Making a presence in recent world affairs, North Korea has created quite a media stir. The situation with “The Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea” is not over a war with the small Asian country, as we’ve seen in the movies like the remake of Red Dawn, but instead of nuclear uranium-enrichment and plutonium projects (AKA nukes). Put into effect in 1970, the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (or NPT) is one created in encouragement of stopping the spread of knowledge, production, and god-forbid, launch of nuclear warheads, while promoting beneficial uses of nuclear energy. The countries in official recognition of this treaty include China, the UK, Russia, France, and the US. Closely tied to the actions of the United Nations, countries which pose a concern to the members of the treaty include North Korea, Iran, and Syria.
As of 2006, North Korea has officially released information that it possesses the capabilities to develop nuclear warheads. As of 2009, it has been reported that NK has used enough resources to produce around 10 nuclear weapons. In attempt to establish some hint of an international presence, North Korea has attempted, failed, and continued to threaten nuclear bomb tests spanning over last 3 months. They’ve originated out of, not their capital, but instead a Northern coastal town with a heavy military presence.
North Korea’s main ally is China, the large and powerful mainland country to the East of the DPRNK. China, too closely tied to the US to involve itself in the threats of North Korea, has begun to display negative relations with North Korea. After the death of leader Kim Jong Il, China has continued to support North Korea under their young new leader, Kim Jong Un. Their patience seems to have been wearing thin after the various nuclear activities since December of 2012. With the ascension of a relatively new leader in China, situations might become shaky, and a third test may provoke China to withdrawal relations with North Korea entirely, making attempt at disarmament nearly impossible without a military presence in North Korea.
In December of 2012, long ranged rockets were fired, supposedly to send off a satellite, but also presumably to name themselves as a national threat. The United Nations responded to this by putting tighter sanctions on the country. Infuriated by these “hostile sanctions”, Kim Jong Un vowed to have another nuclear launch test targeting their “greatest true enemy”, the USA. As of February 12th, 2013, North Korea has released the fact that it has completed a third nuclear bomb test. According to press sources, this has been the most powerful detonation in the last few months, thus further proving Kim Jong Un’s desire to make his presence known, all the while spending government money on the detonation of nuclear bombs when their own people cannot even be fed.
There have been two crucial and expected reactions to this event: that of the UN and that of China. According to U.S. ambassador, Susan Rice, the UN will respond swiftly and firmly in an attempt to stop Korea from the proliferation of any nuclear-related information as well as to impede upon their nuclear projects all together. On the other side of this, it isn’t likely that we’ll see a response from China on their “allies” very quickly, but most point to the fact that they’ll side with the U.N. and US on tighter sanctions.
North Korea has two sworn enemies: “the puppet traitors” or South Korea, and “the imperialist pigs living in a nest of evil”… that’d be us. At the DMZ (Demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas in which no military activity is to occur and press and civilians can enter from the South Korean side) tensions rise amongst the US presence there in fear of the danger of proximity. On top of this, if North Korea does develop further nuclear technology, there is a potential chance for the ability to reach mainland cities on Japan, SK, or even the US. And yet, the threat is not in the destruction of U.S targets, or even the beginning of warfare (which wouldn’t seem like the best idea on North Korea’s part considering the United States’ arsenal of nuclear warheads number at around 5113). The fear is the response from China coupled with an attack on South Korea or Japan.
In relation to the “puppet traitors”, the Korean War is technically still going on today. It also serves as North Korea’s inspiration for their sworn hatred of the United States. They not only believe that we started the war, but also feel it unfair that we sided with South Korea. The hatred is also spurred from their contentious line of rulers who all seem to have the largest dominancy complex in psychiatric history. On the other hand, the people are in full support of the government actions. It seems as if they’ve been brainwashed to see this fictitious America to actually be a “nest of evil.” Only furthering this along, Un’s display of his militant power on the 12th is enough to scare a nation of people into conforming to the ideas of their leader.
Adding to the media frenzy that’s ensued the last few weeks, North Korea released a YouTube video in which a Korean man dreams of a united Korea, and a destroyed New York City. North Koreans claim it to be a threat and a foreshadowing, while here in America it’s become easy material for late night humor. The ideal response to the entire situation for the U.S. is not to engage in this petty line of threats, or even to get involved using our Chinese ties, but instead to develop plans to disarm North Korea before it becomes a legitimate threat.
