Introduction to International Politics

Foreign Event Analysis

Locale[]
Korea (North)
Title
North Korea’s Latest Move Creates a Security Dilemma
Summary
North Korea has removed seals and surveillance cameras from part of their main nuclear complex at the request of Pyongyang officials. Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will no longer have access to the reprocessing plant. The removal of seals and surveillance cameras is a part of North Korea’s plan to reactivate the Yongbyon plant.
Although North Korea began dismantling the reactor last November and blew up the main cooling tower at the Yongbyon plant as a part of its commitment to the disarmament deal it signed in 2007, North Korea has announced its plan to reactivate. As part of the disarmament deal, which involved North and South Korea, the United States, Japan, China, and Russia, North Korea was expected to complete the disarmament work by the end of October in exchange for one million tons of heavy fuel oil and its removal from the United States’ terror list. However, the United States refuses to remove North Korea from their terror list until North Korea’s disarmament is confirmed. While North Korea plans to reintroduce nuclear material to the reprocessing plant in one week’s time, the United States as well as South Korea has urged North Korea to resume its disablement process.
Analysis
North Korea’s latest aggressive move suggests its demand for resources and power to defend itself. Yet, by going against the disarmament deal and reactivating the Yongbyon plant, North Korea is creating a security dilemma, in which case all weapons can be viewed as offensive. When states pursue power to defend themselves, like North Korea, it inevitably will threaten other groups or states. Other states will wonder whether it is using its power to defend its present territory, or if it is using that power to expand its territory. The United States and South Korea are deeply concerned regarding North Korea’s motives. While North Korea may be considered a rational actor that is basing their latest move to better their own self interests, the creation of a security dilemma could possibly result in a preventive war. Although this may seem unlikely, North Korea’s actions and subsequent violation of the disarmament deal demonstrates their desire for power which may necessitate a war in the future.
North Korea can be viewed through the Realist perspective. Not only is North Korea expressing its power by its plans to reactivate the Yongbyon plant, but it is creating a security dilemma by threatening other states. As a result, some states may react to North Korea’s actions by instituting a preventive war. Even though North Korea may not be preparing to attack, its desire for power may lead one to believe that they could attack in the future.
Perspectiver
Realist
In-Region URL
http://www.asianewsnet.net/news.php?id=1720&sec=1
Out-of-Region URL
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7633140.stm
Submitted
September 25, 2008 at 8:06 pm