Appearance Quote by Richard Armitage
“I would not suggest the U.S. should sit down with the North Koreans bilaterally immediately after they've fired missiles - because the appearance is that you reward bad behavior. But if North Korea behaves for some period of time, I would pretty much favor direct talks.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on North Korea policy, 2017
Suggesting immediate bilateral talks after missile tests would signal reward for aggression; conditional engagement after positive behavior is preferable.
In simple terms: Rewarding aggression is bad; talk only after good behavior.
Key Takeaway
Engage only after constructive actions.
Themes
diplomacy
security
deterrence
Mood
cautious
strategic
Type
political
policy
When to use this quote
- policy negotiations
- international sanctions
- confidence‑building measures
Key Concepts
realpolitik
conditional engagement
strategic signaling
Questions to Reflect On
- What conditions would justify direct talks?
- How can incentives be balanced with deterrence?
A Different Perspective
If North Korea never changes behavior, dialogue may never happen.
