The United States' Dilemma Towards North Korea

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The United States' Dilemma Towards North Korea

United States Dilemma towards North Korea A dying nation with nuclear capabilities The United States has been presented a dilemma towards its foreign policy with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). North Korea's alleged launch of a new Taepo-Dong I missile on August 31, 1998 has heightened American worries and escalated an already tense situation with North Korea. The United States response towards this new missile, which could possibly be able to reach the edges of both Alaska and Hawaii , will be a factor in its decision on whether or not to continue to finance support towards North Korea. New sanctions could mean the collapse of a weak North Korean economy. Already on the brink of economic and political collapse, the loss of U.S. and KEDO aid could push them over the edge and into political ruin. One major factor involved in the foreign policy decision is the collapse of North Korea. It could mean one of three things: Implosion (collapse of the state), explosion (war with South Korea) or absorption (reform and reunification). In May 1997, acting Director of Central Intelligence, George Tenet, stated, "One of the things that worries us most is an implosion internally." The result of an implosion, the collapse of the state, would be hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing to China and South Korea. China has already begun stepping up troops at the North Korean border to halt the flow of refugees should this happen. South Korea would possibly use force to deter refugees to the south. Another factor here is the humanitarian influences. Massive floods, droughts and typhoons since 1995 have forced North Korea to accept ...

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...on October 29, 1996 http://207.25.71.25/World/9612/29/nkorea/index.html -- Fresh round of Korea talks under way in Geneva October 21, 1998 http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/asiapcf/9810/21/korea.talks/index.html -- North Korea asked for cash, US says November 10, 1998 http://cnn.com/WORLD/asiapcf/9811/09/BC-KOREA-NORTH-USA/reut/index.html -Strategic Implications of the US-DPRK Framework Agreement (online) By Thomas L. Wilburn April 3, 1995 http://carlisle-www.army.mil/usassi/ssipubs/pubs95/usdprk/usdprkss.htm -SECURITY OF THE KOREAN PENINSULA: U.S. CONTINUING COMMITMENT Richard S. Jackson Major, United States Air Force Director of Operations 5th Reconnaissance Squadron Osan AB, Republic of Korea http://www.cadre.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/cc/jackson.html Other Resources 1. Encyclopedia Britannica. Micropedia, vol. 6. (Encyclopedia Britannica Co. Chicago, 1991). Pp958-959.

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