In this essay, we attempt to use Alexander Wendt’s Hobbesian culture hypothesis to examine three aspects of US-North Korea relationship: (i) what kind of relationship it has belonged to, (ii) why it has not changed for over past 70 years, and (iii) what possible relationship between the USA and North Korea will be under the Biden Administration. The results show that Hobbesian culture has been dominating US-North Korea relations since 1949 when the USA did not recognize North Korea’s sovereignty and then launched unlimited war against North Korea in late 1950. Then the difference in internalization of the USA and North Korea to Hobbesian culture generated two opposing goals: while the USA pursues interests created by the existence of Hobbesian culture, North Korea pursues interests generated by the end of this Hobbesian culture. This is the main factor that has prevented a structural change over past 70 years. Theoretically, there may be at least three possibilities to change the structure of US-North Korea relations under the Biden Administration. But our examination of these possibilities show that it is hard for these possibilities to come true. It is suggested in this essay that the USA should try to improve its relations with North Korea by increasing US-North Korea interdependence. Once the interdependence is generated, the external restraint will be created. And when great enough, the interdependence will improve their relation and even create a structural change in the further future.

在这篇文章中，我们试图用亚历山大·温特的霍布斯文化假说来考察美朝关系的三个方面：（i）它属于哪种关系，（ii）为什么它过去 70 年没有改变， (iii) 在拜登政府的领导下，美国和朝鲜之间可能存在什么样的关系。结果表明，自 1949 年美国不承认朝鲜主权并于 1950 年底对朝鲜发动无限战争以来，霍布斯文化一直主导着美朝关系。文化产生了两个对立的目标：美国追求的是霍布斯文化的存在所创造的利益，而朝鲜追求的是霍布斯文化的终结所产生的利益。这是过去 70 年来阻止结构性变化的主要因素。理论上，拜登政府下美朝关系格局至少有三种可能改变。但是我们对这些可能性的研究表明，这些可能性很难实现。本文建议美国应通过增加美朝相互依存度来改善与朝鲜的关系。一旦产生了相互依赖，就会产生外部约束。当足够大时，相互依存将改善他们的关系，甚至在未来产生结构性变化。拜登政府下美朝关系格局至少有三种可能改变。但是我们对这些可能性的研究表明，这些可能性很难实现。本文建议美国应通过增加美朝相互依存度来改善与朝鲜的关系。一旦产生了相互依赖，就会产生外部约束。当足够大时，相互依存将改善他们的关系，甚至在未来产生结构性变化。拜登政府下美朝关系格局至少有三种可能改变。但是我们对这些可能性的研究表明，这些可能性很难实现。本文建议美国应通过增加美朝相互依存度来改善与朝鲜的关系。一旦产生了相互依赖，就会产生外部约束。当足够大时，相互依存将改善他们的关系，甚至在未来产生结构性变化。一旦产生了相互依赖，就会产生外部约束。当足够大时，相互依存将改善他们的关系，甚至在未来产生结构性变化。一旦产生了相互依赖，就会产生外部约束。当足够大时，相互依存将改善他们的关系，甚至在未来产生结构性变化。