UMID: 11836550

Section: 012
GSI: Gary Uzonyi
North Korean Missile Testing
Throughout North Korean history the several Kims in power have insisted on their
nuclear capabilities but have mostly failed. Kim Jong Un, the newest successor of the dynasty
who came to power in December 2011, is no different in his stance towards nuclear armament.
There have been talks between the United Nations and with the isolated country that date back to
1992, and since, there have been times in which it appeared that North Korea was going to cede
and halts nuclear enrichment programs, but then the Pyongyang leadership would cheat, stall,
and engage in nuclear antics. (Labott, CNN). In February, 2012 it had seemed that the United
States promise of food aid would successfully persuade North Korea to halt its nuclear
enrichment programs; the North Korean population has been suffering from a severe famine
since the 90s. With six million people at risk according to the United Nations World Food
Program (Foster, The Telegraph), North Korea still insists on developing its nuclear delivery
capabilities and ignore the South Korean and United States promises and negotiations of aid in
return for a halt in nuclear enrichment and armament. The threat of not providing aid has not
been effective for the United States and South Korea as Pyongyang, not fully considering the
needs of its citizens, continues to develop its nuclear arsenal.
State sovereignty has led the North Korean government to develop itself technologically
and become a nuclear-rogue state which believes nukes to be the strongest of deterrents. North
Korea has been at war with its wealthy southern counterpart since the 50s. It is clear that the
North Korean government feels threatened by the South and its allies; the United States and

Japan, establishing a strong commitment device, have troops stationed along the North-South
Korean border. Developing nuclear programs increases tensions with the international
community but in a future might guarantee North Korean state sovereignty and security. By
increasing nuclear capabilities North Korea would increase their military capability and
credibility. Pyongyang has successfully detonated nuclear weapons, and is evidently working on
delivery systems. Launching satellites into space is a way to test delivery capabilities; once a
state can get to space and maintain an orbit, it has clear capabilities of reaching any spot within
the planet. Putting a satellite in orbit would put the North Korean society ahead of the South,
who has attempted to do so twice and failed (Kluger, Time). Ignoring the threat of not receiving
food aid from the United States, on April 12th, 2012 the North Koreans attempted to launch a
satellite, and even though failed, demonstrated technological advancement. This shows that the
costs for the North Korean government to develop a nuclear arsenal are worth the cost of their
citizens lives. In the case that North Korea does achieve intercontinental ballistic missiles
(ICBM), however, threats on behalf of Pyongyang can increase, and military credibility and
effectiveness will increase.
The tensions in the border and the competiveness of the Eastern Asia region makes North
Koreans want establish nuclear and military capability. A way the United States and South Korea
can improve the effectiveness of their promises is by removing troops from the borders and
attempting to achieve an official peace treaty that removes the state of war in which Pyongyang
and Seoul have been in for more than 50 years. The new candidates for presidency have all
proposed to increase promises of humanitarian aid that will counter the North Korean nuclear
threat by means of peaceful negotiations that do not involve military implications. The next
South Korean elections will determine the future of the relations between the North and South

Koreas as well as North Korea and the world; all South Korean presidential candidates want to
reestablish a six-nation diplomatic process that would continue handling nuclear-disarmament in
peaceful agreements. (Ramstad, Wall Street Journal).
The international community must raise the cost to defy international agreements, as a
loonytunes country (Kluger, Time) with ICBM capabilities poses a significant threat to
international stability. It is clear that Pyongyang does not fully consider the needs of its citizens,
as it continues to reject food aid and humanitarian promises from the United States and South
Korea in order to continue with its nuclear enrichment programs. The current status of the South
Korean policy towards the North is to make economic assistance contingent upon actions from
the North depending on the status of their nuclear program. Under current President Myung-bak,
due to his get-tough policies with North Korean leadership, the North has been more
belligerent as well as more aggressive; since aid was cut from the South, the North has attacked
the South twice killing 50 South Koreans (Ramstad, The Wall Street Journal) and has had several
demonstrations of nuclear capabilities ranging from detonations to attempts of satellite launches.
The United States and South Korea cede their power and by not creating stronger sanctions
and/or punishes have allowed Pyongyang to develop its nuclear threat. Pyongyang gets closer to
a lock-in situation by explicitly attacking the South.
One of the main issues in North Korea is found in the change of leadership. Due to its
dynastic system, it is a fairly unstable leadership. The new Supreme Leader is accompanied by
military leaders that worked alongside the previous ruler, Kim Jung-II, and might still have a
secluded, Cold War mentality. The hard truth is that North Korea is Asias last remaining Cold
war trip wire. (Powell, Time). It is very possible that the Kim Jung Un is merely a puppet of a
hidden hand of older and more experienced individuals in Pyongyang. Kim has experienced the

more open western world, while at the same time living in his own secluded North Korea. Taking
the aid and accepting the United States and South Korean promises will allow for the people of
North Korean to achieve social stability.
Kim Jong Un runs his nation-state alongside elders who have seen N. Korea grow under
militarism and closed borders; Kim must move from his nations conservative views and make
progress to conditions that benefit his people. North Koreas Supreme leader must take the
worlds promises of humanitarian aid for his peoples benefit and well-being and remove his
nuclear threat off the planet. Technological and scientific development is more than welcome if
used solely for the advancement of society and civilian purposes. Improvement in local relations
will also allow for the international community to remove hostility and provide humanitarian aid
to the people of North Korea.
(word count: 1076)
References:

Kluger, Jeffrey. "Kim's Rocket Fails, but North Korea's Space Threat Is Scarier Than You
Think." Time. Time, 12 Apr. 2012. Web. 29 Sept. 2012.

<http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2111703,00.html>.
Powell, Bill. "Meet Kim Jong Un." Time. Time, 27 Feb. 2012. Web. 29 Sept. 2012.

<http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2106986-5,00.html>.
Labott, Elise. "U.S. Cautiously Optimistic after Food Aid Deal with North Korea." CNN.
CNN, 01 Mar. 2012. Web. 29 Sept. 2012.
<http://articles.cnn.com/2012-03-01/opinion/opinion_analysis-north-korea-

promise_1_yongbyon-nuclear-program-nuclear-activity/2?_s=PM:OPINION>.
Foster, Peter. "North Korea Faces Famine: 'Tell the World We Are Starving'" The
Telegraph. The Telegraph, 16 July 2011. Web. 29 Sept. 2012.
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/8641946/North-Koreafaces-famine-Tell-the-world-we-are-starving.html>.

Ramstad, Evan. "South Korea Race Promises Reset." South Korea Race Promises Reset.
The Wall Street Journal, 28 Sept. 2012. Web. 29 Sept. 2012.
<http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443779404577642922959546262.html
?mod=googlenews_wsj>.