Kyoko Hatakeyama (Professor, University of Niigata Prefecture) analyzes the failure of past diplomatic frameworks like the Six-Party Talks, arguing that divergent national interests hampered coordination and allowed North Korea to advance its nuclear capabilities. She asserts that the immediate goal should shift from complete denuclearization to stability through a "multilateral, sequenced, and incentive-based" approach, anchored first by strong ROK-U.S.-Japan policy coordination. Finally, she recommends decoupling impediments such as the abduction issue from the main security framework and offering limited incentives for phased agreements, like freezing missile launches or warhead production.