Crisis on the Korean Peninsula

Crisis on the Korean Peninsula

North Korea has been the most publicized nation in the last ten years regarding nuclear proliferation. They are often debated in the highest political circles and are considered by many in the United States the US’s greatest threat. However, many politicians and critics are divided on how to deal with North Korea, and the nuclear threat it poses to the rest of the world. In my research I stumbled upon a fascinating book entitled Crisis on the Korean Peninsula that deals precisely with this issue. The book written by, opinion leaders and foreign policy scholars Michael O’Hanlon and Mike Mochizuki, introduces an ambitious strategy that attempts to answer the nuclear problems as well as the problems within the state itself. In the book their strategy is very clear cut and attacks three core issues where they see room for improvement. Foremost, they address the nuclear weapons issue that so clouds North Korea’s present and future global status as well as northeast Asia’s security. Additionally they argue for the reduction of conventional military forces and reconstruction of the nation’s shattered economy. Lastly, they argue for calming security assurances to North Korea’s embattled leaders, who show signs they might welcome such pledges. The three core issues covered by Mochizuki and O’Hanlon will serve as the basis of my research but will be backed by other sources that talk about the same important issues from different view points allowing a wide ranging view point. Altogether in my research of North Korea I hope to learn from the ideas of O’Hanlon, Mochizuki and others sources and have the ability to expound on the ideas of these men and women with my own.

In order to cover the three main points I divided O’Hanlon’s and Mochizuki’s book into three similar sections: 1. Current situation in North Korea and world regarding nuclear weapons, 2. Confrontation capabilities, and 3. Bargaining possibilities. These sections serve as a road map ultimately conveying both the situation of nuclear proliferation in North Korea in their strongest arguments to the reader. Furthermore, as the authors follow these guidelines so will I with my research of their information. I will include in these sections ideas from other papers and authors as well as a section in which I provide some of my own analysis.