The north korean nuclear predicament: A realist perspective

Abstract

The Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea is a state that redefines realism in the 21st century. Having a history of seeking survival in the anarchic world, this state has tended to protect its sovereignty by making self-help the primary concern. This has awakened many institutions and challenged their legitimacies that includes the United Nations Organizations, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Treaty on the non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) that felt most violated. The fluctuations in the relations between the United States of America and North Korea has been a key element that played the role in the de-facto ownership of nuclear weapon technology over the years. North Korean intentions have progressed from the Realist school of thought. It seems to attain security maximization along with maximizing its power based on the notions of defensive and offensive realism. Realism sheds light onto North Korea’s progression and strategies under the nuclear program, and what makes a state like itself to follow aggressive policies towards America. The supremacy of North Korea does not remain stagnant at being the Nuclear might in Northeast Asia, rather it seeks to attack mainland USA with its nuclear technology. This confrontation between North Korea and the US will have serious and ever lasting effects on the whole globe, as the initiation would include allies of the US residing in the region too. Recognition of North Korea as a Nuclear armed state is unacceptable for the International Community as it goes against all norms the powerful states have set for the world. On rational grounds, all states dread the use of Nuclear technology by this dictator led regime and the aftermath that is capable of diminishing life throughout Northeast Asia (China, South Korea and Japan mainly) and America as it will indulge these states into the calamity of war. All states, involved either directly or indirectly, want to achieve resolution that denuclearizes suitably through negotiation.