Abstract
Today, relations between the United States and North Korea are at their lowest point since an armistice was signed between these two countries in 1953. The blustery and confrontational rhetoric that is constantly emanating from Pyongyang underscores the fact that the current tensions on the Korean peninsula could easily escalate into an all-out shooting war between these two nuclear powers, especially with most countries in the West preoccupied with the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic and the corresponding global economic downturn. Against this backdrop, identifying potentially viable policy solutions that can not only deescalate tensions on the Korean peninsula, restore normal relations between the United States and North Korea and pave the path towards eventual reunification of the North and South Koreas represents a timely and valuable enterprise. To this end, the purpose of this policy analysis is to provide a brief historical overview of the relations between the United States and North Korea to determine how the current impasse was reached and a discussion concerning what steps the U.S. should take to achieve these outcomes. Finally, a summary of the research and recommendations for American policymakers concerning current and future relations with North Korea are provided in the conclusion.
Policy Paper: Denuclearizing North Korea
A History of North Korea and How Bilateral Relations Reached This Point
Many Americans at present first learned about the Hermit Kingdom following the end of World War II when tensions on the peninsula between the United States and North Korea began to escalate, resulting in yet another shooting war involving America. In reality, though, formal diplomatic relations between the two countries were established nearly a century and a half ago when the 1882 Treaty of Peace, Amity, Commerce and Navigation was ratified and the first diplomatic mission was dispatched to Korea in 1883 (U.S. relations with North Korea, 2018). The newly established relations between the U.S. and Korea only remained in place until 1905, however, when Japan took control of Koreas diplomatic affairs (U.S. relations with North Korea, 2018).
After Japans defeat by the Allies in World War II, the Korean peninsula was split in to two occupation zones at the 38th parallel, with the northern half being controlled by the Soviet Union and the south falling to the control of the United States (U.S. relations with North Korea, 2018). In 1948, both countries were formally established as nations, with the northern half being designated the Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) in the south. Emboldened by Moscows apparent support, Kim Il-Sung, the North Korean leader, launched a military invasion of South Korea in 1950. In response, the United Nations authorized a military intervention by a coalition led by the United States which succeeded in pushing the communists into Chinese territory (U.S. relations with North Korea, 2018).
Alarmed at the UNs tactical successes, the Chinese
…to invade and conquer them, they are fully capable of defeating the evil American aggressors when it happens. In addition, the research was consistent in showing that North Korea has remained committed to its nuclear arms development program despite every carrot and stick short of military interventions that the West has thrown at it, including both economic incentives as well as economic sanctions.
Therefore, absent any outright military attack on North Korea using conventional and/or tactical nuclear weapons on the part of the United States, the only legitimate inroads to a peaceful resolution of the seemingly intractable North Korean position with respect to their nuclear arsenal will be to more fully engage them on the international stage. Beginning this process, however, will require American policymakers to view the current impasse from the Norths perspective, meaning that saber-rattling and brinksmanship are no longer appropriate diplomatic tools for resolving the nuclear problem on the Korean peninsula.
Indeed, in recent years, the U.S. has lurched back and forth between making cozy rapprochements to North Korea to threatening to rain fire and fury down on it yet again so the North has little to lose by continuing the status quo unless and until something significant changes in America foreign policy. Despite the need for a temporary wait-and-see approach at present due to the impending presidential election, the United States should begin normalizing relations with North Korea at the earliest opportunity by using the gradated foreign policy initiatives that were outlined above.
Chu, J. & Lee, H. K. (2018, April 2). South Korea's K-pop stars surprised by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's appearance at performance. ABC News. Retrieved…
