True peace requires engaging those we disagree with, reflecting our Quaker belief in our shared humanity across divides. Building relationships—not isolation or violent conflict—is the only path to just, lasting peace.
When it comes to U.S. relations with North Korea and China, many people in the U.S. share these same values. That’s according to the results from AFSC’s new poll on diplomatic engagement with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, or North Korea) and China. Despite the hostile rhetoric and posturing covered in the news, the majority of U.S. adults continue to support peaceful engagement with both countries—and the lifting of U.S.-imposed sanctions in many cases.
Here are the results of our fourth annual poll, conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of AFSC between Feb. 10 - 12, 2025, among 2,076 U.S. adults:
Growing support for engagement with North Korea
Three-quarters of U.S. adults think that the U.S. government should work with the North Korean government to repatriate the remains of U.S. service members left in North Korea following the Korean War. Most also believe that President Trump should hold meetings with the North Korean leader (70%), and that the U.S. and North Korea should collaborate to reunite Korean American and North Korean family members (69%). Half say that the U.S. should formally end the Korean War by signing a peace agreement. Support for these measures has increased since AFSC’s first poll on these issues in 2021.
Strong backing for dialogue with China
Sixty-three percent of U.S. adults agree that the U.S. should engage in dialogue with China as much as possible to reduce tensions. When asked which area should be prioritized, nuclear non-proliferation topped the list, with more than a quarter (27%) placing it higher than any other issue.
Support for lifting some sanctions
A majority of respondents agree that the U.S. should lift sanctions when they:
- Interfere with humanitarian aid or global public health (63%).
- Violate international law (61%).
- Harm individual citizens’ livelihoods (59%).
- Hinder cooperation on climate change (54%).
Now more than ever, we must work for the world we all deserve: a world where the U.S. engages peacefully on issues that matter to everyday people, at home and abroad. As our poll demonstrates, this vision is shared by most people around the U.S. Together, we can urge our elected officials to work with other countries to bridge divides, solve problems, and build a just, sustainable peace for all.
