The Nuclear Taboo Revisited: the North Korean Nuclear Crisis and Constitutive Antagonism
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The Nuclear Taboo Revisited: The North Korean Nuclear Crisis and Constitutive Antagonism A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy by Jina Kim In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy December 2011 Dr. Ian Johnstone, Co-Chair Dr. William C. Martel, Co-Chair Dr. Sung-Yoon Lee, Reader JINA KIM EDUCATION 2012 Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University Ph.D International Relations 2005 Yonsei Graduate School of International Studies Ph.D Program, International Studies Yonsei Graduate School of International Studies 2003 M.A. International Studies Pusan National University 2001 B.A. English Language & Literature, Political Science PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2009 Osher Institute, Tufts University Lecturer - Designed and taught seminars on “Origins of Terrorism: Old and New” and “Myths and Facts of Nuclear Nonproliferation” and operate online blog for e-learning students - Core topics include evolution of international terrorism, origins of violence, nuclear deterrence and terrorism, international cooperation and nonproliferation regime 2008-2009 Fletcher School, Tufts University Teaching Assistant - Assisted Prof. Sung-Yoon Lee for courses on “The U.S. and East Asia,” “The Politics of the Korean Peninsula,” “Seminar on North Korean State and Society,” and “The U.S. and East Asia: 1945 to Present” - Managed blackboard course site, coordinated student presentation and related seminars and graded papers 2008 Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation Program, UC, San Diego Fellow - Attended intensive summer program on Public Policy and Nuclear Threats and participated follow-up conferences 2004-2006 Korea Institute for Defense Analyses Researcher, Defense Issues Task Force - Conducted research on US-South Korea Alliance, Inter-Korea Relations - Participated in a Pol-Mil simulation game during annual military exercises - Provided advice to ROK Ministry of National Defense and Joint Chief of Staffs - Translated and edited quarterly journal 2002-2003 UNESCO-APCEIU Intern, Division of Research and Publication - Developed national curriculum of Education for Int’l Understanding - Published textbook, teaching manual and other related journals i - Organized Conference and Teachers Training Workshop 2002 British Broadcasting Corporation Intern, Seoul Bureau - Conducted research on story ideas and conducted interview and filming - Assisted senior correspondents in recording and editing - Translation and interpretation 2002 Korea National Assembly Assistant Officer - Organized international conference on Politics and Christianity - Assisted corresponding and organizing official visit for National Assemblyman 2001 Citizens' Alliance for North Korean Human Rights Assistant Officer, Division of International Campaign - Planned, implemented, and evaluated special events and international conferences - Developed weekly English newsletter, including writing, editing, and proofreading copy - Translation and Interpretation of academic articles and testimony of NK defectors AWARDS Gregory Henderson Scholarship (2011-2012) Summer Research Fund, Fletcher School (May 2010) Dean’s Discretionary Fund, Fletcher School (2009 ~ 2010) Fletcher Scholarship, Fletcher School (2007 ~ 2011) Fulbright Scholarship, US Department of State (2006 ~ 2008) Sasakawa Young Leaders Scholarship, Tokyo Foundation (2006 ~ 2008) Provost Fellowship, Tufts University (2006 ~ 2008) Award for Research Excellence, Korea Institute for Defense Analysis (2005 ~ 2006) Award for Academic Excellence, Yonsei University (February 2003) Award for Highest Distinction, Yonsei University (February 2001) Dean’s List, Scholarship for Academic Achievement, Busan National Univ. (2001 ~ 2003) Dean’s List, Scholarship for Academic Achievement, Busan National Univ. (1997 ~ 2000) PUBLICATIONS “Development of Regional Human Rights Regime: Implications to Asia.” in Human Rights and Creative Leadership. Tokyo: TKFD, 2009 “Regional Human Rights Mechanism in Asia: Implications and Prospects.” Paper Presented at the North- South Regional Forum at Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (July 16-20, 2007) “An Endless Game: North Korea’s Psychological Warfare.” The Korean Journal of Defense Analysis Vol.17 (September 2005) “Foreign Policy of the Second Bush Administration and its Policy toward North Korea.” Weekly Defense Review 1043 (April 2005) “Global Security Environment in 2005.” Weekly Defense Review 1028 (January 2005) “Implications and Prospects of North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004.” Defense Issue Briefing (October 2004) ii “Background and Implication of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004.” Weekly Defense Review 1018 (October 2004) “The Analysis on Foreign & Security Policy of the US Presidential Candidates.” The Quarterly Journal of Defense Policy Studies Vol. 64 (Summer 2004) “Comparative Analysis on Foreign Policy of President Bush and Senate Kerry.” Weekly Defense Review 996 (May 2004) “Scenarios to solve NK nuclear crisis after the second six party talk.” Northeast Asia Strategic Analysis (March 2004) “Attitudes of six countries toward the second six party talk.” Northeast Asia Strategic Analysis (February 2004) “Bi-Track Approach to the North Korean Refugee Crisis: The Role of South Korean Government and NGOs.” MA thesis, Seoul: Yonsei University, 2003. iii Abstract This study reevaluates the subject of nuclear nonproliferation and North Korea’s nuclear crisis. It is prompted by two major questions: Why does North Korea resist international calls for its denuclearization, and how has it rationalized its pursuit of nuclear weapons programs? This study rejects the views that North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons is merely a flagrant violation of the near-universal moral principle or an isolated act of irrationality. Instead, this study examines the dynamic workings of negative identification and negative interaction through which North Korea came to rationalize its pursuit of a nuclear weapons program tabooed by the international community. Taking the constructivist approach, which posits that identities and interests figure prominently in interstate interactions, this study hypothesizes that North Korea’s negative identification and negative interactions with the outside world increased Pyongyang’s anxiety about its position in a hostile environment and its mistrust of multilateral dialogues as a means of resolving crises, leading to it rationalizing its decision to become a nuclear weapons state, rather than internalizing the nuclear taboo through collective identity formation. In order to address the questions of how and why negative interactions and negative identification have influenced North Korea’s nuclear choice and the outcome of the nuclear talks, this study presents the process of dialectical development of the nuclear crisis, examining the factors that constituted the antagonisms that shaped North Korea’s adversarial relationship with others and caused its noncompliant attitudes. Then, it discusses the theoretical, practical, and policy implications of these findings to the ongoing nuclear crisis by addressing the reemergence of the antagonistic structure that produced the process of temporal compromise and setback from the nuclear talks. In the conclusion, it highlights the key findings of this study and provides suggestions for future studies. iv Acknowledgement I am deeply grateful to Professor Ian Johnstone, Professor William Martel, and Professor Sung-Yoon Lee for their insights, inspiration, and encouragement with this dissertation. Professor Johnstone and Professor Martel offered me invaluable advice to resolve theoretical issues, and Professor Lee shared his knowledge in the details of my case study. I am honored and lucky to have had such marvelous teachers. I owe a special debt of gratitude to Jenifer Burckett-Picker, PhD program director, who from my first year at the Fletcher School has been a tireless supporter in countless ways. Throughout my PhD studies, I was awarded generous fellowships by the Fletcher School, the Fulbright Program, Sassakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund, and the Gregory Henderson Scholarship that made this work possible. My special thanks also go to Margaret Swezey, Hilary Culbertson and Graham Culbertson for their generosity and willingness to read and edit drafts. I would like to thank my brilliant, warm-hearted friends at the Fletcher School, who offered me friendship and comic relief. My family has been an unfaltering source of support and encouragement. I owe more than I’ll ever be able to say to my parents and my parents-in-law for their love and guidance. My deep thanks go to my love, Kwangtaek Han, for his inspiration and sharp comments on the every stage of this study. v Table of Contents Chapter I. Theoretical Framework .……………………………………………………… 1 1. Resaerch Questions ……………………………………………………………………. 1 2. Hypotheses…………………………………………………………………………… 3 3. Literature Review…………………………………………………………………….... 5 4. Methodology…………………………………………………………………………… 24 5. Organization …………………………………………………………………………… 27 Chapter II. Toward a Critique of the Nuclear Taboo ……………………………………………. 29 1. Understanding the Nuclear Taboo……………………………………………………… 30 2. Deconstructing the Nuclear Taboo……………………………………………………. 47 Chapter III. Context of the First Nuclear Crisis ………………………………………………… 64 1. Beginning of the Crisis…………….…………………………………………………… 66 2. Declaration of Forsaking NPT Membership………………………………………… 78 3. Toward the Agreed Framework in Geneva…………………………………………. 89 4. Consistency and