North Korean state media declared on Sept. 2, they were able to successfully detonate a hydrogen bomb capable of being placed on an intercontinental ballistic missile. Following decades of failed economic sanctions and diplomatic attempts, paired with an obvious aversion to direct military action, there seems to be only one option left to avoid nuclear catastrophe in northeast Asia. The US must lead the way among nations with nuclear weapons in calling for global nuclear disarmament.
Following North Korea’s successful test of a hydrogen bomb, President Donald Trump’s administration responded with powerful rhetoric as a display of their strength. Defense Secretary James Mattis explained to reporters at a White House press briefing on Sept. 3 while their goal is not to bring about “the total annihilation” of North Korea, the U.S., “has many options to do so.” North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong-un was likely thrilled to hear this and other similar statements from the president’s team.
Much of his ability to control an entire nation, down to the way its people think and act, is a result the North Koreans’ fear of America.
Historians often refer to the U.S. war with North Korea from 1950-1953 as “The Forgotten War.” The Korean War is often glossed over in American classrooms to make room for topics “more significant” to the country’s historical development. Had the full extent of the destruction caused by the Korean War been a central part of history curriculum in the U.S., the American public might have a better understanding of the North Korean people.
The chief concerns of the North Korean people are another, likely more tragic, war with the U.S. and their ability to protect themselves.
The Kim regime, from Kim Il-sung to Kim Jong-il to Kim Jong-un, has been able to convince the North Korean population that they alone can protect them. To fulfill that promise, they adopted the policy of nuclear deterrence. Nuclear deterrence theory argues that with the threat of using a nuclear weapon a nation can prevent an enemy from attacking because of its cataclysmic power. Due to its small size, North Korea’s nuclear program is essentially a suicide bomb capable of inflicting apocalyptic damage to American allies, South Korea and Japan. Any nuclear attack provoked by Kim would result in the total annihilation described by Mattis.
The disarmament of North Korea’s nuclear program should be at the top of Trump’s foreign policy checklist. Kim has shown to be the most irrational leader the Kim family has produced, and is a threat to global security with a nuke in his hands. Unfortunately, Kim will never disarm while the U.S. has the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world.
In July, the United Nations adopted a Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons which will be able to be signed on Sept. 20 by any member nation. The treaty would bring about the destruction of the world’s nuclear weapons and ban their use. Although it was written and approved by more than 120 countries, none of them were one of the nine nations with nuclear weapons or members of NATO. This treaty is a good start for preventing new nations from developing nuclear weapons, but will not truly be effective until a current nuclear power signs on.
U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley has already said the U.S. will not sign the treaty. The American people need to pressure their government to reverse this decision. A proactive rather than reactive policy on global nuclear disarmament from the U.S. would cause other nuclear nations with smaller stockpiles to rethink their position. It would also loosen the grip Kim has on the North Korean people, as the threat of American aggression would be reduced. If the U.S. is serious about global stability and peace in Asia, it must advocate for a world without nuclear weapons.
Photo provided by Alex Antropov via flickr
