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The North Korea Nuclear Negotiation: A Tongue Twister Worth Considering
On October 26, 2004, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell concluded a series of meetings with Asian allies who may be able to help the United States put a halt to North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.
U.S. intelligence analysts say that North Korea has already produced one or two nuclear weapons and has manufactured enough plutonium to make six more.
Despite the threat, diplomatic efforts are at a stalemate. Chinese and South Korean officials announced their disappointment with Powell’s efforts, saying that the U.S. could be more creative and flexible in proposing a solution to the Asian nuclear crisis.
The administration’s point of view
The Bush administration’s philosophy is that the United States does not negotiate with nations who are violating international agreements in order to develop weapons of mass destruction, or rogue nations.
South Korea, China, Japan, and Russia have agreed to help the U.S. pressure North Korea into disarming, but North Korea will not participate in the talks.
Japan and South Korea have offered North Korea oil in exchange for dismantling its nuclear weapons program, but the United States has refused to give aid until North Korea provides a full and verifiable report of its weapons programs. North Korea, however, would like to be promised aid before returning to negotiations.
Asian allies’ point of view
China and South Korea are disappointed that the United States will not offer North Korea an incentive to negotiate. Further, South Korea has expressed frustration over the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004, which President Bush signed into law on October 18, 2004.
The new law requires that progress be made on North Korea’s human rights violations before any deals are made with North Korea. The South Korean foreign minister Ban Ki Moon feels that the incendiary topic of human rights will disrupt the already delicate negotiations about nuclear weapons.
The North Korean Human Rights Act
The North Korean Human Rights Act creates a special diplomat position dedicated to North Korean human rights. It also provides over $20 million in aid that is earmarked for North Korean refugee programs and for the promotion of democracy in the communist nation. Some of the money will go to radio broadcasts from groups outside of the North Korean government, which currently has control over all media.
The bill also safeguards the aid to make sure that it is used as intended. In the past, much foreign aid, especially food aid, has gone to the military and black market while millions of North Koreans die of starvation.
A history side note
Why is North Korea communist and South Korea capitalist? After WWII, Korea was occupied by U.S. troops in the South and Soviet troops in the North, causing two separate governments and economic systems.
Another reason to vote
President Bush and Senator Kerry have very different policy proposals for North Korea.
Bush wants to continue negotiations that include Russia, Japan, China, and South Korea – bilateral talks -- so that the United States is not directly negotiating with a rogue nation, but rather working with allies in the region to pressure North Korea into disarming.
Kerry wants direct diplomacy with North Korea – unilateral talks. Like Kerry, Japan, China, and South Korea are in favor of direct negotiations between the U.S. and North Korea because North Korea will give up nuclear weapons in exchange for security, which only the U.S. can provide.
North Korea is developing weapons of mass destruction in order to dissuade more powerful nations from sanctions and invasion.
The U.S. invasion of Iraq alarmed North Korea and probably encouraged North Korea’s nuclear weapons programs, says Ming Wan, professor of Public and International Affairs at George Mason University. If the U.S. can promise North Korea greater security, it will probably disarm.
What kind of negotiations do think would be more effective, unilateral or bilateral? Should the United States attempt diplomacy with a rouge nation? What are the consequences if we don’t negotiate and North Korea continues to develop nuclear weapons?
What do you think?
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Update Posted on: 11/01/2004
