The History of the North Korea - Essay Example

North Korea lies in the northern half of the Korean Peninsula and is in both the northern and eastern hemispheres. Its neighbors on the north includeChina and Russia, apart from bordering South Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone. On the East lies Japan and on the west are the Yellow Sea and the Korea Bay. After the WWII, North Korea established a socialist economy and a self reliance policy in foreign policy and national defense (Worldatlas, n.d.). The country underwent demoralization, economic mismanagement and misplaced resource allocation but still has not given up expanding resources to maintain a huge army. North Korea has a history of poor relations with its neighbors. Even though fighting stopped after the ceasefire of the Korean War in 1953, both South and North Korea are still at war with each other. Korea was spilt into North and South Korea after the WWII and ever since they have never had cordial relations. As early as 1950, North Korea tried to capture the southern region but was defeated. In 1972 they agreed to work towards peaceful reunification but it was short-lived (Historyofnations, 2005). Recently its nuclear weapon program has prompted the express concerns of its neighbors including Japan, China, South Korea and Russia. While each of these countries have been condemning the missile tests, they have taken a different stand on how to deal with the affairs concerning North Korea. In 1998, North Korea had launched a midrange missile over Japan, which provoked Japan to take stern action. This prompted Japan to strengthen its military ties with US and transform its own Self-Defense Forces into a full-fledged military. In 2006, Japan took a very firm stand and threatened to impose economic sanctions against North Korea (Onishi & Kahn, 2006). It would cut off money transfers from Japan which means cutting off a significant source of cash for North Korea. It had also banned the North Korean Mangyongbong-92 ferry from entering its ports for six months in 2006. This was a vital link for transferring cash and supplies to North Korea. Japan had tried to normalize relations with North Korea even though the latter had abducted Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s to teach Japanese language and culture to the North Korean army (Duk-Min, 2005). Japan has strained relations with South Korea and China and it needs the support to be tough with North Korea in imposing economic sanctions. China and South Korea have in the recent years increased their economic activities with North partly to save the nation from collapsing and partly to encourage the North to adopt the economic reforms. China has been trying to calm all the neighbors down and soften towards North Korea even though North Korea conducted a nuclear test just 50 miles from the Chinese border. China declared such action as “flagrant” because so far they had been feeling that multilateral negotiations and the humanitarian aid would control North Korea’s nuclear ambitions (Keane, 2006). China has too decided on partial economic sanctions against the North including halt of temporary oil shipments. The local Chinese however seemed confident that North Korea would not attack on China and the sheer size of North Korea does not seem to worry the Chinese. Most neighbors of North Korea continue with their economic cooperation and this cooperation is based on unilateral concessions to Pyongyang. Russians and Chinese continue to build transportation infrastructure for future industrial development projects. As the agreement before the nuclear test, the Russians are repairing the dilapidated railway line and the Chinese continued with their highway construction project. South Korea continues to send tourists to the North and spend a few days there. They also leave their currency in the accounts of North Korean government. This is a major money-earner for the cash hungry North. South Koreans refused to comply with the Americans demand to discontinue this practice. South Korea has also refused to actively participate in the Proliferation Security Initiative which means they will not participate in inspection of nuclear material hidden aboard North Korean ships that will be stopped at sea. While China, Russia and South Korea are not happy with the increase in nuclear proliferation but their concerns are largely local. All these neighbors are well aware that radioactive fallout can enter their national borders but they have all maintained a soft attitude towards North Korea. China sees this as a lesser threat than a unified Korea which would most certainly be under the influence of the US and perhaps also have a US military base (Lankov, 2006). Besides, in the recent years Chinese companies have taken over mining and infrastructure projects in North Korea and they would like to protect these interests too. However, China is making very calculative moves by inflicting inconveniences without affecting the basic relations with North Korea. For instance, they do not allow the North Korean defectors to fly out of Chine to the US; they have increased the price of oil and reduced the financial aid. Russia is not very actively involved in the affairs of North Korea but it is considered a “blockade breaker” because without the active cooperation from Russia no active sanction regime will be possible. Moscow, in its own interest does not want the North Korean regime to collapse. Their association with North Korea would help them in numerous diplomatic combinations and also as a deterrent against the Americans, who according to Moscow are dangerous global bullies (Lankov, 2006). Because of internal mismanagement, North Korea had been relying on international aid and was receiving aid from South Korea but recently they too indicated they would withhold 500,000 tons of rice and 100,000 tons of fertilizer which had been sought by North (Onishi & Kahn, 2006). South however maintained that they would not give up their efforts towards economic cooperation as per the agreement. They would not like to go in for any confrontations and conflicts with the North even it means straining relations with the US. South Korea however does not want unification to happen to soon as they realize it can be a very expensive unification considering the unification of Germany (Lankov, 2006). South would have an influx of refugees and would be under heavy financial burden if it happens too fast. This is the reason they want North Korea to develop first so that the burden would be reduced when unification takes place. In order to develop, North Korea has to survive first and this is the reason that the South is extending support to North and does not want to overpower or crush it or take a firm stand against it. Hence even though North Korea has shown to its neighbours its nuclear power, Russia, China and South Korea do not believe that the North would harm them. Japan is the only nation that is worried and has sought support from the US. Japan also appears to be the only nation that is very firm in its stand against North Korea but since other neighbors like Russia, China and South Korea have a soft attitude towards North Korea, Japan becomes weak in taking any strong action. China, Russia and South Korea do not want to take any firm action against North Korea despite the North’s missile and nuclear tests. Each of these nations – Russia, South Korea and China has their own interests involved in not taking firm measures or sanction against North Korea. None of the neighbors of North Korea wants to alienate the US or openly disregard the nuclear proliferation but at the same time they do not want North Korea to run into serious trouble. Hence all are treading very carefully. References: Duk-Min, Y. (2005). Japan’s Dual-Approach Policy toward North Korea: Past, Present, and Future. [Online] Available at: http://northkorea.ssrc.org/Yun/ [accessed 05 October 2008] Historyofnations. (2005). History of North Korea. [Online] Available at: http://www.historyofnations.net/asia/northkorea.html [accessed 05 October 2008] Keane, L. (2006). Viewed From Chinese Border, North Korea Is More Curiosity Than Threat. [Online] Available at: http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=8404 [accessed 05 October 2008] Lankov, A. (2006). Why N Koreas neighbors soft-pedal sanctions. [Online] Available at: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/HK30Dg01.html [accessed 05 October 2008] Onishi, N. & Kahn, J. (2006). North Koreas Neighbors Condemn Missile Tests, but Differ on What to Do. [Online] Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/06/world/asia/06react.html [accessed 05 October 2008] Worldatlas (n.d.). NORTH KOREA. [Online] Available at: http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/kp.htm [accessed 05 October 2008] Read More