Introduction to International Politics

Foreign Event Analysis

Locale[]
Korea (North)
Title
North Korea’s Aggressive New Move
Summary
The IAEA removed surveillance equipment from North Korea’s Yongbyun nuclear reprocessing plant on Wednesday at the behest of North Korea. North Korea is prohibiting any further inspections of its central nuclear plant by the International Atomic Energy Agency because North Korea believes that the United States has not upheld its promise to remove North Korea from the lists of state sponsors of terrorism in return for compliance with IAEA requests. North Korea announced that it is reactivating the Yongbyun nuclear facility, thus nullifying the progress the IAEA had made toward North Korean nuclear disarmament in 2007 when North Korea agreed to suspend its nuclear weapons program. Before closing in July 2007, the Yongbyun plant had produced enough plutonium to make six atomic bombs.
Analysis
North Korea’s reactivation of its central nuclear reactor and its failure to comply with IAEA inspections signals a shift in the balance of power. By terminating negotiations with Western powers and restarting its nuclear weapons program, North Korea has further isolated itself and solidified its position on the list of state sponsors of terrorism. Now that the nuclear facility is reactivated, North Korea can use the plutonium previously produced to create six atomic bombs, therefore upsetting the balance of power by putting North Korea on a more level playing field with the nuclear weapon-wielding superpowers of the world.
North Korea’s creation of nuclear weapons also poses a security dilemma for South Korea that has the potential to draw in other major world players. The article from El Sol includes a statement from South Korea that it is “very worried” by North Korea’s recent decisions. North Korea has repeatedly threatened South Korea with destruction, and the destruction is more imminent now that North Korea has reactivated its nuclear weapons program. North Korea’s actions will deteriorate already fragile relations with South Korea and the West, who likely see these actions as offensive moves, and any further indications of a forthcoming North Korean attack on South Korea or the West may lead to a preemptive attack on North Korea by South Korea or its allies.
Perspectiver
Realist
In-Region URL
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/25/content_10104999.htm
Out-of-Region URL
http://www.oem.com.mx/elsoldemexico/notas/n864794.htm
Submitted
September 25, 2008 at 2:41 pm