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The "Dear Leader" is out of his frigging mind! Tim Sonnreich, July 2004.
There are some things that almost everyone knows about NK but I'll go over it for the sake of Fitch and the one other person who doesn't know. Quick Background After WW II the Japanese were removed from the Korean Peninsula and just as Germany was partitioned, Korea was divided between the Allies, with the US running the South (SK) and the Soviets calling the shots in the North (NK). In a huge shock to everyone, the USSR created a domestic Communist party, which was eventually installed as the government when the "[not-so] Democratic People's Republic of Korea" was proclaimed in 1948 and the Soviets withdrew. Why is it that any country with the term 'democratic' in its title (Congo, Laos) is never a democracy? Anyway... The problem is that Korea, again like Germany, was meant to be reunited after the war, but when the Communist regime took power in the North, the South pretty quickly decided it didn't want all that messy autocracy and declared independence in 1950. North Korea politely begged to differ and with all due respect, it invaded. Acting in defence of the South, a plucky young organisation called the United Nations stepped in for the first time, with mainly American and British troops donning attractive blue helmets. The Korean War ended in 1953, and less than a fortnight after the Armistice the US signed a mutual defence treaty with SK. From that moment on US forces have remained stationed on what has become the most heavily fortified border in the world. Thanks to the politics of the Cold War neither North nor South Korea could be admitted to the UN until 1991, but secret talks on re-unification have been conducted off and on since the 1970's. During the 1970's and 80's the USSR helped its proxy NK become the 17th wealthiest nation, but as the Soviet Union declined and eventually collapsed, so too did NK and it is now one of the poorest nations on earth. The North Korean people are so impoverished and repressed that each year roughly 1000 of them successfully flee into China and then on to SK as refugees, but unknown numbers die or are blocked in similar attempts. According to SK government statistics, in the first seven months of 2004, 760 NK refugees were accepted and over 300 more are awaiting processing. So its clear that things are deteriorating in NK still. Meanwhile South Korea has grown rich, becoming one of the 12 largest economies in the world and for a time was a leading example of the 'Asian Tiger' economies. As most of NK's allies faded and disappeared, its enemies rose to unprecedented power. As its own economy shrunk, American culture and products have become the global standard. Add to that the fact that the current NK leader Kim Jong-il ("The Dear Leader") is at least as insane as his father, NK's first President Kim Il-sung ("The Great Leader") and you can understand how NK has become the most paranoid and secretive regime of the modern era. Kim Jong-il is convinced that the Americans will invade NK and impose a proper democracy and reunification (where would he get a funny idea like that?) and so he has built up a formidable military machine, including one million soldiers, enough long-range artillery to obliterate Seoul (approx. 10 million people), allegedly an extensive chemical/biological weapons program and most recently, a nuclear arsenal of between 1-8 bombs (depending on who you believe). Stroking their beards, clucking their tongues and asking 'what's to be done about this North Korea?' Ok, welcome to the present day debate folks. Over the last few months there have been a series of six-party talks between all the major players in the Korean dilemma - NK and SK, America, Japan, Russia and China (Sam Kastelan only officially has Observer Status). Here's what they all want: America, Japan and SK (but especially America) want: "complete, verifiable and irreversible" dismantling of all NK's nuclear weapons program (sound familiar?) and for God to once and for all officially bless America. NK wants, first and foremost: a formal security guarantee from the US (a non-aggression pact basically that says the US will never invade or nuke NK) negotiated bilaterally with America, since fear of the US is why NK says it needs nukes. Secondly it would appreciate some foreign aid from Japan, fuel-aid from China and a pony. America said originally that it will give NK nothing until it halts all nuclear weapons development and research, and inspectors verify the destruction of all existing nukes. That sounds a little harsh, but the US has reasons to be wary. In 1994 Clinton signed a deal with the Dear Leader to try to stop NK from acquiring nukes by giving them two light-water nuclear reactors (they make less plutonium than less advanced types of reactors) and US$5bn worth of fuel-aid to tide them over till the new power plants were built. This deal went sour, both sides blamed each other, you know like any relationship ending, and now the US says NK can't be trusted. As the 6-party talks have progressed the US has modified its position to suggest that a series of gestures could be made by both sides leading eventually to "complete, verifiable and irreversible" dismantling of all NK's nuclear weapons program. NK has made some mildly positive noises about this suggestion and has stopped threatening to test a nuclear device if its demands were not met, but so far neither side has actually done anything positive. The problem is that time is against the Americans. As I think I've mentioned, the NK regime is nuts. In 1998 it fired a missile over Japan and into the ocean, a missile that was capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. For some reason Japan is usually touchy about the threat of nuclear weapons. Since then NK has tested a 3-stage rocket that allows it to hit (with some accuracy) anywhere in SK or Japan and demonstrates an ability to create a true intercontinental ballistic missile. Furthermore as time goes on NK becomes more and more desperate to find sources of income, which at present include drug running, proliferation of missile (and probably nuclear) technology and revenues through ownership of the rights to Backyard Blitz. It's not all bad news though. In just the last few weeks both NK and SK have agreed to stop broadcasting propaganda into each other's countries via massive sets of speakers set up along the border, as well as pulling down gigantic neon signs and billboards plastered with propaganda slogans. Unfortunately, the deal was never completed. While broadcasts have stopped, following a brief shoot-out between naval vassals in the disputed maritime border between the Korea's, talks on dismantling the equipment have been cancelled. Talks between the two sides have also resulted in some road links being re-opened and a rail-link to be agreed to. Since 2000 there have been a small number of brief "family reunions" allowed and SK has been generous with food-aid throughout the recent famine. But things have hit a critical point. Bush named NK in the Axis of Evil, and he's already invaded one member of that illustrious group already so NK is even more nervous than usual. Furthermore American forces in SK are being scaled back, with roughly a third of the current 36,000 troops being reassigned, some back home and some to Iraq. This move may signal America's desire to see SK take greater responsibility for its own security, as the US military is overstretched and preoccupied in Iraq and Afghanistan. Finally the political situation in SK has been quite volatile lately and its possible that the US will have a new President in a few months time. Only the wisdom of intervarsity debaters can solve this one... Common Jargon in the Korea Debate DPRK - Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) ROK - Republic of Korea (South Korea) GNP - Grand National Party, opposed to SP MDP - Millenium Democratic Party, was the party of President Roh Moo-Hyun, pro SP. Uri - New left-wing political party, formed in Oct '03. Largest party in parliament. The President defected to Uri after GNP and MDP combined to impeach him (overturned by the constitutional court), pro SP Sunshine Policy (SP) - The policy of constructive engagement with NK (SP) launched by the former SK President Kim Dae-Jung. It favoured cooperation and reconciliation with NK, as opposed to the US policy of sanctions and isolation for NK. Taep'o-Dong 1 & 2 - NK's most advanced long-range missiles (to date), it was a TD 2 that was fired over Japan in '98. The NK's say it was an attempt to launch a satellite. Chaebols - Big, powerful, occasionally bankrupt, generally corrupt businesses like Hyundai. Often powerful GNP politicians are directors or key investors. Back to MAD Homepage |