Between Dec 19, 2024 and Jan 2, 2025, datasets can be submitted to DRUM but will not be processed until after the break. Staff will not be available to answer email during this period, and will not be able to provide DOIs until after Jan 2. If you are in need of a DOI during this period, consider Dryad or OpenICPSR. Submission responses to the UDC may also be delayed during this time.

Browsing by Subject "North Korean government"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The Rise of North Korea's Nuclear Relevancy: Recommendations for Maintaining Northeast Asian Stability Through Denuclearization
    (2022) Crawford, Sean R.
    Since the conclusion of the Korean War in 1953, North Korea has continually been a belligerent state bent on regime survival, autonomy, and domination of the Korean Peninsula. Commonly, North Korea’s historical precedent for advertising to the global community that it continues to pursue these goals were military provocations, parades, and aggressive political rhetoric. With the succession of Kim Jong Un in 2012, however, North Korea added a considerably more dangerous tactic to achieving national objectives, that of advancing their nuclear program. From nuclear testing, developing nuclear equipped ballistic missiles, and challenging established nuclear-powered states, North Korea is generating conditions throughout Northeast Asia that may have disastrous consequences if handled improperly. As a chief ally of South Korea and Japan, as well as being the focal point of North Korea’s nuclear aggression rhetoric, the US must play a primary role in resolving this empirical security threat on the Korean Peninsula. There are arguments within the policy field against a US strategy aimed at denuclearizing North Korea. Commonly, the discussion usually involves how the common US goals of North Korean humanitarian aid raises and overall threat reduction come out of focus as soon as the topic of denuclearization finds its way in any sort of diplomatic dialogue (Kristian, 2021). However, North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons has been resolute for many years, and the risks posed to regional and international stability far outweigh a policy approach of indifference towards such a program. The primary objective of this professional paper will be to analyze North Korea’s nuclear program and give recommendations on courses of action the US can take to achieve denuclearization for North Korea. First, an examination towards the history of North Korea’s nuclear ambition will be provided, through the nuclear acquisition policies of Kim Il-sung to the implementation of a true nuclear program with Kim Jong Il. Second, North Korea’s current nuclear program will be covered, highlighting Kim Jong Un’s aggressive approach to developing a modern strategic force by fusing ballistic missile and nuclear technology and the ensuing diplomatic consequences forced by these efforts. Next, the future of North Korea’s nuclear program will be explored, highlighting the many challenges North Korea faces should it continue a national objective of nuclear superpower. Finally, a list of US strategic options for denuclearizing North Korea will be proposed, ranging from Chinese engagement to revival of the Six Party Talks.