A Split Korea

Week: 10
Blog post
Regional security threats III: North Korea and the challenge of a Rouge Nuclear State

This week’s prompt ushers us to the Far East. North Korea is an isolated militaristic state with nuclear capabilities. Two, the South is a region full of agriculture and technology. Two sides of a political experiment: the hyper-capitalistic nation of South Korea and its totalitarian regime in the North, a challenge that has been ongoing since the Korean War. Why should we care about North Korea?
The question leads to the article’s title by Clemens, Walter C., Jr. The United Nations Security Council adopted the “Responsibility to Protect.” resolution in 2006. It outlines that states hold the duty to uphold the protection of humanity, whether from mass atrocities, genocide, or disaster. It details that other members have the right to intervene in such events.

This resolution relates to North Korea due to the tyranny of the Kim dynasty. They have used kidnappings, warmongering, mass surveillance, and public executions. Unfortunately, due to the position of nuclear weapons, North Korea cannot be invaded by the UN or countries wishing to provide aid due to their atomic capabilities deter countries from freeing the DPRK people. This issue illustrates the dilemma of the failing state. The North’s policies detail its myopic vision of a controlled state, Zero-sum using extractive policies and degrading the well-being of its people.
When brainstorming solutions for this dilemma, the article provides an option: Détente. North Korea relies on its military; however, this aspect limits most aspects of prosperity in the region. It could benefit both parties if the Peninsula could become a sanctuary along the demilitarized zone. The North is quite mineral-rich, and the South is at the cutting edge of technology; their faults can also provide aid by their differences. Even neighboring countries could have access to these resources and raise the standard of living for much of the Far East. The UN can enforce the protection of wildlife to preserve species diversity within the area with several threatened species. However, the fear of an Arms race might be a trickle-down effect of the DPRK’s nuclear capabilities; economic benefits should sound throughout the region.
In conclusion, the article gives us an in-depth look at one of the most hidden nations in the developed world and highlights our challenges as humanity in a divided world. The tale of the two Koreas, each yearning to become one again. A reflection we can see in ourselves as we push forward into the unknown. As we become enlightened, we know that we are not as different as we think and that the world’s failed states could soon be our siblings in our global pursuit of innovation and prosperity.