Defense Strategy Course
Section Two, Essay One
Supportability from a strategy formulation perspective of United States policy options for North Korean nuclear and strategic missile capabilities
16 February 2014
Benjamin J. McClellan
CPT, USAR
North Korea’s nuclear and strategic missile capabilities present grave challenges to regional security. Pyongyang’s propensity to export its weapons also threatens the global non-proliferation regime. Despite economic impoverishment and an inability to feed its people, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea remains heavily armed and ready to fire first. Its recent and continued military provocations demonstrate the potential for resumed conflict on the Korean Peninsula. Policymakers must
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Containment
Containment is a policy of restricting the territorial growth or ideological influence of another, especially a hostile, nation. In regards to North Korea, the plan involves utilizing diplomatic means, partnering with allies, in an effort to prevent the expansion of the Korean threat. The eventual capitulation of Korea, as it is starved of resources, would be the measure of success.
The means (and the associated ways) necessary to pursue a policy of containment are minimal. Sanctions are the status quo for US - North Korea relations. The United States has maintained an uninterrupted regimen of economic, financial, and diplomatic sanctions against North Korea since three days after the Korean War began in June 1950. Further, the international community – namely the United Nations Security council, has a desire and options for further sanctions restrictions. The issue with Containment, however, is a question of end and risk.
Containment (alone) cannot achieve the desired end. Containment suggests that the United States and the international community are powerless to destroy the Korean nuclear capability, and have instead opted for a course of action which only seeks to minimize the impact of a nuclear North Korea. Containment is not suitable. If containment is achievable and occurred, Korea would still possess nuclear weapons, and still
The northern border is known as the DMZ (demilitarized zone) it is the most heavily armed border in the world. At 2.5 miles wide and 150-miles long the heavily mined and guarded area has served as a buffer zone since the cease fire in 1953.(3) The united States helps to guard the DMZ and protect the ROK with approximately 30,000 troops and an arsenal of military equipment. The country of South Korea is unable to maintain their own Nuclear weapons and relies on the US Militaries nuclear weapons program to match North Koreas Nuclear weapons program. Although the ROK army is well equipped and well trained it lacks the sheer numbers and nuclear capabilities to match North Korea. Therefore the ROK relies heavily on the United States military assistance. However with the ROK’s consistent progression and strong economy it’s only a matter of time before the ROK will no longer need the help of the USA. (4)
Kim Jongun, has mentioned before that he wants the world to look up to his strong country as a nuclear power, rather than just a mere country with multiple sanctions shouting big words. This in the past has led to various consequences from hegemonies all around the world who feel threatened by the implications of a young tyrant in charge of ICBMs. This is a clear example of the security dilemma in which the entire world, the anarchy that it is, has to control minor nations that strive for hegemony at the expense of the larger nations’ security and loss of leverage. Unfortunately, it seems that despite the clear warnings from the superior nations, the North Korean dictator has no interest in abiding by international rules and is far more fascinated with realist ideologies of projections of power.
North Korea, formally known as the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a relic of the Cold War and the world’s last remaining totalitarian Stalinist dictatorship. Arguably the most secretive state in the world, North Korea poses a unique set of challenges to the world, especially to its democratic and capitalist neighbor, South Korea, formally known as the Republic of Korea (ROK). As one of the last remnants of the Cold War era, North Korea remains an anomaly of the international system due to its unpredictable nature and disregard for international norms. With the recent bombardment of the South Korean Island of Yeongpyong and the sinking of the warship Cheonan, tensions between the two Koreas are at the lowest point since
Additionally, it also presents perspectives on important policies and strategies of Iran and North Korea, in regard to the development of their armory of nuclear weapons.
On June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea (doc c). Communist North Korea wants to reunify with South Korea. The United States pledged to help them because they didn’t want communism to spread. General Douglas MacArthur staged a risky yet successful counter-attack at the port of Inchon. North Korean forces are routed and pushed back all the way to the Yalu River, the border of North Korea and China communist. (Doc C). Communist China than enters the war and in November of 1950. The war lasts many years and at the end of the war, there were more than 2 million deaths. This is an example of containment because Soviet power and communism were kept from
One of the security challenges facing the United States (US) is the US and North Korea relations. The US policy toward North Korea is diplomatic yet firm. North Korea is our longest standing adversary. Policy toward North Korea is one of the most enduring foreign policy challenges. In this essay I will discuss the security challenge of U.S. and North Korea, the theory of international relation, realism, how it illuminates this challenge and how the instruments of
North Korea’s attack came without warning and President Harry Truman with the help of the United Nations, vowed to defend democratic South Korea(document C). American forces that occupied Japan after World War 2, were sent to defend South Korea(document C). the American commander, General Douglass MacArthur, made a risky, yet successful counterattack at the port of Inchon(document C). North Korea was pushed all the way back to the border of North Korea and Communist China. In November of m1950, China enters the war and pushes the U.N. and U.S. forces back into South Jorea. The war finally ended in 1953 very close to the original 1950 borders. The war caused more than two million deaths, including over 50,000 Americans(document C). I believe this is the weakest example of containment because the United States never thought about keeping a eye on Communist countries. I also believe this is a weak example because Communist China even got
North Korea was supported by the Soviet Union while South Korea was supported by the United States. Northern korea was greatly influenced by the Soviet, “fearing that the Soviets intended to seize the entire peninsula from their position in the north, the United States quickly moved its own troops into south Korea” (National Archives). This caused the US to help South Korea from the influence of communism, but the “forces are nearly pushed off the Korean peninsula” (document C). China got involved by helping North Korea since they share a border with them, feeling aligned. This war proceeded to happen for several years until 1953. This demonstrates containment because they are trying to keep communism in only these
portrayed containment in the Korean War by having the United Nations step in during the attack, having a counterattack, and then keeping Korea two countries. The U.S. and U.N. stepped in and helped South Korea when North Korea started to attack them. Stalin told North Korea to attack South Korea because he wanted to have control of the whole country and spread communism. The United States and the United Nations interfered because they did not want the Soviets to take over South Korea. The North Koreans were pushing the South Koreans almost of the Korean peninsula even with the United States helping to defend. Soon, MacArthur, the U.S. General came up with a counterattack pushing the North Koreans all the way to the Yaul River. They were stopping the spreading of communism until China stepped in. As China stepped in, they fought all the way back to the 38th Parallel. Finally, after several years the war ended. South Korea gained a little more land over the 38th Parallel, but both countries were kept separate. The United States, in this case, stopped the spreading of communism (Doc
allies and interests, resulting in the stationing of U.S. forces in South Korea and Japan. However, it has also been the subject of a policy experiment. Both Republican and Democratic administrations have tried to engage Pyongyang in order to improve relations and end its objectionable behavior. That policy, albeit politically controversial, particularly during the Clinton administration, is probably here to stay, not just because its attraction has been compelling to a cross-section of mainstream Democrats and Republicans, but also because political trends in Northeast Asia, particularly the ongoing rapprochement between North and South Korea, only reinforce the logic of engagement. The key question for the new administration is how it should shape its diplomatic policy towards North Korea to further U.S. interests in a region possibly transitioning away from the cold war confrontation of the past five decades to some unknown status.
Outline: China’s role in controlling North Korea I. Introduction A. Attention Getter: The news of North Korea taking missile launching tests and hydrogen bomb tests, which threatened the security of many countries and escalated the crisis in this year. B. Thesis: What role should China play in controlling North Korea? The answer is that China should play as a mediator who negotiates and helps to open dialogue between North Korea and the other countries to solve and crisis and control North Korea.
The Korean peninsula has been a volatile area since the end of World War II. Today it is the last example of a single nation divided between two states, represents the longest division of ideologies, and is the archetype of enduring Cold War symptoms. Although small in size, The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has been the biggest obstacle to regional stability in Asia, its militant and hostile policies posing a threat not only to western aligned nations, but also to its former and present benefactors, Russia and China. This dangerous country represents a very important target for the United States’ Intelligence Community, an extremely difficult one to exploit, but one that cannot be ignored as North Korea’s ambitions
North Korea appears on the international stage as a country existing beyond the world we all know. It isolates its citizens from the rest of international community and does not obey any rules determined by international law, but requires respect and recognition. Moreover, North Korea is one of the countries that remains aggressive towards its neighbors and applies various terrorist techniques, i.e. illegal contraband, political terror and mass abductions of other countries’ citizens in its foreign policy. The reasons for which the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) behaves so unpredictably and irrationally are diversified. First of all, the DPRK as a country is managed very irrationally – regimes of Kim Il-sung and
This article deals with the United States and its attempts to deal with the dangerous matters of North Korea. Some of the problems that were brought up in this article were North Korea’s plan to restart a plutonium based nuclear program at Yongbyon, North Korea’s plan to build a new highly enriched uranium (HEU) nuclear program, and the tension that emerged between the United States and South Korea. Even though many problems were occurring, there were some positive things that were happening at the time. The United States began negotiating with North Korea and South Korea about establishing railroad links, demining portions of the demilitarized zone, allowing athletes to compete in the Asian games, and allowing abductees to visit Japan.
Discerning appropriate measures for foreign and security policy is, of course, challenging for any country. When the decision involves highly sensitive issue such as denuclearization of another country, it is something that no one can resolve easily even with great length of time, specified plans, much power, or money. Gill states in his report, “Despite differences on tactics and approach, the primary strategic goal on which nearly all parties in China agree is stability, both at home and in China’s foreign relations, particularly within the country’s near-abroad,” demonstrating how significant the matter of stability is to the Chinese. In the case of North Korea, China’s attitude is rather calm, trying to avoid any direct conflict and ensure peaceful process, and consequently, the Chinese officials are putting relatively greater priority to North Korean relation due to risky circumstances. (Gill)