The Agreed Framework was established amidst escalating concerns regarding North Korea's nuclear ambitions following its withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1993. Negotiations began with the aim of ensuring that North Korea would abandon its nuclear weapons program in exchange for essential energy aid and the normalization of diplomatic relations with the United States. The agreement was signed in Geneva by U.S. negotiators, including then-Special Envoy for the Korean Peninsula, Robert Gallucci, and North Korean negotiator Kang Sok-ju.

Under the terms of the Accord, North Korea agreed to freeze its nuclear facilities and allow inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In return, the United States, along with its allies South Korea and Japan, committed to providing North Korea with alternative energy sources, particularly light-water reactors, which were less suited for weapons production, and a massive provision of food and economic aid. This accord was viewed as a diplomatic success, moving away from military confrontation.

However, implementation of the agreement faced numerous challenges over the ensuing years. Issues such as delays in the provision of reactors, ongoing mistrust between the countries, and North Korea's continued missile tests fueled skepticism about North Korea's intentions. The framework was eventually undermined in the late 1990s and ultimately collapsed in the early 2000s, leading to further tensions in the region.