SJS5

SJS 5:

Sources:    
Bluth, Christopher. "North Korea: How Will It End?" Current History, vol. 109,
     no. 728, Sept. 2010, pp. 237-43.

Author Credentials: The author, Christoph Bluth is a professor at University of Leeds an is the author of "Korea."

Summary: International relations with North Korea stagnated after the sinking of a South Korean naval ship and the emphasis on the Norths desire to improve their nuclear arsenal. Pyongyang's main goal is the survival of the regime and part of making that possible is the power its nuclear program has at bringing leverage to the side of the North.The 2006 North Korean nuclear test brought forth the UN security council's resolution that prohibited further missile launches, however the North in 2009 tested a missile in violation to show its sovereign rights and capabilities. The regimens nuclear program was the way in which US talks with North Korea were reached, and the revival of the threat of such weapons gives the government control over the relations; this however is also the cause of a seemingly endless cycle of diplomatic strains. The majority of the U.S. foreign policy on North Korea focuses of the nuclear program. Under president Clinton, congressional support for his policies towards the North was not present which lead to further stagnation between the two parties, which resulted in a lack of a treaty being reached and ongoing armistice. Both parties in negotiation will have to accept that neither of the ideals brought fourth by both parties will be fully achieved, and some of the ideals such as full denuclearization of DPRK will be unlikely.

Analysis: The article, written in 2010 focuses focuses on the power of the nuclear program of North Korea to deter other countries from outright attacking the country. Also it brings negotiating power to the country because countries, like the U.S., that do not have diplomatic relations with the country are forced to have negotiations with the country. The program along with missile tests are a force that the regime uses to work towards compliance with the regime. The problem with aggressive tactics being used as the primary source of reaching some sort of diplomacy is it leads to aggression by  both sides. This also results in further animosity from both sides. In the United States political arena there are very stark differences between policy views and this results in little accomplishment. Under both President Clinton and Bush the discrepancies between both parties made any real gains in diplomacy difficult. Especially when referring to relations with the U.S. it is difficult to just assume that North Korea is the sole aggressor because both sides have prevented diplomatic relations and peace talks including the ongoing armistice and not a peace treaty being reached. Both sides have to accept that not all of the goals will be accomplished and some must be given up like the DPRK's desire for the U.S. To recognize the Kim regime as fully legitimate.