North Korea has been described as a failed Stalinist utopia by Lankov (2014) and as a result, the country has gone on to elicit potential debates globally. With President Donald Trump meeting Kim Jong Un in June 2018 at a summit in Singapore, it is essential to point out that changes in North Korea may lead to a new look in the country’s foreign policy.
Whether North Korea is A Normal Country
If anything, North Korea has its citizens who deserve a good government and place to live in. However, it is important to point out that the absence of a proper system of governance in the country is what leads to queries as to whether the country is normal (Byman & Lind, 2012). Notably, it is only right to point out that the system of governance is abnormal and not the country in itself. Certain aspects such as people being restricted to a specific hairstyle are not only uncouth but also diminutive. Seth (2010) who looked into the history of Korea postulates that North Korea is normal although the current trajectory threatens this balance. This is rooted in the tendency of increasing malnutrition, poor development, and a dictatorial leadership that limits her people on how to go about their daily life (Seth, 2010). In this respect, North Korea is a normal country but its government and systems are not worth a shot.
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Rationale For Nuclear Weapons And Human Rights Violations
Nuclear weapons are owned by the world’s superpowers all of whom are signatories of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The rationale for having nuclear requires that one signs the Non-Proliferation Treaty as it restricts the senseless use of nuclear (Lankov, Kwak & Cho, 2012). However, it is not every country that has signed the agreement with North Korea and Iran being examples despite having some form of nuclear weapon (Lankov et al., 2012). Every government should protect its citizens and ensure that their rights are upheld. Notably, North Korea has been criticized for massive human rights violations including arbitrary arrests, executions, and others (Joo, 2014). In this respect, the Security Council can intervene although this would have to be agreed by its members. With China and Russia being in strong opposition at the Security Council, negotiations with the North Korean regime can help salvage the nation from plunder.
Changes Taking Place Inside North Korea And Their Impact on The Foreign Policy
The president of the US, Donald Trump, went out of his way and meet his North Korean counterpart, Kim Jong Un, in June 2018 in a summit in Singapore. This was seen as a development to see changes in North Korea. Information is being sneaked through the country’s borders with Jieun (2017) stating that this may have an impact as the citizens become opened up. As more North Koreans get to learn how the rest of the world lives and cares for them, North Korea may be faced with a challenge that will require them to at least soften their relations to the outside world (Lankov et al., 2012). The increased famine and an underdeveloped economy are set to play a role as the country may consider unifying with South Korea (Jieun, 2012). In the end, such challenges may push the North Korean government to the wall and as a result, they may seek help from the US or South Korea in a bid to enhance their status.
Conclusion
In conclusion, North Korea comes out as a normal country although factors such as a bad system of governance, enhanced famine, and an underdeveloped economy threaten this fact. With the country owning nuclear weapons despite not being a signatory of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, there is more that needs to be done. In the end, significant changes in the country may soften the country’s relations with the US and enhance chances of unification.
References
Byman, D. & Lind, J. (2012). Pyongyang's survival strategy: Tools of authoritarian control in North Korea. International Security 35(1), pp. 44-74.
Jieun, B. (2017). The opening of the North Korean mind Pyongyang versus the digital underground. Foreign Affairs 96(1), pp. 104-113.
Joo, H. Hidden transcripts in marketplaces: Politicized discourses in the north korean shadow economy. The Pacific Review , 27(1), pp. 49-71.
Lankov, A. (2013). The real North Korea: Life and politics in the failed Stalinist utopia . Oxford University Press: New York.
Lankov, N., Kwak, I. & Cho, C. The organizational life: Daily surveillance and daily resistance in North Korea. Journal of East Asian Studies , 12(2) pp. 193-214.
Seth, M. J. (2010). A concise history of modern Korea . Published by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.: New York.
