North Korea

History of North Korea since WWII:

At the end of World War II, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel by the Soviet Union. In 1948, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) was established. This marked the point when soviet troops withdrew their forces. A few years later in 1950, the North Korean invasion is began after South Korea claims independence. Between 1950 and 1960 both North Korea and South Korea had a large increase in industrialization.

Later, in 1980, Kim II Sung's son Kim Jong-II moves up as party and political leader of North Korea. Both North Korea and South Korea decide to join the United Nations in 1991. Three years later in 1994, the death of Kim II Sung causes Kim Jong-II to be promoted as leader but does not take his father's title. As Kim Jong-II gains more experience in his fathers position, a large flood causes severe famine to spread. In 1998, Kim II Sung is declared the "Eternal President" and Kim Jong-II continues to gain more power. Years ahead, in 2003, North Korea announces its withdrawal from the 1968 Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty which banned them from creating nuclear weapons. Tension between the US and North Korea really began to build when North Korea announced that they had created a nuclear weapon and then, in 2006, declared that they had successfully detonated a nuclear device. Three years later in 2009, a second nuclear weapon is detonated. Finally, in 2010, Kim Jong II announces that Kim Jong Un will take his position as ruler.


Summary of current state of affairs in Korea: 

When Japan surrendered at the end of World War II, in 1945, the Korean Peninsula was divided by the 38th Parallel. The US remained in the South and the Soviet Union in the North. This then led to the creation of the Republic of Korea (ROK) in the South and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in the North. Until 1971, the two governments had not communicated and, therefore, remained separate. The United States has communicated that they feel the two governments must have a "constructive and serious" discussion before anything can be resolved. Both North Korea and the US are part of the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum. As attempts to influence North Korea, the US formed and agreement with North Korea to denuclearize the Korea Peninsula. The US then requested that North Korea improve relations with South Korea and comply with international law including the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1718 and 1874.

On the other hand, The US and South Korea have a more cooperative relationship than do North Korea and the US. South Korea currently allows the US to have Army and Air Force personnel there in order to support its commitment of the US-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty. South Korea also aids the US in its attempts to denuclearize North Korea. South Korea also send the highest number of students to the US for study abroad. The organizations belonged to by both the US and South Korea include the United Nations, G-20, Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum, Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and the World Trade Organization.



Do you think there will be regime change/ state change/ neither/ both? Why?

I think that there will be regime change in North Korea. With the United States and South Korea in alliance, the pressure to denuclearize is even stronger. The Rebulic of Korea (ROK) has already begun with attempts to influence North Korea and persuade for less creation of nuclear weapons. The US and South Korea have similar interests for the future of Korea and hope that both the north and south will become more unified. Because the US and South Korea are also both members of many of the same groups they can team up to influence change in the North. South Korea, in the past, has already made certain agreements with the North, however, these agreements have not been throughouly followed. Because of the broken agreements between both the US and North Korea, and South Korea and North Korea, regime change is the only option to ensure that the Korean Peninsula become unified and nuclear weapon free. 

Sources:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/secret-state-of-north-korea/

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/fighting_words/2010/02/a_nation_of_racist_dwarfs.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15278612

http://www.state.gov/r/pa//ie/bgn/2800.htm

http://www.state.gov/r/pa//ie/bgn/2792.htm