...Less than 5,000 people visit North Korea every year. The tourist money is some North Korean citizens only source of income. When someone visits, the entire look and feel of the country changes. People are moved off the streets, some are told to paint their houses, and everyone gets electricity back for the time being. All of this is because of Kim Jong-un, the country’s current leader. (The Ethics of Taking a Trip to North Korea as a Tourist) Kim Jong-un assumed power when his father, Kim Jong-il, passed away in 2011, and has been in power ever since. (Kim Jong-un Biography) Kim Jong-un has not yet been overthrown. The people of North Korea treat him like a god more than a leader. They worship and acknowledge him in every way. They give all...
Words: 1228 - Pages: 5
...North Korea: A Stand Down or a Stand Off? Christopher Caver Strayer University North Korea ENG 215 Research & Writing Professor J. Welch June 9, 2013 With North Korea´s recent threats on several occasions to launch a nuclear weapon at various countries to include South Korea, Guam, Japan, and even the United States, the United Nations and the United States cannot standby any longer. Additionally does North Korea’s recent withdraw from verbal threats to the United States and its allies indicate a stand down? Although nuclear talks and heated talks between the U.S. and North Korea are nothing new, it has become progressively more frequent and North Korea has been determined to be seen as a nuclear capable country. Although for now, North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un has receded from his talks of going to war with South Korea and other United States´ allies, can the U.S. trust the North Koreans knowing how they continually say one thing while secretly doing the opposite. Additionally can the U.S. and the U.N. continue to allow North Korea to possess nuclear capabilities while continuing to ignore other major issues within the country? [pic] As you can see in the photograph above, North Korea has gone as far as to strategically place several missles which could be possibly armed with nuclear warheads in various positions in the launch position for the world to see. The...
Words: 2675 - Pages: 11
...occurred that required negotiation between countries. North Korea announced they were withdrawing from the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT). Upon making this announcement, they also stated they do not intend on producing nuclear weapons. This information was revealed from the official North Korean News Agency, NKNA. When this was announced, it raised red flags around the world. Even though North Korea declared the withdrawal immediate, according to Article X, countries must give a three month notice before withdrawal. North Korea made the decision to withdraw from the NPT is based on Bush’s 2003 State of the Union Address, when he declared North Korea to be part of the ‘axis of evil’ along with Iran and Iraq (Global Issues, 2006). Since the United States were preparing to invade Iraq, they felt they needed to create a credible deterrent in case they were next. The non-proliferation treaty was developed to convince countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Japan, South Africa, South Korea, and North Korea to be non-nuclear countries. The treaty was enforced in 1970 and provided the framework needed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. A decade before in 1993, North Korea threatened to withdraw from the NPT. There were several bilateral negotiations that took place resulting in North Korea retracting their statements just a few days before the withdrawal became effective. Since North Korea was no longer an official member of the treaty,...
Words: 662 - Pages: 3
...OVERVIEW OF SOUTH KOREA WOOD, WILLY 09, JULY, 2015 Introduction This paper is an analysis of the country of South Korea. Using the operational variables of PMESII-PT this paper will identify the current situation in South Korea and the countries current issues. The overall objective is to understand the motives of South Korea. Political The Republic of Korea has a liberal democratic political system. South Koreas political foundation resides in the sovereignty of the people and the responsibility to maintain every citizen’s welfare. Currently the president of South Korea is Park Geun-hye. The 11th and first female president was elected on February 25th, 2013. With Korea’s limited 5 year presidency she has until 2018 to implement her current goals. President Park’s main goals are to maintain the prosperity and safety of her country. She believes that one day tensions will cease with North Korea and continually pushes for a peaceful unification despite the constant threats and military provocations of North Korea. As long as the United States and South Korea maintain their strong relationship, Park said, "You may rest assured, no North Koreans provocation can succeed."(1) North Korea is a shared enemy of the US and the Republic of Korea. The ROK relies on the US for protection against a possible invasion of North Korea and in return the US maintains a strategic hold in Southeast Asia. Military The ROC currently has the 7th strongest military power...
Words: 2085 - Pages: 9
...NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIVERSITY NATIONAL WAR COLLEGE NORTH KOREA: AN ARGUMENT TO JUMPSTART THE ECONOMIC ENGINE LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN D. BIRD II, USAF NATIONAL WAR COLLEGE CLASS OF 2007 COURSE 6300, SEMINAR K NON-MILITARY ELEMENTS OF STATECRAFT FACULTY SEMINAR LEADER: AMBASSADOR JAMES B. FOLEY FACULTY ADVISOR: COLONEL THOMAS GRIFFITH, USAF 29 NOVEMBER 2006 Bird 1 On October 8, 2005, North Korea detonated a nuclear device, and forever changed the global political landscape. Despite the best efforts of the United States, China, South Korea, Japan, and Russia, the isolationist regime was not deterred from joining the elite nuclear club.1 Now faced with the prospect of North Korean nuclear proliferation, the world is undoubtedly a more dangerous place to live in. Over the last 50 years, virtually all the instruments of national power have been brought to bear in an effort to solve the security dilemma presented by the North Korean regime. The detonation on October 8th suggests these previous strategies were not nearly effective enough. A nuclear armed North Korea presents a grave danger that should force us to reexamine our policy. This paper focuses on the economic instrument, examines how it has been utilized over the last 15 years in both the Clinton and Bush administrations, and offers some thoughts on a desired endstate of North Korean economic integration. The Context--the Fall of Communism The fall of the Berlin wall was a watershed event in man’s political, social, and economic...
Words: 2980 - Pages: 12
... JAPAN AND NORTH KOREA This paper identifies some common issues that East Asian countries are struggling to deal with and how they are unique in some aspects and similar in others to problems that Western nations face. This paper focuses on the countries of China, Japan and North Korea and look primarily at the issues that arise from these nations’ struggle to shape their national identity on the world stage as well as how these nations are dealing with the ever increasing force of globalization. This paper also looks at the role that the United States plays in shaping or dealing with these issues, as well as how an American citizen might play a role in perpetuating or resolving these dilemmas. Through this work it should be made more clear what problems East Asian nations share and reveal that they must deal with them in a way that is both uniquely domestic but also influenced by factors that arise from the United States and other International actors. Common Problems in China, Japan and North Korea and American Involvement There are two major dilemmas that are addressed in this paper that are shared by these three nations. The first can be identified as an issue of International Sovereignty where these countries all have a vested interest in exerting their will in the international arena but all have limited ways of making this happen. Associated with the issue of establishing their sovereignty comes the issues of how they address National defense...
Words: 3441 - Pages: 14
...Supportability from a strategy formulation perspective of United States policy options for North Korean nuclear and strategic missile capabilities 16 February 2014 Benjamin J. McClellan CPT, USAR North Korea’s nuclear and strategic missile capabilities present grave challenges to regional security. Pyongyang’s propensity to export its weapons also threatens the global non-proliferation regime. Despite economic impoverishment and an inability to feed its people, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea remains heavily armed and ready to fire first. Its recent and continued military provocations demonstrate the potential for resumed conflict on the Korean Peninsula. Policymakers must determine the appropriate manner to address these threats. Current considerations for policy options include containment of North Korean capabilities, destruction of North Korean capabilities without regime change, and compelling regime change in North Korea. This paper will offer analysis on each of these policy courses of action. The merits and drawbacks of each will be weighed against the ends, ways, means framework of strategy formulation, as well as the suitability, feasibility, acceptability risk model. For the purposes of this analysis, the stipulated end is elimination of North Korea’s nuclear and missile capability. North Korea’s Nuclear and Missile Capabilities As recently as July 2013, North Korea is believed to possess between four and eight nuclear weapons. Pyongyang claims that this...
Words: 1650 - Pages: 7
...North Korea. One of the most seclusive —yet one of the most controversial— countries in the world. Controlled by dictators from the Kim family since the end of the Korean War in 1953, the country is led today by Kim Jong-un with ruthless expectations. Notorious for its labor camps, draconian punishments, public executions, and a myriad of other human rights violations, the international community has called for increased sanctions and restrictive trade in efforts to curtail these crimes and stifle the regime. However, North Korea has easily bypassed this by deploying a tactic of their own: sending forced laborers abroad to harvest cold currency for the dictatorship. Furthermore, in the past five years, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s...
Words: 1779 - Pages: 8
...democracy let us look through the window of what government and law are like in the communist state of North Korea (more recent review of the Constitution of North Korea leads scholars to believe it is more of a racialist nationalism government system) (“Top 10 non-democratic countries in the world,” April 28, 2014). However, since this is only an opinion, the North Korean government is still considered that of a communist state. What are laws like in North Korea? What is the purpose of the laws and what is the effect? Do they compare to our laws? This writing would not be complete without some preface information regarding how the North Korean government works. At the head of every part of the Government is the “Great Leader” (Yop, H.J., N.D.); which would be the Supreme Leader (at this time it is Kim Jong-un). Essentially all things in North Korea revolve around the desires of Kim Jong-un. While there are different committees and bureaus; there power is limited to what commands are given to them from the top. Party secretaries, whom are appointed by higher secretaries, hold all of the power within the committees and bureaus; even the highest positions in the bureaus and committees ultimately answer to the party secretaries (Yop, H.J., N.D.). The party secretaries get their orders from the top after they are handed down through other secretaries. While researching North Korean law one particular law kept...
Words: 1006 - Pages: 5
...North and South Korea While there are similarities between North and South Korea, there are a ton of differences. These differences can make a person wonder how these countries ever operated as one. After World War II, they drew separate splitting down the 38th parallel line. With the soviets having an influence on the North side and the United States having an influence on the South side they became two different governments and countries. From the government, the people, and the rights they are totally opposites. In South Korea the government is a democracy, just like the U.S. with the executive, judicial, and legislative branches. North Korea, however, has a form of communism called dictatorship. The way that this country is run is seen by many people as a corrupt and crude way of leading a country. With millions of people starving everyday and the government not doing anything about it, it has a lot of people disgusted with this country. The people of South Korea are like average people[KE1] ; going to school and work with no worries about going home and not being able to eat. South Korea’s people are an average 2 inches taller than North Koreas people. The nutrition of North Koreas people from, mal-nutritious caused them to be shorter than their southern neighbors. The sad part is that government doesn’t even care. There are many countries who would love to help give food to the North Koreas; however, the ridiculous government blocks the boarders, so that South Koreas...
Words: 452 - Pages: 2
...Debates have arisen when North Korea withdraw from the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty in 2003. It is known that North Korea has exported nuclear weapons in Iran and Pakistan to show its support in being ready to launch an attack against humanity. According to the American Society of International Law, North Korea withdrew from the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty because of the hostile foreign policy of the United States. From the North Korean government’s perspective, they are a target of a pre-emptive strike and military punishment. Though these allegations do not have sufficient evidence to back up North Korea’s reason to back in the treaty, each state still have the right to withdrawal. Stated in Article X of the Nuclear Non-proliferation...
Words: 406 - Pages: 2
...Was the Korea War a civil war or an international conflict? Name University Course Tutor Date Was the Korea War a civil war or an international conflict? Background of the Korea War The Korean War which took place between 1950 and 1953 involved the most powerful countries in the world at the time who engaged in one of most important wars on the Korean Peninsula. In the Korean War almost led to eruption of a third world war. This is the only war that brought together the military forces of the United States, the Soviet Union, the People’s Republic of China and the Korean forces in a combat (Malkasian, 2009). The Korean War involved two major issues; that is, political control of Korea and power struggle between the East Asia versus the rest of the world. The war changed affected and consequently changed how the East and the west interacted with one another (Malkasian, 2009). After Korea was liberated from Japanese colonial rule following the end of the Second World War, it got divided and occupied by the Soviet Union and the United States of America. The two countries were the major superpowers at the time. They occupied the north and the south respectively (Jang, 2010). The two great nations had conspicuously differing ideologies and this factor led to formation of two different governments in Korea in the year 1948. The south formed the government of the Republic of Korea (ROK), with the support of the United States under the leadership of Syngman Rhee. The northern...
Words: 2162 - Pages: 9
...Time is changing, but the issues of the past remain to prosper. As society moves forward from the past to the present-day, issues concerning with human rights are becoming interconnected between nations. As more and more citizens of the North Korea succeed in running away, their stories are being heard by the world. From their perspective, they are able to interpret certain issues that remain in the world outside North Korea. In creation of the magazine interview, a fictional character, Mi Na Hwang, is based on a real life North Korean defector, Hyeonsoe Lee. The purpose of the Rhetoric in Practice project is to raise awareness of how society continues to oppress the people by controlling freedom to think in today’s world. While the magazine interview serves as a medium for the readers, it also complies with a series of questions and answers, which directly clarify research findings. Concerning with an issue of society scraping...
Words: 1249 - Pages: 5
...Nation Facts: Tourism in North Korea Tourism in North Korea is actually a thing, which may astonish many people given the practices of its government and its views of countries abroad. The point of this short paper is to identify the issues internationally that allows, intrigues, and terrifies possible visitors to this country. North Korea is located in East Asia, in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. The Korean Peninsula was divided into two zones in 1945 with the northern part being occupied by the Soviet Union and the southern part being occupied by the United States. The conflicting claims of sovereignty led to the Korean War in 1950 and, even though an armistice three years later committed both to a cease-fire, the two countries still remain officially at war to this day due to lack of a peace treaty. Tourism in North Korea is organized by the state-owned Korea International Travel Company. Most tourists come from countries like China, Russia, and Japan. It is almost impossible for South Korean tourists to gain a visa to North Korea. Up until January 2010 it was almost just as impossible for United States citizens to gain access to North Korea. Previously, U.S. citizens were only allowed to visit North Korea during the Mass Games. Even with that ban lifted less than 2500 United States tourists have visited North Korea since 1953. Tourism is closely regulated by the government and is only allowed if booked through Korea International Travel Company...
Words: 442 - Pages: 2
...The Nuclear Fallacy of North Korea Bill Gonzalez April 22 2013 Since its inception, North Korea has never ceased to stir up trouble with the international community. Officially know as the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK), North Korea split from the neighbouring South Korea at the end of the Second World War in 1945. The young nation was initially adopted by the Soviet Union, which implemented their Communist ideals into the countries government and society. The tension between the communist government of the north and the republican government of the south would eventually lead to the Korean War, a three-year conflict which saw the US and other members of the UN supporting South Korea and North Korea being supported by the Soviet Union and later China. The Korean War, which never ended in a piece treaty (it’s still technically going on today), would lead to the strained relations that exist between North Korea and the UN today. North Korea’s economy initially recovered from the aftermath of the Korean War, however increasing debt, inflation, the mismanagement of funds, numerous droughts, and the lack of western trade partners lead to an eventual economic decline in the late 1970’s. North Korea has since been one of the world’s poorest countries, with roughly 20-27% of the population living below the poverty line. The social economic issues in North Korea haven’t stopped the government from developing nuclear weapons however, a process which has lead to...
Words: 3699 - Pages: 15
