Problems of Our Time: North Korea

First lets go over what is currently being done about the situation as well as the surrounding circumstances.  As of now many countries are imposing embargoes on North Korea in an effort to hurt the North Korean economy enough that they will be willing to come to the table.  Unfortunately, the nuclear testing is unaffected by the embargoes as the entire process of mining the uranium to weaponizing it is a homegrown operation and relies on no other country, with the exception of Russia and China as the North Koreans get their fuel from those countries.  The embargo is really hurting the citizens of North Korea and not really doing anything to stop the nuclear testing.

The North Koreans are still in the developing and testing phase as they are yet to have a single successful nuclear explosion.  This testing is angering many nearby countries such as South Korea and Japan, as they feel threatened.  These feelings are beginning to change things in the government of both countries as South Korea and Japan are definitely foes of North Korea.  For those that are old enough to experience parts of the Cold War, I am sure that you don’t want to be put back into that situation of perpetual fear of being annihilated from nuclear attack.  The Cold War was really just an arms race, one that the United States won, however no one wants an arms race, as this both hurts the economy and creates a build-up of arms. Therefore we must really do everything in our power to stop this from happening.

What is really scary on the North Korean side is that their leader Kim Jong-Il is not mentally stable at all.  He is fanatical, and will kill any who oppose him.  Coupled with the fact that Japan and South Korea have been enemies of North Korea since the beginnings of time, we really need to focus our attention on North Korea.  This conflict is on the same scale as the Israeli-Arab conflict, and it should be given the same if not more attention.  This has recently come true because of the nuclear tests that North Korea has been doing of late.

We really have two options here…

The first is to continue on our same path and hope that economic sanctions and raising the threat level will change the mindset and bring the North Koreans ready to the table fully willing to disarm.  This is not only unlikely, but coupled with the fact that Kim Jong-Il is not mentally stable, we as the United States can not be giving concessions hoping that something will change.  It won’t.  This tried and old method is obviously not working and we need to move fast before the North Koreans actually build a functional nuclear weapon.

The second option obviously requires more work, but is completely necessary to stop the conflict.  We need to instead of working with the government of North Korea which hates us, we need to work with the Russians and Chinese.  These key allies of North Korea have major influence in the way that the country is run.  In the past, China has cut off oil supply if North Korea has committed an egregious breach of conduct.  This brought the country down to its knees as almost all the oil is imported through the Chinese pipelines.  Therefore, we must talk to the Chinese and have them follow the rest of the UN Security Council and restrict its trade with North Korea in return for concessions on the United States’s part.

Next, we must talk to the Russians who while not allies per se, have supported the North Koreans in the past.  If we can isolate the North Koreans, this might cause something to happen as Kim Jong-Il is crazy, but definitely not stupid.  Talk to the Russians and Chinese and have them actually take action against the North Koreans and we may actually get somewhere.

In addition, we can’t back down or bluff any longer.  This only will increase their confidence and strengthen their resolve.  We must stand firm by what we say and be willing to back it up with force if necessary.  We must not let the threats of an “attack” prevent us from doing what is right.  We as the United States of America have always taken it upon ourselves to keep the peace around the world.  While that is fine and dandy we cannot do it alone any longer.  To succeed in not just the North Korean conflict, but all around the world, we need to have allies that will back us up. 

Talk to the Russians and Chinese, gather allies, put in a missile defense system in South Korea and Japan, and only then can we hope for peace.

I hope that this article has given you greater insight into the North Korean conflict.  For me at least it really helps to get your ideas on paper.