Nuclear Weapons in North Korea

Seth Borneman

Thesis

• North Korea’s Nuclear Programs create a situation where the United States must respond in some way for the protection of the American people as well the protection of the American place as a global leader.

• Essentially the United States has to assert itself as a governing power if that is what it wishes to be

What is it?

• North Korea is a fairly new country, which was created in 1953 as a result of the Korean War and WW2.

• The division between north and south was made at the 38th parallel

http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/qiranger/Korea/DMZ/Korean_dmz_map.png

What is it?

North Korea is a communist based, one man dictatorship that is known to be hostile.

The source of this hostility is the relations with the USSR and Communist China during the inception of the country.

http://cacm.acm.org/system/assets/0000/0880/061109_Reuters_Kim_Jong_Il.large.jpg?1244731978&1244731978

Communist Dictator Kim Jung Il

What is it?

• It is an important part of American history as the issue questions American diplomatic skills as well as the quality of our government’s public relations.

• The issue is heavily related to the U.S. through the cold war as well.

• This is because North Korea was once held by the USSR while South Korea was held by the North.

What is it?

• North Korea’s production of nuclear arms had been a hypothetical conversation up until October 9th 2006.

• Once North Korea had tested a nuclear weapon their actions (including the production and use of such a weapon) were “condemned [resulting in the imposition of] sanctions”(*). By the United Nations.

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sc8853.doc.htm(*)

What is it?

• The Korean War shows how the tensions of the Cold War are still not resolved.

• American foreign policy is questioned as well as if the North Koreans are allowed to do as they please it would set a poor example for the rest of the world, giving out the sentiment that the United States has gone soft.

What is it?

• Currently and during the 00’s there was fear of a nuclear attack against possibly the United States, or more likely against South Korea (a U.S. supported country).

• The issue most countries had with the nuclear testing was the principle, of the actions. After most countries had agreed to halt production years ago; North Korea felt they still needed to have weapons for deterrent.

What is it?

• North Korea’s production of Nuclear arms creates a situation where if they aren't somehow punishedfor their actions they set a poor example showing that there is no punishment for international disobedience of established law.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_KdgDLEdt9NI/TOozpsdMmKI/AAAAAAAABbc/eZ5uhv8Vb3Q/s1600/cartoon.jpg

Primary Sources of Importance

• http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sc8853.doc.htm

• UN press release concerning Korean Nuclear Tests

• https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kn.html

• CIA Fact book Page. (American Governments Point of View).

Interesting Information

What Caused It?

• The cause of North Korea’s Nuclear weapons production was the influence of other nuclear states

• As well as the availability of materials needed to make weapons

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/25/north-korea-hiroshima-nuclear-test

Locations of Nuclear Activiteshttp://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/25/north-korea-hiroshima-nuclear-test

What Caused It?

• Tensions between South Korea and North Korea (which is technically an ongoing war)created a situation where North Korea saw nuclear arms as an upper hand.

• The current worldwide policy of deterrence through nuclear power is also to blame however, everyone who has nuclear weapons tends to feel less likely to be a victim of nuclear weapons.

http://www.policyinnovations.org/ideas/commentary/data/000130

What Caused It?

http://blog.psaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/final17.jpghttp://jspivey.wikispaces.com/file/view/korean_w.gif/34486991/korean_w.gif

Impact on the U.S.

• During the 00’s American news sources kept a close eye on North Korea, as there was always a worry that they were going to commit a hostile action against the United States or South Korea.

• The day to day life of Americans was/is not altered by this issue, but annalists saw/see the possible outcomes of nuclear warfare (with any nation).

How can it relate?

• The Cuban Missile CrisisThe Cuban Missile Crisis was an issue in 1962 during the

Cold War, where there were Nuclear Missiles in Cuba. This created terrible relations between the United States, and her allies and Cuba, just as the events in North Korea have created a could of negativity around the area.

In the Cuban Missile Crisis the closeness between Cuba and America created the possibility of a short range nuclear strike, giving little time for response. With current rocket technology there is a similar situation in Korea.

Cuban Vs. Korean

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/North_Korea_nuclear.svg/160px-North_Korea_nuclear.svg.png

http://library.thinkquest.org/11046/home_collage3.jpg

How can it relate?

• The Cuban Missile Crisis– USSR Weapons– Threat to the US and her allies– To this day has social-economic issues with the US– Country rose out of turmoil – Communist Government– 1962

How can it relate?

– Influenced by USSR– Threat to the US and her allies– To this day has social-economic issues with the US– Communist government– Country rose out of turmoil – 1950’s-2000’s/10’s

• North Korean Nuclear Program

Thank You For Your Time

Question 1 (Critical)

• Explain the creation of North Korea citing why it was created.

Answer 1

• North Korea was created as a result of the second world war, the 38th Parallel was chosen to be the border line between the newly formed North (USSR) and South Korea (USA)

Question 2 (Critical)

• Explain how North Korea’s creation could have been prevented in the first place (keeping Korea United).

Answer 2

• If there was less tension between the Russians and the Americans at the end of the war this issue would have not been created, although with the Chinese influence of communism coming onto Korean from the north; North Korean may have still been created. A stronger American presence could have resulted in less communist (and more democratic) influence.

Question 3 (Factual)

• How many Nuclear Arms does North Korea (estimated) have?

Answer 3

• More than 2, Less than 10.

Question 4 (Factual)

• What year was the first North Korean Nuclear Test?

Answer 4

• 2006

Bibliography• http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/dprk/nuke/index.html• http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517875,00.html• http://npsglobal.org/eng/news/23-nuclear-a-radiological/566-north-koreas-new-nuclear-test-raises-universal-

condemnation.html• http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4180286.stm• http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/25/north-korea-hiroshima-nuclear-test• http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/qiranger/Korea/DMZ/Korean_dmz_map.png• http://cacm.acm.org/system/assets/0000/0880/061109_Reuters_Kim_Jong_Il.large.jpg?1244731978&1244731978• https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kn.html• http://media.nowpublic.net/images//97/e/97e1248a46b84a97e8eaa71c691194d7.jpg• http://www.wikipeers.com/files.php?file=South_Korea__North_Korea_986154020.jpg• http://www.policyinnovations.org/ideas/commentary/data/000130• http://library.thinkquest.org/11046/home_collage3.jpg• http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/North_Korea_nuclear.svg/160px-

North_Korea_nuclear.svg.png• http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20110517_3802.php• http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/08/world/threats-responses-asian-arena-us-shift-willing-talk-with-north-korea-about-

arms.html