Security Council. Topic A: Non-Proliferation: Democratic People s Republic of Korea
Summary The danger grows as they grow the arsenals of the superpowers and become more complex weaponry containing and as other governments, perhaps even dozens of governments in the future, acquire these weapons, it may be only a matter of time before the madness, desperation, greed or a miscalculation undo the terrible force. Jimmy Carter. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is a document that was born during the Cold War, and its apparition marks a very important moment in the world s history. It made that the United States of America (USA) and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) stop the production and development of nuclear weapons, in other words: disarmament.
The NPT is based on three pillars. The first pillar is about the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons by any country, including the five countries that have already done nuclear testing. The second pillar talks about the disarmament between the USSR and the USA, but also asks the other three nuclear countries (France, Great Britain and China) to join this plan in order to reduce the danger of a nuclear conflict. The third and last pillar is the right to use peacefully nuclear technology. Countries agree to develop nuclear energy for peaceful objectives. Countries interested in this technology will receive aid from developed countries in the matter and will submit themselves to the controls established by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The NPT exclusively allows only five countries to have nuclear weapons in order to maintain the balance of power. These countries were the only ones that until 1964 had successfully achieved a nuclear test. Further, these five countries are the Permanent Members on the Security Council of the United Nations. Although, there are other countries that have supposedly developed, tested and produced nuclear weapons: India, Israel, Pakistan and North Korea. In the specific case of the Democratic People s Republic of Korea, the treaty was signed but they did not ratify it. With this action its implied that North Korea is aware of the existence of the treaty. On January 10 th of 2003 North Korea announced the end to their participation within NPT and the IAEA. Afterwards the United States, Japan and South Korea agreed to stop the transport of oil to North Korea. Despite this action, North Korea stated clearly that they wouldn t engage in a nuclear confrontation with United States, but that they would only use the uranium enrichment for peaceful purposes and defense. On December 2011 the North Korean head of state, King Jong Il, died and was succeeded by his son Kim Jong Un.
Guide Questions. Is the North Korean nuclear program legitimate? Is it a legitimate action for any country to put economical sanctions arguing that a nuclear North Korea is a national security threat? How could the Member States of the Security Council enforce a resolution for the Korean peninsula conflict? Can the Security Council negotiate a Resolution that satisfies all the parties involved? References: "Acepta Corea del Norte tener armas nucleares." El Siglo de Torreón, February 2005. Available at <http://www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/noticia/133315.acepta-corea-delnorte-tener-armas-nucleares.html>. "North Korea's Nuclear Program." The New York Times, May 17, 2012. Available at <http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/nort hkorea/nuclear_program/index.html>. Caño, Antonio. "Corea del Norte acepta suspender su programa nuclear a cambio de alimentos." El País, February 29, 2012. Available at <http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2012/02/29/actualidad/133052 9080_517616.html>.
Dahl, Fredrik. "North Korea makes "significant" nuclear reactor progress: IAEA." Reuters, August 31, 2012. Available at <http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/31/us-nuclear-northkorea-iaeaidusbre87u0eh20120831>. Nikitin, Mary B. North Korea s Nuclear Weapons: Technical Issues. N.p.: Congressional Research Servicen.d. Available at <http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/nuke/rl34256.pdf>. Niksch, Larry A. North Korea s Nuclear Weapons Program. N.p.: CRS Report for Congress, 2006. Available at <http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/74904.pdf>. Ramstad, Evan. "Muere Kim Jong Il, el dictador de Corea del Norte." The Walls Street Journal, December 19, 2011. Available at <http://online.wsj.com/article/sb10001424052970204879004577107681240 117296.html>. Squassoni, Sharon. North Korea s Nuclear Weapons: Latest Developments. N.p.: CRS Report for Congressn.d. Available at <http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/crs/rs21391.pdf>. The World Factbook: North Korea. N.p.: CIA, 2012. Available at <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kn.html>.