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NE 5599 Eric S. Krage

Proliferation after the P-5 with respect to North Korea

North Korea originally had an agreement in 1991 with South Korea banning nuclear weapons

from the Korean peninsula. The shortfall of this agreement is that no verification system was in

place to ensure no such programs were taking place. Following the agreement with South Korea,

North Korea signed an agreement with the international community to allow inspectors toinvestigate the Yongbyon nuclear sites and a monitoring system was set in place. The

significance of the Yongbyon site is that in the 1980s it was supposedly set up to convert waste

from the nations reactors into weapons grade plutonium. Following the monitoring and

inspections in 1992 in 1993 North Korea announced its withdrawal from the NPT. Subsequently

North Korea began increasing its stockpiles of plutonium and is on the worlds radar as a

potential hotbed for nuclear arms buildup. In the spring of 1993 North Korea tests midrange

missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, although, the ability to produce a nuclear bomb

was not known to be feasible. However, in December of 1993 the US CIA makes public that the

North may have a bomb already and is capable of making such a device. To quell the sanctions

proposed by the UN North Korea states that it will allow IAEA inspectors to visit their nuclear

reprocessing facility at Yongbyon, but they would not allow the inspectors to take samples at

crucial points in the system to test for potential proliferation issues. In 1994 North Korea

withdraws from the IAEA safeguards committee inspections. Following its withdrawal North

Korea continues to test missiles and make false pledges with the international community to

prevent sanctions against its fragile economy. Finally in 2002 North Korea admits that it has

been conducting a major clandestine nuclear program and has ultimately voided its agreements

to freeze all nuclear weapons development activity. Ultimately in 2006 North Korea sets off its

first nuclear device which was considered unsuccessful but was punished by sanction from the

UN. The second nuclear test conducted in 2009 and lead to the USA cutting any dealings withthe North. As tensions heat up over many issues and continued increases in economic sanctions,

the north shells South Korean islands killing a few people once again increasing tensions in the

region. A third nuclear test was conducted now under the reign of Kim Jung Un the son of Kimn

Jung Il in 2013 which is where we essentially are today.

Why did the state pursue a weapons program?

North Korea pursuance of nuclear weapons stemmed from their continued hatred of South Korea

and the Norths believed venerated state. This conflict was brought about by the Korean war andstill is a hot bed issue today because of both parties provocation of the other. The North Korean

people also see the nuclear weapons program as a source of pride for their homeland and believe

in the governments continued aspirations to go back to war with South Korea to take back the

rest of their country.

What was/is the states security environment?

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NE 5599 Eric S. Krage

The security environment in the early days of the Norths nuclear weapons program was stable

but not held to high standards. But as their desire to develop and stockpile nuclear weapons

materials and nuclear weapons themselves the nation has become less stable in its security

environment. The Norths environment today is not directly known but is slated to be weak and

has a high probability of proliferation issues to arise. Currently not under any outside observation

regarding their nuclear capabilities they are at high risk to sell material and use their stockpile of

weapons nefariously.

What was the extent of the program?

The North Korean nuclear program was a full nuclear program designed to make and has made

nuclear weapons and tested them. In the 1980s it began keeping material for such a program to

be later developed and was quelled by international pressure. Once North Korea withdrew from

the NPT their program took off and the development of enrichment capabilities to weapons grade

material increased. The delivery system of a potential nuclear device was also being developed

and the North currently has the capability to make a midrange weapon. Today North Koreasnuclear program is still strong and have been testing more nuclear devices and it is in the

foreseeable future that they will test such a device again.

What relevant treaties/organizations is the state party too?

Currently North Korea is not in good faith a part of any treaty or agreement but pressure for them

to resume in six party talks has been proposed. This would potentially allow sanctions to be

lifted on the North but seeing how they have acted in the past during these times it is not a sure

bet that this type of agreement can be reached.