Nuclear Korea I: In the name of deterrence

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Nuclear Korea I: In the name of deterrence

The Korean nuclear tests have generated a lot of debate all over the world. North Korea has continuously been warning of going ahead with the tests. Nuclear Korea brings out various stages of developments that probably affected the Korean psychology.

CJ: Shoeb Hamid

Sat, Oct 21, 2006 00:00:00 IST

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INTERNATIONAL POLITICS IS an encrypted language that exists in the thoughts of the world leaders. One way of interpreting the messages, contained by these eggheads, is by closely observing the power plays, displayed so often by the states all over. Of the countless manifestations of these power plays military and economic exercises are most discernable. Nuclear tests conducted by N Korea were more than any deterrent step. The whole gambit lies somewhat in the history, which most of the people are unaware of or for the time being do not want to recall. To fit to the picture the scrambled pieces, into an understanding as we see it, we give you the Nuclear Korea.

North Korea or Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, with an estimated population of 23 million lies in Asian Pacific territory and is surrounded by neighboring countries, which include South Korea or Republic of Korea, China, Russia and Japan. By area a country like India is as many as 25 times bigger than N Korea. Its capital is P’yongyang.

N Korea has a very rigid and controlled political system, whose foundation was laid by Kim Il Sung after the Korean war, in 1953. Kim Il Sung occupied the highest N Korean seat for almost 50 years and after his death his son continues as the head of the state. Not only does their status as a communist and totalitarian regime brought them to the center of the stage but most of it is due to their impertinence and open conflicts with American states. The political philosophy of this small state is woven around what they call ‘Juche’ meaning self-reliance. Korean Worker’s Party is the backbone of the political system and has been ruling since its (N Korea’s) liberation.

Until 1990s the state economy survived well with the support of the former Soviet Union and People’s Republic of China. With the striking of natural disasters and limited support from its allies, economy has been crippled. As of now, the state is dependent on the foreign aid; a good portion of which has been embargoed due to economic sanctions.

United States, particularly, in both the past and the present, has accused the N Korean administration for most of the systematic flaws. It has been labeled as an international rogue state that has been continuously pursuing destructive weapons programs and destabilizing peace in the Asian continent, as a totalitarian government carrying out of excesses against human rights, supporting the iron curtains which has isolated the state from the rest of the world community and as one of the state possessing the tarnished Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Claims made by US and other nations may be justified but the Cold War grudges makes the scene hazy and whole of the issue turns out to be a complicated one rather than an oversimplified version projected by the Western media. People ought to know what N Korea means by deterrence and how it reached to that point. It would be premature to pass on a judgment, on the recent developments in N Korea without some digging in the past. For a clearer picture one needs to study and be aware of several important happenings and events that took place during the fifty years of its independence.

The whole issue as such has been provided against the backdrop of the Last Cold War Front, N Korea- friends and foes, N Korea Nuclear Program and the Delivery Systems.

Before proceeding it becomes a little imperative to assess oneself and fix the origins. First I know, and then I believe. If I believe, even what I do not want to believe, then to know is more important to believe what I do not believe.

North Korea is better known as Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and lies in the Southeast Asia. North Korea occupies the northern half of the Korean Peninsula and shares its boundaries with two other countries – Russia and People’s Republic of China (PRC). Whereas PRC predominantly marks the northen boundary, Russia only shares a small stretch, about 18 kms and in the northeast tip.

Prior to 1945, Korean Peninsula comprised of a single administrative unit, which was occupied by Japan. With the defeat of Japan in WW-II, both Soviet Union and America pushed in from north and south end of the peninsula. After liberation they became the trustees of the independent governments, which ultimately resulted in the split of the country into North and South Korea.

The two power blocs divided the nation and without consulting any of the governments. The area was demarcated along the 38 parallel into North and South Korea. 1948 saw the establishment of two separate governments, backed by America and Soviet Union. North Korea, which received the patronage of Soviet Union, took a new identity, a communist regime called DPRK. The South, backed by US, became the Republic of Korea (ROK). The newly established provisional governments soon got engaged in a civil war, which erupted on June 25, 1950 and continued until July 27, 1953. Peace negotiations and Korean War Armistice Agreement were secured with the intervention of United Nations. A Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), also called buffer zone, was created which ultimately sealed the fate of divided Korea. Today, a Demilitarized Zone, which comprises of a four kms land stretch, separates the two nations and exists as an international boundary between them.

The Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in the DMZ is believed to be the last front of the Cold War, with each side heavily armoured. The ceasefire on July 1953 and Korean War Armistice Agreement – although it put an end to the conflict, the bitter rivalry and hostility still remains unchanged. DPRK and ROK got separated over idelogical differences and much of the credit goes to the two perpetrators, whose active presence and indulgence have always been felt behind the scene.

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