North Korea in 2011: Countdown to Kim il-Sung’s centenary
By Siegfried S. Hecker, Robert Carlin | January 1, 2012
As the diplomatic standoff in North Korea enters its fourth year, the crisis atmosphere on the Korean peninsula sparked by Pyongyang’s military actions in 2010 has eased. Pyongyang has agreed to return to the diplomatic table, its hand strengthened by advancing its nuclear program in the interim. Washington and Seoul remain reluctant to engage, having been burned by Pyongyang’s clandestine uranium enrichment program unveiled in 2010. The authors argue that re-engagement, with the immediate objective to stop a third nuclear test and prevent further missile tests, is imperative to contain the nuclear threat for now; preventing the nuclear program’s expansion and preparing the way for the ultimate denuclearization of the peninsula—critical goals—must be left to a second step.
Together, we make the world safer.
The Bulletin elevates expert voices above the noise. But as an independent nonprofit organization, our operations depend on the support of readers like you. Help us continue to deliver quality journalism that holds leaders accountable. Your support of our work at any level is important. In return, we promise our coverage will be understandable, influential, vigilant, solution-oriented, and fair-minded. Together we can make a difference.
Issue: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Volume 68 Issue 1
Keywords: North Korea, enrichment, nuclear weapons, plutonium, six party talks, uranium
Topics: Uncategorized
Get alerts about this thread
0 Comments
Oldest
Siegfried S. Hecker
Siegfried S. Hecker is a professor of practice at the Monterey Institute of International Studies at Monterey and at the Department of Nuclear... Read More
Robert Carlin
Carlin is a visiting scholar at the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University. He served as senior policy adviser at... Read More
