Nuclear Proliferation - Iran and North Korea Flashcards
What is relevant historical background to the nuclear challenges in North Korea ?
- 1948 Korea divided into North and South
- 1950-1953 Korean War
- Demilitarized Zone
- 28,500 US troops still in South Korea
- US nuclear weapons in SK until 1991, still targets NK
What is NK’s relationship to nuclear treaties ?
NK currently under Kim Jong-un
- Signed NPT 1985
- NPT Safeguards 1992
- Withdrew from NPT 2003
What framework did NK agree to in 1994 ?
NK must dismantle its graphite nuclear power plants
Replaced by Light Water Reactor power plants by 2003
The US will provide them oil until then
How did NK and US do in relation to their 1994 agreement during the Clinton presidency ?
- North Korea
– Froze graphite reactors (+)
– Denuclearization of the peninsula not
strictly respected (-)
- United States
– Slow to ease economic sanctions (-)
– Slow construction of LWR (-)
- Significant spending only started in 2000
What happened during the Bush presidency between NK and US ?
Breakdown of the relations
- “Axis of Evil” speech referring to NK, Iran and Iraq
- Uranium enrichment accusations
- Oil shipments from the US are halted
- 2003: NK withdraws from NPT, resumes
plutonium reprocessing (halted in 1994) - LWR work is halted
Did NK really not respect the 1994 agreement ?
Yes, technically
- But no firm evidence
of weapons-grade
accomplishments - Bush derailed the
talks
What are some sanctions applied to NK following their 2003 retreat ?
- Rice says NK one of six “outposts
of tyranny” - authoritarian regime - NK declares it has NW, missile and nuclear tests
- UNSC imposes sanctions (2006) - leads to NK isolation
UN sanctions: dozen rounds since 2006 by UNSC, on trade, nuclear, etc.
US sanctions: broader than UNSC
Other US allies’ sanctions: EU, Japan, Australia, etc.
- Nuclear test was result of Bush’s derailing of 1994
framework
What is the 2007 aid-for-disarmament agreement ?
Negotiation attempt
Six-party talks (China, US, NK, SK, Japan, Russia)
Stop all nuclear activities in return for:
– fuel aid
– diplomatic and trade
incentives
Denuclearization of Korean peninsula
What accord was implemented concerning NK ?
NK provided a list of its nuclear facilities
NK started dismantlement of facilities
What is Obama’s stance on use of NW concerning NK ?
“The United States will not use or threaten to
use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear
weapons states that are party to the NPT and
in compliance with their nuclear nonproliferation
obligations.”
- 1) NWS
- 2) Non-state actors
- 3) Iran etc.
What is Trump’s stance on use of NW concerning NK ?
Threats from both sides
Not much civil society to replace Kim Jong-un in NK
NK offered nuclear freeze if US stops military exercises with SK: US rejects
6800 (US) vs. 60 (?) (NK)
What is THAAD and what is its role in SK ?
Highly effective, combat-proven defence against short, medium and intermediate-range ballistic missile threats.
THAAD is the only U.S. system designed to intercept targets outside and inside the atmosphere.
What are the next steps to take with NK and their use of NW ?
- Continue pressure, deterrence, etc.
- Negotiations, diplomacy
– Sanctions have not worked - NK increased
nuke activities
What is relevant historical background to the nuclear challenges in Iran ?
- 1953 CIA-Britain backed
coup - Strong US/Western ally 1953-1979 under the Shah
- 1979 “Islamic Revolution”
- 1979-present: mullahs’ regime
What was the relationship between Iran and the US before 1979 ?
- NPT 1968
- US collaborates with Iran to build nuclear reactors
- Even if Iran then produced more oil than today
