Being perhaps the single most complex case of nuclear proliferation, this thesis discusses North Korea's nuclear program. Structured into three sections, this paper provides an overview over Pyongyang's nuclear quest in form of an extensive historical account. Taking into consideration the interplay of various nuclear drivers, this thesis subsequently makes three additions to the existing literature. Examining why nuclear dissuasion has failed in the case of Democratic Peoples' Republic of

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... , it will be argued that North Korea's state identity is at great odds with an US strategy of coercive diplomacy. Further, path dependency has created institutional pressures that have made it unlikely for Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear program. In addition, nuclear bargaining models illustrate that cost-benefit calculations, the absence of generous nuclear agreements, and alliance dynamics all pushed North Korea towards pursuing a nuclear breakout. Finally, it is concluded that today nuclear disarmament is almost impossible.