What to do about Kim? The European Union as an external actor towards the Democratic People's Republic of Korea 2001-2011

Abstract: The concept of actor capability outlines the basic features for the EU to be an international actor, separating it from nation-states and international organizations. This thesis applies this diagnostic concept to the case of EU-relations with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). More specifically, it studies how the actor capability has changed by comparing the years 2001 and 2011 respectively. The material used is apart from secondary sources also legal texts, statements, strategy documents, interviews and protocols from the Council working group on Asia and Oceania (COASI). The overarching result is that the Union has developed its general prerequisites for coherent action, more notably via provisions found within the Lisbon Treaty. However, the actor capability vis-à-vis the DPRK has changed in a different manner and many of the resources and instruments developed are not being used in this case. A conclusion is therefore that the improved prerequisites, at the same time can be interpreted as having generated difficulties in creating a political impetus (or a so-called community of interests). As this community is an essential component in steering the use of the Union’s available resources, the consequence has become a relative stalemate in the actor behaviour towards the DPRK.