysis of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program (up to 2003) shows the treaty regime ‘worked’ by gathering and reporting credible evidence of noncompliance, which enabled United Nations actions and bilateral diplomacy (e.g., the 1994 Agreed Framework). Since the NPT and IAEA were never designed to enforce compliance, their value lies in making proliferation visible and thus facilitate enforcement by the broader international community. Recognizing detection as a measure of success can help strengthen the NPT regime despite isolated setbacks.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	north korea,npt,iaea,detection,non-proliferation,political science and international relations ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3300/3320
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > School of Politics, Philosophy and Area Studies
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Research Groups > Critical Global Politics Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Research Groups > Political, Social and International Studies
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	09 Apr 2026 11:30
Last Modified:	11 Apr 2026 00:22
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/102728
DOI:

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