Jin Han, '04

Recently, the North Korean issue has been a "hot potato" in international politics. The nuclear weapon development "blackmail" has led some people to believe that North Korea should be considered an even bigger threat than Iraq. The proponents of this position do not understand the whole situation. It seems that most people, including foreign policy makers, do not understand two of the most important points relevant to this potential crisis situation. First, it is important to understand the reasons why the North Korean government has refocused its attention on nuclear weapons development. Second, it is also necessary to appreciate the regional relations in North East Asia.

Undoubtedly, blackmailing has been a long-standing diplomatic strategy of North Korea since the establishment of the state. The North Korean government seems to have perfected its "hit and run" tactics in diplomatic negotiations. Typically, it has threatened others and usually steps aside quickly after achieving its goals. For example, in 1999 the U.S. and the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) weapon inspectors found suspicious facilities in GumChang-Ri, in North Korea. The international community came to a consensus that called for the inspection of suspicious sites. The North Korean government, in response, requested food and oil as the price for the inspection. The IAEA inspection team failed to find any evidence that North Korea was producing nuclear weapons and the North Korean government got rice.

It is a well-known fact that the current economic crisis in North Korea is very severe. Many people have died of starvation, and many people are still dying. Some of the experts think that the current nuclear weapon blackmailing strategy is related to the country's economic woes. Those refugees who succeeded in fleeing from North Korea bolster the theory. They had witnessed many people dying in the street. The situation is so desperate that soldiers and communist party members, who used to be the symbols of well-fed citizens, are now suffering from starvation. Under these circumstances, it appears that the only thing the North Korean government can do is to request assistance from other states. Historically, however, the communist states have been very proud of their ideology and system. They have been very reluctant to admit their domestic turmoil, such as poverty and the collapse of their system. North Korea does not want to admit its economic woes or solicit assistance from other states. Notwithstanding, several of the experts believe that the North Korean government is going to eventually acquiesce or give up its nuclear program when it receives economic or humanitarian assistance.

Why does the North Korean government pursue such dangerous programs, neglecting its economic crisis and ignoring international condemnation? One reason is that the North Koreans believe they need the nuclear weapons for self-defense. Looking at the map of the region, it is easily discernible that there are many powerful countries around Korea, such as the Russian Federation, China, and Japan. In addition, the tension between the U.S. and Soviet Union during the Cold War that was fueled by ideological difference accelerated an arm race in the Korean peninsula. Of course, the Cold War was the only reason for North Korea to develop the fourth largest military in the world, but it is important to recognize that the current size of its military is a result of that era.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union at the end of the Cold War, however, the situation changed considerably. Russia became a republic, and China started opening its doors to other countries. It goes without saying in international relations that countries "do not have permanent friends in international relations but only permanent interests." There is therefore a possibility that the Russian Federation and China could break their ties with North Korea to pursue new interests. China and Russia still keep a very good relationship with North Korea, but no one can be certain that conflict may not arise among these countries. Besides, many Asian countries such as India and Pakistan are building weapons, including missiles and nuclear warheads. North Korea therefore may see the need to arm itself for self-defense and deterrence purposes.

It is very odd that the power of Japan is either neglect or fails to raise concerns. Unlike Germany after World War II, Japan has developed its own military systems in terms of "self-defense." However, the size and quality of its defense military is far larger than what may be deemed necessary. Historically, the Japanese navy has been quite strong. As the world witnessed in the Russo-Japanese war in 1904, the Japanese navy crushed the Russian navy. The Japanese maritime self-defense force now has 190 aircrafts, including 100 P-3s, 21 submarines, and 4 AEGIS warships, while the Russian navy, by comparison, retains only 142 aircrafts and 17 submarines. Japanese maritime self-defense force even has two amphibious ships that can be converted to aircraft carriers in time of war. Japan has also produced the F-15 aircraft under license of McDonnell Douglas. One of the main functions of aircrafts such as the F-117 and B-2 is a chemical material called "ferrite." Ferrite absorbs the radios, and a Japanese manufacturer produces the material. Japan now has the techniques, forces, and most of all, the know-how of battles to fight a war. Japanese maritime self-defense force is considered to one of the most powerful and most dangerous sea powers in the region.

What makes Japan even more dangerous and threatening is its attitude. The Japanese have been very reluctant to admit their faults and sins in World War II. Many Japanese historians and politicians still believe that they waged World War II to bring independence to Asian states. Recently the Japanese government permitted the publication of middle and high school history textbooks that provided historical inaccuracies. Even though it is unlikely that Japan will initiate another conflict of global magnitude it is still necessary to keep an eye on it. In this scenario, it does seem justifiable and reasonable for North Korea to develop its own missiles defense system.

North Korea is developing these weapons to keep a balance of power in the region. Amidst the rising voices for disarmament, the North Korean government has argued that it will retain its nuclear weapons if other countries are able to do the same. Some may argue that North Korea's position is in violation of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). However, the violation of international treaties and other agreements has been a common practice. North Korea also has the right to defend itself from possible attacks. It can be argued that the NPT is not fair to Third World countries. It was concluded after many of the major powers had already developed enough nuclear warheads for their own deterrence and self-defense purposes. They could have signed a treaty that requires destroying all those dangerous warheads, but didn't. "Because we are not going to develop them anymore, you cannot develop either" does not sound fair to all states in the world.

The last reason for North Korean's weapon development is economically based. On October 1998 the chairman of Hyundai, Jung Ju-Young, visited North Korea and had a meeting with the North Korean leader, Kim Jung-Il. In the meeting Jung asked the leader Kim to stop developing those weapons, including long-range missiles. The answer Kim gave helped make sense in understanding one of their main purposes. The leader Kim said, "Well, exporting those missiles to others is almost the only source, which we can get some foreign money. Why would we give it up?"

There is no doubt that the citizens of the world should make all efforts for peace. But, how can people bomb one country and talk about peace at the same time? Some political leaders claim that they have a right to protect their countries from attack or to prevent a possibility of an attack. They are definitely right. But these leaders should realize that states also have the right to protect themselves. Many Koreans still view Korea as a nation state, regardless of the current separation. Once Mr. Gavin Edward Butler, an exchange student at Ferrum College from Ireland, mentioned that policy makers should think about the ethical problem before they make their decisions. Koreans probably have better sense about this situation than any one else does.

Once there was a man walking and wearing a thick coat on a cold day. The sun and wind bet who was going to make him take off the coat first. First, the wind tried to make him take off the coat with the most maximum wind he could muster. The wind thought the strong wind would blow the man's coat away. But, he failed to take off the coat. Rather, the man bundled up to protect himself from the strong wind. The sun, however, tried to take it off with warm sunshine. The man started sweating and felt so hot that he eventually took off the coat. Hopefully, the sunshine policy will make North Korea to come out of its shell. The former president of South Korea, Mr. Kim, launched the so called "Sunshine Policy" toward North Korea. The new president, Mr. Roh (pronounced like "No") also has reaffirmed the policy.

To understand the North Korean issue, it is important to value the meaning and essence of universal standards. It will be necessary to abandon the idea, "We can do that, but you cannot do that!" The best tool to resolve this situation and to prevent a potential problem is the sunshine, not the hard-liners' strong wind, like "Axis of Evil" and "Unlawful Regime."