Gyeong Jin Park
Professor Person
HIST 3601
04/05/2017
How will the United States and South Korea Prepare for North Korea Nuclear Actions?
Looking back at the end of 2009, relations between the United States and North Korea that unfolded in 2009 were unexpected. This is because the Obama administration took office in January 2009, after the administration of Bush’s Republican, which was hostile to North Korea, president Obama, on the other hand, his willingness to talk with hostile leaders during the presidential campaign. Unlike the Bush administration (2001-2008), which was characterized by tensions and conflicts, the launch of the Obama administration was thought to be the opening of a new era of friendship between the U.S. and North Korea. However, his efforts were not well received. What are the risks of North Korea nuclear action for the U.S. and South Korea?
Since January 2009, the relationship between the United States and North Korea has been a series of tensions and conflicts that can be compared to a crashing locomotive, as conflicts began to occur one after another. Obama 's first North Korean action soon after his administration’s launch was beyond expectations. As reported by Seoul's media, "Obama's first policy toward North Korea was" stick ". On February 2 2009, just 10 days after its launch, the Obama administration removed a two-year ban on three North Korean companies involved in missile trading. This action reflects the will of the Obama administration, which emphasized and intensified if North Korea did not cooperate.
North Korea may have characterized the Obama administration as weak. Almost every country in the world prefers the Obama administration, to the bush administration, which seemed to be relatively weak by comparison. However, the Obama administration continued its U.S. - ROK military exercises in 2009, which the two countries had been conducting annually. North Korea 's provocative stance increased and strengthened the scale and strength of the U.S - ROK combined training. The advanced Aegis ship, which is an integrated naval weapons system developed by the Missile and Surface Radar Division of RCA, deployed and the training practice period was extended longer than usual. When the U.S - ROK combined Key Resolving Exercise began, North Korea condemned it more violently, and threatened to launch a missile that would threaten the United States. In response to North Korea' s threat to launch missiles, Obama’s national security officials voiced a clear - cut stance that would not have occurred under Bush.
North Korea 's provocation continued, and the second nuclear test was carried out. Unlike the first nuclear test, the explosive power of the second nuclear test reached a considerable level, and demonstrated explosive power of up to 20,000 tons, surpassing the destructive power of bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Recently, the United States and the international community have been forced to strengthen sanctions against North Korea. As a result, the abandonment of nuclear weapons could potentially lead to the collapse of the Kim Jung Un regime. However, if the United States continues to test nuclear weapons, then it is obvious that North Korea will fall into a helpless state that can not function because of the pressures of the international community.
To solve this legitimate concern, both South Korea and the U.S should follow the principle that hey should not be regarded as targets in the North Korean unclear bilateral negotiations. In the meantime, North Korea might improve its nuclear weapons that it has already developed following the dismantling of the ROK – U.S. alliance, or especially considering the potential complete withdrawal of the United States Forces Korea (USFK). The resolution of North Korean nuclear policy will never be enough to jeopardize the national security of the Republic of Korea. Overall, the current situation facing North Korea seems to be progressing more and more toward a crisis. When North Korea takes nuclear action, the U.S and South Korea are urged to strengthen and prepare by creating an alliance in order to cope with the threats and confusion that will arise on the Korean peninsula.