US-North Korea Nuclear Tensions: Policy Analysis

This assignment explores the ongoing geopolitical conflict between the United States and North Korea, focusing on North Korea's nuclear arsenal development and its implications for global security. It analyzes the current US foreign policy towards North Korea, highlighting its limitations and proposing alternative strategies, such as fostering consensus among nations and providing economic aid to North Korea. The essay delves into the costs and benefits of each option, emphasizing the need for a more effective approach to address this complex nuclear threat.

Running head: GOVERNMENT POLICY
Government policy
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Introduction
In the current global political scenario, one of the prominent conflicts is going between
the United States of America and North Korea regarding the nuclear arsenal of the later. This is
due to the reason that, North Korea follows the communist principles and United States follows
the capitalist theories. Thus, there is always a core conflict remained from the past. However, in
the recent times, under the leadership of Kim Jong Un, North Korea is aggressively enhancing
their stockpile of nuclear weapons to counter the supremacy of United States. Thus, they placed
themselves in the direct conflict with the United States (Chanlett-Avery and Rinehart p. 341).
Moreover, without the active participation of all the super powers such as China to refrain North
Korea from increasing their nuclear warheads, United States has not been able to put holistic
pressure. This essay will discuss about the issues being faced by both the countries along with
importance of changing the existing policy being promoted by United States.
Major issues being faced by the countries
United States maintain the political superiority in the global political scenario with the
help of their huge economy and military power. Majority of the global politics are being
influenced by the policies of United States. Thus, any other countries emerging as the potential
challenger for them will have negative impact on their global superiority. Thus, United States is
the one who is most vocal against the stockpile of nuclear warhead of North Korea. Moreover, as
discussed earlier, there is a historical conflict between these two countries due to the difference
in the ideology being followed by them. North Korea along with China is one of the torch
bearers of communism in the global political scenario (Plant and Rhode p. 61). Thus, there is less
instances of having favorable relation between them and capitalist United States. Due to this

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reason, North Korea is increasing their nuclear stockpile to challenge the superiority of United
States. In the recent time, they are also threatening to attack the American region of Guam. Thus,
United States is facing the issue of nuclear attack from North Korea along with reduction in the
global superiority.
On the other hand, North Korea is also facing various issues mainly for their national
economy and politics. This is due to the reason that, United States has already applied various
economic sanctions to put pressure on them. In addition, in the recent times, more countries
along with the United Nations have initiated various sanctions, which are degrading the national
economy of North Korea. They are being refrained from doing international business with other
countries. Thus, importing and exporting is rapidly decreasing, which is creating food shortage in
the country along with other issues. Moreover, due to the reduction in the exports, inflow of the
foreign reserve has also been reduced for them. In addition, due to their aggressive foreign policy
to counter with United States, internal relations with other countries have also faced negative
implications.
Current foreign policy of United States
Currently, United States have issued various sanctions on North Korea to put pressure on
them along with trying to create consensus among other global super powers to holistically put
pressure on them. In addition, United States is also using their military might in order to counter
the aggressiveness of North Korea, though they have not opted for military option as of now
(Snyder p. 99). However, there is an urgent need of change in their current foreign policy to
effectively counter North Korea. This is due to the reason that, in the current scenario, though

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United States has opted for various counter measures but majority of them is being failed to put
pressure on North Korea.
Available options to be considered
One of the key options that are being available with United States is the creation of
consensus with the communist countries. This is due to the reason that, despite of all the
sanctions being applied on North Korea, they are still being able to counter due to the continuous
support gained by them from the communist countries such as China. Though in the recent time,
China is being vocal against the activities of North Korea but they are against putting aggressive
sanction on them. Thus, one of the available alternatives for United States will be to enhance the
relationship with the communist super powers in order to make them aware about the danger of
having nuclear warheads of North Korea. This will help United States to put holistic pressure on
North Korea, which will refrain them from developing warheads.
Another available option remained for United States to counter North Korea is to provide
more support to them. This will be one of the most radical steps for United States. Every year,
United States maintain a separate fund for the foreign countries to provide aid. Thus, one of the
key options available for them is to provide more aid to the North Korea in developing their
economic stability. Thus, it will help United States to create a favorable environment for
discussion with North Korea. The trustworthiness of United States will get enhanced with North
Korea. This will help to reduce the aggressiveness of North Korea against United States.
Costs and benefits of the available options
One of the key benefits for creating consensus among the nations will help to create the
positive environment, which will further help United States to enhance their reputation and

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goodwill in the global scenario. However, on the other hand, they have provide huge amount as
aid to these countries along with compromising their foreign policy to some extent in order to
attract the communist countries. On the other hand, benefits of providing aid to North Korea
include enhancing the friendship with them. This will help United States to initiate the discussion
without creating any conflict. However, due to this, United States has to shell out a huge amount
as aid and still they cannot be sure that North Korea will accept the aid.
Conclusion
Thus, it can be concluded that, United States along with other countries are facing the
threat of nuclear weapons from North Korea. Thus, it is being recommended that, a consensus
among the countries should be created in order to have singular approach towards them. It is
being discussed in this essay that, aggressive countering North Korea will not be fruitful rather it
will worsen the situation. Thus, a more effective foreign policy is important to deal with this
situation.

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Reference
Chanlett-Avery, Emma, and Ian E. Rinehart. "North Korea: US relations, nuclear diplomacy, and
internal situation." Current Politics and Economics of Northern and Western Asia 22.3 (2013):
341.
Plant, Thomas, and Ben Rhode. "China, North Korea and the Spread of Nuclear
Weapons." Survival 55.2 (2013): 61-80.
Snyder, Scott. "US policy toward North Korea." SERI Quarterly 6.1 (2013): 99.