What About N. Korea?
A Summit on Nuclear Weapons in North Korea
I. Introduction
While the U.S. currently looks at Iraq as the most serious threat to global and U.S. security, North Korea has quietly embarked upon a nuclear weapons program. This raises serious concerns for N. Korea's neighbors, China, Japan and South Korea., as well as for the United States, whose western coast is believed by some to be within range of the latest in N. Korean missile technology. The issue is complicated by historical ties and conflicts between N. Korea and its neighbors and the U.S. Many believe that how the world community addresses a nuclear N. Korea will determine whether other countries will follow its lead and secretly begin nuclear weapons programs, or comply with international agreements and not develop nuclear weapons. N. Korea reacts with great hostility to requests that it disarm. What should the world community do about N. Korea?
II. Problem:
A Special Summit on Nuclear Weapons in North Korea will meet to discuss a solution to this problem. Participants will be: N. Korea, S. Korea, Japan, China, India, Pakistan, Russia, and the United States. Each nation will present a plan to address N. Korea's nuclear program based on its own perspective and interests. The Special Summit is charged with defining a unified response by the global community to N. Korea's development of nuclear weapons.
III. Task:
You will represent one of the nations participating in the summit and will give your nation's point of view of the development of nuclear weapons by N. Korea and the actions that should be taken to address this situation. You will need to take into account the historical background of the issue and be aware of the positions held by other nations. Your presentation will be given to the assembled national leaders. Your report will include a 35 minute oral presentation and a op ster outlining the main points of your position.
IV. Expectations of each group:
1. Oral presentation (3-5 minutes)
2. Poster (explain main pints of your country's position)
3. Actively participate in debate
4. Vote on resolution
5. Individual reflection written assignment (Thursday night in your logbook)
V. Process:
1. Along with other members of your group, you will represent one of the following nations:
a. N. Korea
b. S. Korea
c. Japan
d. China
e. Russia
f. Pakistan
g. India
h. United States
2. You will do background research on the issues:
a) What are current treaties and agreements governing nuclear arms?
b) Which countries have nuclear weapons?
c) Which of N. Korea's neighbors have nuclear weapons?
d) What type of relations does N. Korea have with its neighbors?
e) When did N. Korea begin developing nuclear weapons?
f) What is N. Korea's rationale for developing nuclear weapons?
g) What has the United Nations said about nuclear weapons in N. Korea?
3. Do research on the position of your country with respect to the following issues:
a) Has your nation signed international nuclear nonproliferation agreement(s)?
b) Why did your nation develop its nuclear weapons program, or, why is it considering
developing one?
c) Do neighboring countries have nuclear weapons?
d) Do you agree that those nations which have nuclear weapons now may keep them, but
others may not develop them?
e) What should be the solution for N. Korea?
4. Do the presentation(s):
Poster
• Your poster will be used during your oral presentation.
• Be sure to explain the main points of your country's position.
• Poster must be visually clear, contain accurate information, and realistically represent your nation's views.
Oral Presentation
a) Summarize your nation's position on the issues of N. Korea's development of nuclear weapons. Be sure to answer the following questions:
• 'Does every nation have the right and responsibility to develop the military force it believes is necessary to ensure the security of its people?
• Does your nation have the right to have nuclear weapons? If so, why?
• Should N. Korea be allowed to have them? Why or why not?
b) Be sure to cite evidence/give clear reasons to support your position. You will have no more
than 35 minutes to present this.
c) Be prepared to question and challenge nations which disagree with your own nation's perspective. Review the foreign policy summaries for each country and plan questions for other countries about their position.
d) All members of your group need to participate in the presentation and debate.
5. Debate and vote on the following resolution:
Nuclear weapons in N. Korea are a dangerously destabilizing force in East Asia and must become the world community's primary concern. All effort diplomatic, economic and even military must be made to persuade N. Korea to comply with the nuclear agreements which it has signed, and to destroy its nuclear weapons program.
6. Reflection: to be completed in your logbook.
Why is this an important issue? Why should the U.S. and other nations care about nuclear weapons in North Korea?
VI Resources
Foreign Policy Relations
The U.S. The United States has treaties which provide a nuclear umbrella to Japan and NATO nations. At present the U.S. has positive relations with China, though there have been recent bumps in the diplomatic road, such as the U.S. spy plane incident. American policy is worked out in tension between two different views: some insist on expanded human rights in China, and some favor opening markets and investments in China and downplaying human rights issues. U.S. was closely allied with Pakistan until the end of the cold war. While the U.S. provided most of Pakistani military aid from 1954 to 1980s, China is now the major military supplier to Pakistan. The U.S. has maintained cool relations with India because of its refusal to join the west during the cold war and for its tight controls on American investment and business enterprise in India. Since September 11,2001, the U.S. calls each of the represented nations (except N. Korea) an ally in its war on terrorism. The announcement that N. Korea had restarted its nuclear weapons program came as a shock to the U.S. government because it violates the 1994 Agreed Framework signed by the two countries. Since N. Korea is seen as part of an "Axis of Evil" by the current administration, the N. Korean nuclear weapons program is a grave concern. All diplomatic communication between the U.S. and N. Korea has recently been cut, and tensions between the two nations are very high.
China is the premier military power in Asia and considers Pakistan its oldest and most powerful Asian ally. China continues to occupy areas inside of India's borders as a result of the IndoChina war of 1962. China has nuclear armed missiles positioned against India along the Himalayan border and in Tibet, in addition to being Pakistan's main military weapons provider. China has long been one of the only friends to N. Korea. China disapproves of the "rigid" U.S. policy toward N. Korea, believing it will only worsen the tensions between the U.S. and N. Korea. China calls for treating N. Korea as an equal, independent state and believes that a military solution to the N. Korean nuclear issue is unacceptable.
Russia has had close relations with India since Indira Gandhi became prime minister in 1966. Russia provides most of India's military sales. In general Russia has been friendly toward N. Korea and there was even a treaty in 2000 that expressed the cooperation between the two nations. Russian wants to keep peace in this area of the world for political and security reasons. Russia has had quite a bit of influence in N. Korea and they are somewhat opposed to N. Korea having nuclear weapons for fear of a conflict between it and other countries such as the United States. After the demise of the Soviet Empire, Russia is no longer unable to provide economic or military aid to India or N. Korea.
India has pursued a policy of nonalignment (not being too closely allied) with Soviet Union and United States since independence. India would not accept American military aid or join alliances, thus alienating U.S. leaders and majority of Americans. India has felt that the U.S. has also been hostile to India and that the U.S. is now promoting China as the major power in Asia. India resumed nuclear testing, in 1998 after Pakistan tested its Gauri missile. As a result of these tests, the U.S. and other major trading partners imposed economic sanctions on India. While Russia has provided most of India's weapons in the past, now that Russia is weak, India feels isolated and alone in world community. In regards to N. Korea, India has been friendly and plans to be more so. India and N. Korea have been sharing ethnic film and theater productions. India has given a lot of aid in different fields including agriculture and the sciences. There is a largescale trade network between the two countries.
Pakistan relied on its close alliance with U.S. from 1954 through the 1980s. During the 1990s, leaders looked more to China for support and military technology and hardware; China is currently a major supplier of these components to Pakistan. Th a Pakistani foreign minister traveled to China for consultations ten days before Pakistan conducted nuclear tests. Pakistan will suffer far more than India as a result of economic sanctions by world community. Loss of aid will result in undermining of currency, great increase in debt and increase in poverty. Pakistan has purchased missiles from both China and N. Korea. It is believed that Pakistan supplied the technology to enable N. Korea's nuclear weapons program.
N. Korea Following World War II, Korea was split with the northern half coming under Communist domination and the southern portion becoming Western oriented. KIM Chong11 has ruled North Korea since his father and the country's founder, president KIM 11song, died in 1994. After decades of mismanagement, the North relies heavily on international food aid to feed its population, while continuing to expend resources to maintain an army of about 1 million. North Korea's longrange missile development and research into nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and massive conventional armed forces are of major concern to the international community. In December 2002, North Korea rejected a 1994 agreement that shut down its nuclear reactors and expelled UN monitors, and admitted to restarting its nuclear weapons development program.
S. Korea After World War II, a republic was set up in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula while a Communiststyle government was installed in the north. The Korean War (195053) had US and other UN forces intervene to defend South Korea from North Korean attacks supported by the Chinese. An armistice was signed in 1953 splitting the peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. Thereafter, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth, with per capita income rising to roughly 20 times the level of North Korea. South Korea has maintained its commitment to democratize its political processes and has maintained the staunch support of the United States. In June 2000, a historic first northsouth summit took place between the south's President KIM Dae Jung and the north's leader KIM Chongil. S. Korea is strongly opposed to a military response to N. Korea's nuclear weapons program. Its capitol, Seoul, could be destroyed by artillery fire, or worse, nuclear missiles, if N. Korea were provoked.
Japan While retaining its timehonored culture, Japan rapidly absorbed Western technology during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After its devastating defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become the second most powerful economy in the world and a staunch ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, actual power rests in networks of powerful politicians, bureaucrats, and business executives. The economy experienced a major slowdown in the 1990s following three decades of unprecedented growth. Nuclear weapons in N. Korea are a serious concern to Japan, which is within range of N. Korean missiles. Though Japan has no nuclear weapons, it may see them as necessary to counter the threat posed by N. Korea's warheads. Japan views recent missile tests by N. Korea as very provocative. This week (March 2003), Japan launched a spy satellite to monitor N. Korean military activity. Japan is currently N. Korea's largest trading partner.
Facts: Nations with Nuclear Weapons
The following nations possess nuclear weapons, have carried out tests and have missiles to deliver nuclear warheads.
• United States (pop. about 268 million), 1,030 tests since 1944. Now has approx 10,640 nuclear warheads. Missiles with range of 8,100 miles can reach anywhere in the world.
• Britain (pop. about 59.1 million), 45 tests since 1952. Has 200 warheads. Missiles have range of 7,500 miles.
• France (pop. about 58.8 million), 21 tests since 1961, most recent tests 1995, 1996. Now has 350 warheads. Missile range 3,300 miles.
• Russia (pop. about 146.9 million), 715 tests since 1945. Has approx 18,000 warheads. Missile range 6,800 miles.
• China (pop. about 1 billion, 300 million), 45 tests since 1964. Has approx 400 warheads. Missile range 6,800 miles.
;Israel (pop about 6 million), no tests, but has more than a hundred warheads. Missile range 30 miles.
• India (pop. about 988.7 million), six tests since 1974. Has approx 6090 warheads. Missiles named Prithvi has range of 1,550 miles. Presently developing Agni missile similar to Pakistan Gauri missile.
• Pakistan, (pop about 141.9 million), began nuclear program in 1972. Now has 2448 warheads. Missile range 930 miles. Has received technology and missiles from China.
• N. Korea, (pop about ) began to develop nuclear weapons program in early 1990s. Believed to have 2 nuclear warheads, with more in development.
• Percentage of national spending on defense: United States 3.4% (399 Billion), Russia Pakistan 25%, India 14%, N. Korea 31.2%, China 35%, Japan 1%, S. Korea 2.8%
Internet Sites
Information about N. Korea and nuclear weapons
North Korea and Nuclear Weapons: Background Reading This document offers a brief summary of U.S. North Korean relations from the close of World War II to the present. http://66.40.219.233/KoreaBackground.cfm
North Korea: Nuclear Standoff This PBS site (NewsHour with Jim Lehrer) includes reports, interviews, and debates on the subject. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/asia/northkorea/
CNN Timeline of North Korea nuclear weapons developments
http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/east/02/07/nkorea.timeline.nuclear/
Nuclear Threat Initiative Profile of North Korea. NTI's mission is to strengthen global security by
reducing the risk of use and preventing the spread of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.
NTI seeks to raise public awareness, serve as a catalyst for new thinking and take direct action to
reduce these threats. http://nti.org/e research/el_nkorea l.html
http://www.nti.org/db/profiles/dprk/msl/chron/NKMCH00Go_bg.html
Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. Extensive information on North Korean weapons as well as other nations' reactions. http://cns.miis.edu/research/korea/index.htm
BBC News information on the North Korean nuclear program
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/405150.stm
International Opinion about North Korea
World Press Review special on North Korea contains translated media articles from around the world. http://www.worldpress.org/toc.htm
Global Nuclear Weapons Information
"Star Wars" background and analysis
http://www.fas.org/spp/starwars/crs/91-141.hm
Federation of American Scientists - a nonprofit organization founded in 1945 as the Federation of Atomic Scientists. Its founders were members of the Manhattan Project, creators of the atom bomb and deeply concerned about the implications of its use for the future of humankind. http://www.fas.org/
National Resources Defense Council - archive of nuclear data. Comprehensive information on nuclear arsenals and tests. http://www.nrdc.org/nuclear/nudb/datainx.asp
Nuclear Proliferation Agreements:
1994 Agreed Framework (between U.S. and N. Korea). The Arms Control Association web site offers a complete text of the 1994 Agreed Framework. http://www.armscontrol.org/documents/af.asp
Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (United Nations) The "granddaddy" of all
nuclear weapons treaties. All nations but four have agreed to its principles.
http://www.un.org/Depts/dda/WMD/treaty