The Washington Outsider


Assessing the Threat of North Korea

Previously published on May 12, 2010

The international community as we know it exists, because powerful players, such as the US, wanted to create a stable, peaceful global relationship between all nations in order to foster growth and prevent disastrous conflicts. Because nations benefit differently from their membership in the international community, those, who do not benefit or wish to benefit more, seek ways of improving their standing on the world stage. Like a child having a temper tantrum in public, North Korea, just as other rogue states, engages in the poor behavior of refusing to follow the will and conventions of the international community as a means of forcing the world to pay attention to their demands. 

By acting against the will of the international community, North Korea is also reestablishing its sovereignty, the power of a governing body to exercise its will without interference from other states, and thus, empowering its leadership; however, issues like nuclear weapons make North Korea's behavior extremely dangerous.  Unfortunately, the George W. Bush Administration's policy of disengagement has left the US with few immediate policy options and allowed North Korea the space it needed to develop nuclear weapons.

Meanwhile, its last minute rush to denuclearize North Korea has only reinforced the notion that the West has few options and emboldened Kim Jong Il's leadership as it shows the West will shy away from direct conflict. In turn, North Korea is pushing the limits of the international community by undermining the United States and the West through defiance. For example, imprisoning the US journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee illustrates the US has no power as its citizens are subject to North Korean authority. Moreover, now gaining a viable nuclear arsenal equipped with ballistic missiles capable of reaching the United States, North Korea is becoming more and more secure in its ability to discourage attacks against its territories.

Fortunately, North Korea cannot survive as a power without the support and resources of other neighboring states. Despite China's military and economic influence as the region's strongest power, as well as North Korea's largest supplier of food and fuel aid, the communist nation has been quite weak in dealing with its ill-behaved neighbor. While China is North Korea's friend and wants to avoid the collapse of Kim Jon Il's regime to prevent a massive humanitarian crisis on its doorstep, its reaction is also likely a means of demonstrating China sets the policies in its region, not the West. On the other hand, China's economic power stems from its global economic relationships while it is striving to be recognized as a superpower and global leader. North Korea, therefore, represents a test for national Chinese leaders that could determine whether or not China can be viewed as a superpower by its people and the world.

Since China must demonstrate it controls its own sphere of influence, North Korea has great incentive not to go too far as doing so would be extremely detrimental to the leadership and people of China's neighbor. Should North Korea 's leadership be as reckless as many fear, a major conflict could be brewing over nuclear weapons. Because the conflict will be over such a serious global issue and will be fought on the territories of Western allies, namely South Korea, the West and Russia will get involved, thus a potential conflict between China and the world would add to the chaos. Meanwhile, whether or not North Korea plans to use its nuclear power to intimidate the world, it may help other rogue states like Syria and Iran develop technology to rebel against the international community and build its own alliances. Furthermore, the most significant threat comes from these nations, by either design or incompetence, putting nuclear weapons in the hands of terrorists.

The West has drawn a line in the sand that North Korea long ago crossed while China has yet to clearly define its tolerance for North Korea's behavior. Should, however, North Korea cross China's line, Asia will see a major conflict potentially including the use of conventional military forces. With such a situation possible, the international community must push China to take action sooner as the Obama Administration needs to prepare world leaders to take action if necessary. Despite its reservations to act, China should also be ready to force regime change on a nuclear power or face a larger conflict resulting from Western intrusion in its sphere of influence. In all likelihood, tensions will ebb and North Korea will try to use the peace process to conceal its nuclear arsenal, but the West must continue to force North Korea to understand its refusal to denuclearize is unacceptable and it cannot benefit from the international community until it does. Moreover, nations like North Korea and Iran obtaining nuclear capacities means the world is one step closer to the failure of nuclear containment and nonproliferation.
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      • Relating Circular, Inductive, and Deductive Reasoning to the Scientific Method and Religion
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      • The Need for Greater Economic Leverage >
        • Evaluating NAFTA and TPP
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        • Why Sudan's Greatest Long-Term Hurdle is Our Lowest-bidder Economy
        • Reduce US Imports by Buying American Made Products
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      • Income inequality: understanding the limitations and psychology of disadvantage
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        • On Questioning the Need to Address Economic Disparity
        • Minimum Wage is Not the Problem
        • Responding to the "Blip"
        • Why Education Is Not The Civil Rights Issue Of The Twenty-First Century
      • Considering the Impact of the Capital Gains Tax Deduction
      • Embracing a Capitalist Mindset >
        • Capitalism Versus Socialism
        • The Negatives of Socialism
      • Stealing Intellectual Property
      • Changing Business Models: From Enduring Entities to Cash Cows
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      • Dealing with the Issues Surrounding the Patenting of Self-replicating Technologies
      • Is Technology Threatening Jobs?
    • Education >
      • The Role of Education in Creating a More Dynamic Workforce
      • Primary Education in America and the Changing Needs of Society
      • The Greatness of the American Education System
      • Ideas for Improving the United States Education System
      • Are Teachers Treated as Professionals?
      • Is Engaging Parents in Their Children's Education a Major Factor in Turning Around Low-performing Schools?
      • Should Grants Be Awarded to School Districts that Try Innovative Methods to Improve Student Achievement?
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      • On Reading the US Constitution
      • The Senate should not do more to limit the powers of the Judicial Branch
      • On the DOJ Justifying the “targeted Killings” of US Citizens
      • Corporations Do Not Have the Same Rights as US Citizens >
        • Corporate America Pleads the First
      • Discussing the Constitutionality of Per Capita Taxes
      • Was the California Supreme Court Right in Legalizing Gay Marriage?
      • Should the Bible Continue to Be Used for Swearing-in Ceremonies and in Courtrooms?
      • Should Religious Student Clubs Be Allowed in Public Schools?
      • Should the Government Control Talk Radio to Make it More "balanced"?
      • The Second Amendment: Not Outdated >
        • Are We Losing Our Second Amendment Rights
      • Eminent Domain Used Against Banks
      • Should a Woman Have the Right to Choose Abortion? >
        • Should Fathers Be Able to Opt Out of Parenthood?
      • Should Smoking Be Allowed in Public Places?
      • Is Teen Driving a Right or a Privilege?
      • Should US Companies Be Required to Provide Equal Pay to Women and Men?
      • Is eighteen too young to vote?
      • First Amendment Rights: The Priviledge of The Press
      • Do Mandatory Seat Belt Laws Violate Individual Rights?
      • Should cell phone use be banned while driving?
      • Dealing with the link between video game violence and children's behavior
      • Should police have to submit to routine drug and alcohol testing?
      • Public schools should not impose mandatory drug testing on students
      • Are High Taxes on Cigarettes Proper?
      • Should pharmacists be required to violate their religious beliefs and dispense the "Morning After Pill?"
      • Should school counselors uphold patient privacy or report students who become unstable?
  • For the record
    • Ongoing Issues >
      • Red Dawn in Ukraine: Understanding the Actions of Russia >
        • On Russia’s Coercion of Ukraine
        • The Russian Annexation of Crimea in the Eyes of the World
        • Putin Has Overplayed His Hand With Crimea
        • Ukraine in Terms of Resovereignization
        • Avoiding a Conflict Between America and Russia Over Ukraine
        • What Drives the World’s Interest in Russia’s Actions in Ukraine
      • China’s Aggressive Pursuit of Interests Demands a Global Response
      • Iran Makes a Deal: A Start to a Long-term Diplomatic Effort to Denuclearize Iran >
        • On the Future of a Nuclear Negotiations with Iran
      • America's Sphere of Influence: Retaking South-East Asia >
        • Power in Asia: Looking at the Power Shift in Japan
        • The China Paradox: Why America is Worried About China
      • Assessing US Support of Israel >
        • Tread Softly Israel for a Heavy Step May Be Your Undoing
      • Understanding the Dysfunctional Nature of the US-Pakistani Relationship
      • Recognizing the True Threat Behind the Current Unrest in the Middle East >
        • Reacting to the Escalating Crackdown in Syria
      • Assessing the Threat of North Korea >
        • Answering North Korea's Call for Food Aid: Breaking the Vicious Cycle Forced Upon Us by a Warring Nation
        • Dealing with the Restarting of the Korean War
        • North Korea Attacks South Korea
      • Dealing with the Ill-effects of Climate Change
      • Racial Inequality and Oppression Do Truly Exist in Today's Society
      • Should energy independence be a high priority in the US?
      • An overview of world wide Human Rights violations
      • Nuclear Threat from Pakistan
      • Return of The Cold War?
    • World >
      • Coverage of FIFA World Cup is a Chance to Focus on Poverty >
        • The FIFA World Cup Offers Benefits for More Than Brazilian Soccer Fans
        • FIFA Can Bring Brazilians Together as a Nation
      • Being Prepared for Any Potential Dangers at the FIFA World Cup Games
      • Treading Softly on the Politicizing of the 2014 Sochi Olympics Over Gay Rights
      • Why NATO Operations in Libya Lack a Well-defined Mission
      • China Hijacks the Web
      • Lessons from the Great Japanese Earthquake of 2011
      • A Modernizing Cuba Offers an Opportunity for Capitalists
      • The Seeds of Democracy Take Root in the Middle East
      • The Rebirth of Democracy in Tunisia
      • What May Come from the Hurt Revolution in Libya
      • Responding to the Violence of Qaddafi and Other Besieged Leaders
      • Embracing the Rise of a Democratic Egypt
      • Protests in Afghanistan Turn Deadly for Coalition Forces and UN Personnel
      • Haiti: Another Failing Humanitarian Investment
      • What Karzai Can Learn from Calderon
      • START II: A Necessary, Easy Success that Nearly Failed
      • Why Does the U.S. Government Support Independence for the Breakaway Serb Territory of Kosovo but Oppose Independence for the Breakaway Georgian Territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia?
      • Iraq's Electric Issues: When Human Wants Trump Economic Sense
      • The International Community Reacts to Wikileaks: We May Be Moving Toward a Third World War in Cyberspace
      • On Climate Gate
      • Assessing Obama's Afghanistan War strategy
      • 2009 Iranian Presidential Election: The Fallout
      • Resolving Sri Lankan Conflict through Free Media
      • What are the Global Consequences of Russia's Invasion of Georgia
      • The War in Iraq: an assessment of President Bush's surge strategy
      • Drug War: Actions of Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador in terms of Resovereignization
      • Is the Iraq Refugee Crisis America's Responsibility?
      • US support for a united Kosovo, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia: why?
      • Should the US withdraw from Iraq?
      • Setting a Timetable for Troop Withdrawal from Iraq is a Terrible Mistake
      • War on Terrorism is needed
    • Law and Order >
      • Rape in the US Military
      • Ethics of Force-feeding Guantanamo Bay Detainees
      • Reacting to the Aftermath of the Tucson Massacre
    • Economy >
      • Affordability Drives Fear of Obamacare and the Individual Mandate
      • Is the Economy Built for a Job's Recovery?
      • Gutting Healthcare Reform of the Individual Mandate
      • Arizona Budget Cuts Lead to Lethal Healthcare Rationing:
      • Shameful Collection Practices of American Banks
      • The Fed Reveals it Actually Undertook an International Bailout
      • Thoughts on French Budgetary Reforms
      • Seniors Start Businesses
      • The Case for Slimming Down the US Military to Make it Better
      • Looking at the Obama Administration's New Approach to Economic Policy
      • Should the Government Regulate the Credit Card Industry?
      • The Big Three's Big Chance
      • The Unhealthy Tone of the Healthcare Reform Debate
      • Should the federal government offer a bailout for home owners?
      • Environmentalists: Do They Do More Good Than More Harm?
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