DENUCLEARIZATION of NORTH KOREA by Adonica Mccray
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DENUCLEARIZATION OF NORTH KOREA By Adonica McCray INTRODUCTION Brinkmanship – Most people fear nuclear war, but few believe it will happen. That The art or practice of might all change, however, with recent tensions between the US and pushing a dangerous North Korea over nuclear weapons, among other policy issues. For situation or more than fifty years, the two nations have been in talks over confrontation to the diplomatic relations, with a focus on brinkmanship and limit of safety, denuclearization. especially to force a Within the past few years, relations between them have teetered, desired outcome warming and cooling with great volatility. The fickle relationship reflects the precarious nature of diplomatic efforts between the two countries, particularly when it comes to denuclearization and anti- nuclear proliferation. The relationship between the US and North Korea has never been good, and the introduction of weapons of mass destruction Denuclearization – (which will be discussed more extensively later on) raised the stakes To remove nuclear of this relationship. Although the US and North Korea have been weapons and the engaged in diplomatic relations for more than fifty years to varying capability to make degrees, neither country has legitimate “diplomatic representation” nuclear weapons in the other’s country, making it difficult for policy efforts to be successful in both the short- and long-term. This briefing will discuss the history of weapons of mass destruction in both countries and the progress that has been made thus far in curbing the number of weapons both countries have. As congresspeople, it is your job to determine the best course of action that will be feasible and successful for all parties involved. HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS EXPLANATION OF THE ISSUE Historical Development In 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea. In response to this, the United States, along with other UN countries, sent troops to Weapons of Mass South Korea with the purpose of deterring and stopping North Destruction – A Korean forces. South Korea was heavily backed and supported by the weapon (often United States throughout the Korean War from 1950-1953, with nuclear in nature, but North Korea backed by opposing nations like the Soviet Union and also biological or China. As a result of this war, relations between the two countries chemical) capable of worsened. Although both governments sought unification, this did producing a huge not occur, and diplomatic relations further eroded. magnitude of While the Korean War has never technically ended, the two sides destruction and death signed an armistice in 1953. From this point onward, the US has when deployed maintained some of its defenses and troops in South Korea for the purpose of protecting the country against North Korea. According to the US Department of State, the US “supports the reunification” of the two Koreas as determined by the Korean people. One of the US’s stated terms of reunification of the two Koreas is the denuclearization of North Korea. Beginning in the 1990s, the US sought denuclearization via diplomacy. Throughout the early 1990s, North Korea and the US repeatedly entered negotiations regarding North Korea’s denuclearization, which resulted in an agreement called the “Agreed Framework.” A decade later, the US again Treaty on the Non- attempted diplomacy with the Six Party Talks. The US has attempted Proliferation of military cooperation with allies in the region, wide-ranging Nuclear Weapons sanctions, and mechanisms such as export controls. Ultimately, (NPT) – Treaty however, the Agreed Framework and these other strategies never created in 1970 that resulted in concrete policy changes, and North Korea has continued has the goal of to develop a nuclear program over the past two decades, albeit at stopping the increase different rates of growth depending upon the agreements it was party of nuclear weapons. to or pressures to which it was subject. Although the US and North Korea agreed on the denuclearization of the entire Korean peninsula, North Korea has violated the terms of this agreement and continues to violate sanctions and treaties imposed by the United States and the United Nations. For example, in 1985, North Korea signed the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). However, it violated this treaty by developing a nuclear weapons program and testing ballistic missiles. The clear violation of treaties and agreements led to further economic and political sanctions from other countries. In April of 2003, North Korea declared that it had developed and currently possessed nuclear weapons. Two years later, in 2005, the country stated that it would be denuclearizing, but later reneged on this promise with its declaration in October of 2006 that it had tested a live nuclear weapon. In response, the UN Security Council imposed © HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS 2020 – REDISTRIBUTION OR REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 2 HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS sanctions on the nation. Since 2007, North Korea has built various nuclear weapons to continue expanding its nuclear program. The US is aware of this both through its own military intelligence On March 15, 2019 reconnaissance programs as well as global news reports regarding North Korea’s testing of its nuclear arsenal. As you might have North Korea stated noticed by now, relations with North Korea have exhibited cyclical it would not “yield trends over the previous three decades, between periods of to the US demands” diplomatic engagement and periods of sanctions and advanced proliferation. Most recently, engagement between the Trump administration and Kim Jong Un’s regime has led to a potential period of diplomatic engagement. This engagement led to a summit in Singapore, which yielded a noncommittal joint statement to pursue denuclearization. Scope of the Problem The denuclearization of North Korea is stated as an extremely important goal both for US foreign relations and international actors. North Korea’s nuclear weapons pose a threat to all countries within range. It also poses a significant risk of nuclear weapons spread, either to terrorist groups or adversarial nations (for example, North Korea was caught selling Uranium Hexafluoride [a key input to creating the highly enriched uranium used in nuclear weapons] to Libya, and has stated it would sell weapons to terrorist groups). Though denuclearization attempts have been entirely unsuccessful, the United States continues to push this diplomatic angle because it has few other feasible points of leverage. Over the years, different presidential administrations have approached the issue through Kim Jong Un, along slightly different lenses, all to no avail. Furthermore, North Korea’s with others, inspects proximity to China further complicates the issue of denuclearization the apparatus of a because the United States must balance China’s interests with its Hydrogen bomb own and North Korea’s. CBS News Defining Denuclearization Although the US wants North Korea to denuclearize, the two countries have not agreed upon a definition of denuclearization or what it would look like. The general definition is the process by which nuclear weapons are removed from a country and the ceasing of their future proliferation. Even this basic definition, however, has different meanings to the US and North Korea. It is important to keep in mind what form of denuclearization is being referenced when discussing this crisis. Generally, the US position is referred to as favoring “CVID” – complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization. Decreased US Presence in South Korea Within recent years, particularly during the current government administration, North Korean diplomats have made one thing clear: © HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS 2020 – REDISTRIBUTION OR REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 3 HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS the nation will not embark on a path of denuclearization and/or non- proliferation of weapons of mass destruction unless the United States decreases its military presence in South Korea. However, this demand has not been met, as the US has shown few signs of removing its weapons and troops from South Korea. This specifically points to the fact that South Korea is under the nuclear and conventional protection of the United States. This means that the troops and weapons are stationed in the country to quickly respond to any aggression against South Korea — likely from the North. North Korea views this nuclear protection as American Intercontinental aggression and consequently refuses to undertake in Ballistic Missile denuclearization. Eventual denuclearization is contingent, according (ICBM) – A missile to North Korea, on the removal of US troops from South Korea. capable of being However, South Korea is a key US ally that depends on US military launched from one protection, and reneging on that agreement would likely destroy the continent and 70-year-old alliance. Moreover, if South Korea ever felt that it was reaching another; the not sufficiently protected by the US, it would seriously consider primary threat in creating nuclear weapons of its own to counter the threat from the North Korea’s DPRK – a development that the US, China, and North Korea would weapons arsenal all vehemently oppose. Thus, the Korea-US relationship stands in gridlock — neither actor wishes to deviate from the status quo. Congressional Action Congressional action regarding the diplomatic relations of North Korea and the US is extensive. One example of a bill that was passed recently is the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016, which became law on February 18, 2016. This law establishes penalties and delineates conduct that is prohibited with regards to aiding North Korea in proliferation. It also makes note of prior sanctions that were placed on North Korea as a result of its nuclear proliferation and gross human rights abuses. Lastly, the bill In 1985, North allows for economic and humanitarian aid to be given to North Korea Korea signed the in addition to other facets that would directly address the human rights violations occurring in the country. Nuclear Non- Just recently, on May 23, 2019, Rep.