The past few weeks have heightened the debate over North Korea’s nuclear program. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea poses a direct threat to nuclear responsibility and awareness. The steps that must be taken to neutralize the issue do not solely rely on the United States, but must also involve the United Nations, China and others. The love triangle of the DPRK, the United States and China puts much of the work and negotiations on China. With the United States as a key mediator to prevent any more escalations, this is sure to be a defining moment for Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel.
In 2011, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1977. This resolution prohibits the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. A country’s failure to do so is seen as a threat to international peace and security. The United Nations has long placed sanctions on the DPRK due to its dangerous war rhetoric. Stricter regulations were placed last December when the DPRK tested a long-range missile and attracted the attention of the G8 after conducting an underground nuclear test in February.
The DPRK also continues to expand its programs in the enrichment of plutonium and uranium, which is banned by the United Nations. This enrichment of uranium and plutonium is a key part of the threat level the DPRK may pose. In simple terms, the higher the purity of the uranium or plutonium, the more effective the nuclear missile will be.
China and the DPRK have a long history of economic and diplomatic partnership. This stems back to the Korean War. China still holds military ties to the DPRK and is their main supplier of food and fuel, more than six decades after escalation in the war. China remains the only country that could possibly have legitimate rhetorical influence over the DPRK because of this relationship. It is key that the Obama administration takes advantage of this. Beijing has made a pledge to work towards a nuclear-free Korean peninsula – whether or not it will follow through with this has yet to be seen. Without China’s cooperation, the possibilities of a peaceful solution to the DPRK’s daily threats dwindle.
Kerry has handled this incredibly tough situation with great charisma, thought and diplomacy. He has been urging the DPRK to do the wise thing — to talk. While Pyongyang has stated its nuclear missile program is “non-negotiable,” Kerry has kept his cool. This is obviously a high-stress and high-tension situation, but Kerry’s patience and charisma is matched only by his true desire for peace. It’s critical that Kerry remains firm on disarmament, but does not push too many buttons with an unstable Kim Jong-Un.
Hagel has also been pulling his weight on this issue. Hagel and Kerry make a great “good cop/bad cop” team. Hagel definitely shows a much more aggressive stance on the DPRK’s direct violations of previous weapons agreements. Hagel has stated numerous times that the United States can, and will, handle anything the DPRK has to launch. However, he warns they are “on a fine line” with the defensive United States military.
There is still a lot to play out over the next few days with the DPRK and China, for that matter. The United States cannot police every country, but it must remain a strong, vocal backbone for the United Nations. Without complete allegiance in all countries of the Security Council, the DPRK will see no global repercussions. One thing, however, is certain: Kerry and Hagel will be regarded as champions of international peace if they can stick to their current stance on the DPRK’s nuclear program.
