North Korea Research Paper

One of the most extremely annoying problems facing the world today is nuclear proliferation. Nuclear proliferation is greatly enhancing the likelihood of nuclear war. In particular, North Korea's nuclear weapons program is a major threat for the international security. For almost six decades, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea) has pursued a nuclear program that has gradually developed in size, complexity and capabilities from a small scientific research effort into a comprehensive effort to produce nuclear weapons.
This essay will examine why North Korea wants nuclear weapons and focus on major theoretical debates about nuclear proliferation, including the “domestic politics” motivation since North Korea has a peculiar …show more content…
States acquire nuclear weapons because it serves the interests of military and powerful bureaucracies and gives political advantage to leaders (Sagan, 1996). North Korea is well known as a totalitarian state with extremely strong leadership (Reese, 1998). When Kim Jong Un succeeded his father, Kim Jong Il in late 2011, as the head of the North Korea, he first controlled the military. It is generally believed that Kim Jong Un gained power particularly from the military. As he pursued advanced nuclear weapons as his main goal, he reallocated resources to the missile project, promoted science as the regime’s top priority, and carefully aligned his public image with science and scientists. Therefore, the military is the most influential organization in North Korea so that military activities are closed related with the economy. However, this terrible regime was restrained by domestic political and bureaucratic actors (Habib, 2011). For instance, although it seems that Kim Jong Un’s leadership can control everything, the regime is still required to control the military interests; otherwise it is difficult for the regime to stabilise the country. In regard to the political motivations of the North Korean nuclear program, North Korea seeks to maintain its “military-first” politics (Songun) otherwise it cannot stabilise the country (Watanabe, 2008). Nuclear weapons development also serves the bureaucratic interest within the North Korea (Habib, 2011).

Alternatively, states acquire nuclear weapons for reasons to do with prestige because they give states influence and a seat at the table of the powerful, or because leaders fulfil perception of their nation's identity, or to be viewed as a “great power” in international affairs which push them towards proliferation (Sagan, 1996; Hymans,

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