U.S. Regional Strategy for North Korea

Abstract

Abstract : The intent of this project is to propose a different approach to the United State's regional strategy for North Korea. The Korean War ended fifty-one years ago however the U.S. is no closer to resolving this conflict than it was in 1953. The Korean Peninsula remains a dangerous place and a potential flashpoint threatening the stability of Northeast Asia. North Korea maintains large conventional and non-conventional forces as well as ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction. These capabilities threaten South Korea and Japan. North Korea's nuclear weapons program has the potential to threaten even more of the region and spark an arms race in a very volatile part of the world. The current United States strategy for North Korea is too limited to realize any sort of normalization in relations. A new approach is needed that will produce long-term stability in the region set the conditions for eventual reunification of North and South Korea and end North Korea's nuclear weapons ambitions.