Monitoring Policy Making at the United Nations |
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North Korea
Picture Credit: Central Intelligence Agency
First colonized by Japan, Korea became a flashpoint of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union following World War II. Tensions continued to rise between the Soviet-allied North and the US-allied South, erupting when northern forces crossed the 38th parallel in 1950 and the fierce Korean War began. The US won the support of the United Nations as it intervened in the war. Hostilities finally ended in 1953 with an official demilitarized zone separating North Korea and South Korea but the once-prosperous North was left utterly devastated. The United States has since maintainted a strong military presence in South Korea, a country that has had an increasingly prosperous economy and status as an "Asian Tiger." Meanwhile, North Korea has stagnated in the grip of an especially inward-looking dictatorship headed by Kim Il Sung and then his son Kim Jung Il.
Following the 9/11 attacks in the US, Washington put North Korea on the “axis of evil” list and has since contended that North Korea’s possession of nuclear weapons poses a serious threat to the world. The US initially refused to participate in multi-party talks on disarmament – organized by European countries and Asian neighbors as a way to engage North Korea – but later opted to join the six-party negotiations. However, negotiations have repeatedly failed due in part to disagreements between the US and North Korea. This page follows US threats and justifications for intervention, and rising tensions between Washington and Pyongyang.
Also See GPF's Pages on:
US Military Expansion and Intervention
General Analysis on US Involvement in North Korea
This page covers US threats of intervening in North Korea and apst US involvement.Sanctions Against North Korea
This page posts information on UN Sanctions in North Korea.
