NE 5599 Eric S.

Krage
Proliferation after the P-5 with respect to North Korea
North Korea originally had an agreement in 1991 with South Korea banning nuclear weapons
from the Korean peninsula. The shortfall of this agreement is that no verification system was in
place to ensure no such programs were taking place. Following the agreement with South Korea,
North Korea signed an agreement with the international community to allow inspectors to
investigate the Yongbyon nuclear sites and a monitoring system was set in place. The
significance of the Yongbyon site is that in the 1980s it was supposedly set up to convert waste
from the nations reactors into weapons grade plutonium. Following the monitoring and
inspections in 1992 in 1993 North Korea announced its withdrawal from the NPT. Subsequently
North Korea began increasing its stockpiles of plutonium and is on the worlds radar as a
potential hotbed for nuclear arms buildup. In the spring of 1993 North Korea tests midrange
missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, although, the ability to produce a nuclear bomb
was not known to be feasible. However, in December of 1993 the US CIA makes public that the
North may have a bomb already and is capable of making such a device. To quell the sanctions
proposed by the UN North Korea states that it will allow IAEA inspectors to visit their nuclear
reprocessing facility at Yongbyon, but they would not allow the inspectors to take samples at
crucial points in the system to test for potential proliferation issues. In 1994 North Korea
withdraws from the IAEA safeguards committee inspections. Following its withdrawal North
Korea continues to test missiles and make false pledges with the international community to
prevent sanctions against its fragile economy. Finally in 2002 North Korea admits that it has
been conducting a major clandestine nuclear program and has ultimately voided its agreements
to freeze all nuclear weapons development activity. Ultimately in 2006 North Korea sets off its
first nuclear device which was considered unsuccessful but was punished by sanction from the
UN. The second nuclear test conducted in 2009 and lead to the USA cutting any dealings with
the North. As tensions heat up over many issues and continued increases in economic sanctions,
the north shells South Korean islands killing a few people once again increasing tensions in the
region. A third nuclear test was conducted now under the reign of Kim Jung Un the son of Kimn
Jung Il in 2013 which is where we essentially are today.

Why did the state pursue a weapons program?
North Korea pursuance of nuclear weapons stemmed from their continued hatred of South Korea
and the Norths believed venerated state. This conflict was brought about by the Korean war and
still is a hot bed issue today because of both parties provocation of the other. The North Korean
people also see the nuclear weapons program as a source of pride for their homeland and believe
in the governments continued aspirations to go back to war with South Korea to take back the
rest of their country.
What was/is the states security environment?
NE 5599 Eric S. Krage
The security environment in the early days of the Norths nuclear weapons program was stable
but not held to high standards. But as their desire to develop and stockpile nuclear weapons
materials and nuclear weapons themselves the nation has become less stable in its security
environment. The Norths environment today is not directly known but is slated to be weak and
has a high probability of proliferation issues to arise. Currently not under any outside observation
regarding their nuclear capabilities they are at high risk to sell material and use their stockpile of
weapons nefariously.
What was the extent of the program?
The North Korean nuclear program was a full nuclear program designed to make and has made
nuclear weapons and tested them. In the 1980s it began keeping material for such a program to
be later developed and was quelled by international pressure. Once North Korea withdrew from
the NPT their program took off and the development of enrichment capabilities to weapons grade
material increased. The delivery system of a potential nuclear device was also being developed
and the North currently has the capability to make a midrange weapon. Today North Koreas
nuclear program is still strong and have been testing more nuclear devices and it is in the
foreseeable future that they will test such a device again.
What relevant treaties/organizations is the state party too?
Currently North Korea is not in good faith a part of any treaty or agreement but pressure for them
to resume in six party talks has been proposed. This would potentially allow sanctions to be
lifted on the North but seeing how they have acted in the past during these times it is not a sure
bet that this type of agreement can be reached.