US PROVOCATION BY KIM JONG

The biggest persistent problem with US foreign policy today is North Korea's unrelenting pursuit of its nuclear programs, which it does with complete disdain for global security. In essence, because historically America has never established diplomatic relations with North Korea, mediation talks do not currently have a platform, and armament has been the military policy under Kim Jong Un's leadership, who has adopted a strategy intended to turn the nation into a regional power.  International actors are concerned about the growing capability of North Korea amid the absence of a binding agreement that could have guaranteed the halting of development of the nuclear programs. Historically, negotiations were initiated from the times of Clinton's administration with some agreements in which there was no follow-up on implementation. Essentially, there was a suspension of the negotiations during Obama`s administration, and Kim Jong has intensified the armament programs surprisingly the international community with constant testing of the nuclear weapons. This essay will focus on the Kim Jong`s strategy in the long-run with special attention to the relationship with the USA.

The death of Kim Jong-il's introduced the world to a brutal heir known as Kim Jong Un and had to a great extent consolidate authority and intensified revival of the country1s economy through policies that are focused in development. Some of the notable changes in the country include the reforms in the market which have yielded benefits to some of the citizens, but the ultimate goal the Kim Jong to achieve is on making North Korea nuclear-armed country (Coles 2017, p 19). This is despite the sanctions that have been directed but the UN Security Council to caution the international communities from the hostile and imperialistic state. These developments have put the US foreign policy into question as push for recognition of North Korea as nuclear state could change the international balance of power

Major Issues on US and North Koreas Relations

The major concerns of the USA in North Korea are related to the human rights abuses, political and security issues because of the aggressive nature of the leadership that is in office currently. The geostrategic interests of the USA have been disregarded by a totalitarian regime that is to a large extent isolated by the international community. The approach for a peaceful settlement of the concerns on nuclear programs hit a stalemate because the current leader is described to be opaque and non-committal to such advances (Larsen 2013, p 131). The policy that is openly demonstrated by the regime focus on clear provocation and is some instances limited cooperation with other states. Notably, there is a desire by the current leader to consolidate power and ensure that the dictatorial regime takes root in the country.

Economic Sanctions and Geopolitics

The economic sanctions that were introduced for the country have not been effective in making the country to relinquish the nuclear ambitions which is a disturbing reality to the UN Security Council. Further, China has been identified as an ineffective choice to put pressure on Kim Jon`s regime as their sanction regime is not airtight. President Obama described North Korea as a major foreign policy and security issue that Donald Trump must deal with as a matter of urgency. The acquiescence of the Chinese regime has been a great factor in enabling North Korea a military capability by continued development of their nuclear weapons to the detriment of other state actors in the region who feel threatened. The strategic objective that is adopted by Kim`s regime is on protecting its longevity it is under threat by the USA, and this can only be achieved by enhancing the nuclear capability.

A nuclear deterrent that is credible is the main drive that gives credence to the current determination to be classified among the nuclear-armed countries. The regime`s survival is pegged on the acquisition of weapon that would match the ones acquired by the USA. The ultimate aim is to coerce the US government to implement policies that will benefit Pyongyang and weaken the regional alliances which America has supported to neutralize North Korea`s authority in the region. The US government has changed the approach in its policies, and there is focus on building confidence about measures on intensifying economic sanctions which is a shift from Obama administration which was based on patience to study the Pyongyang actions with some restraint. Another major strategic aim of the Kim Jong`s regime is to use the nuclear weapon for international prestige among the global powers and coerce other nations for diplomatic objectives by negotiation from a position of power. Additionally, Kim`s government will gain some level of legitimacy if they can coerce the international community into accepting its nuclear acquisition.

Nuclear Strategy by Kim Jong

Nuclear capacity and defense capability of the country are some of the main objectives that behind the aggressiveness and limited cooperation of the country with other actors in the international system. Some of the goals are on changing their economic landscape by adopting a centralized system with economic zones, a model that was borrowed from China. The policy that has been directed on propaganda dissemination is directed towards rivals such as the USA that appears to be the main rival of the regime due to the continued support to South Korea (Toloraya and Vorontsov 2015, p 31). The secretive aim of the outsiders seems to be on pursuing reunification with South Korea by the use of force or coercion with propaganda whose appeal is nationalism. The aim of confederation is blocked by the Americans assisting puppet regimes to thrive in South Korea; hence, this creates an issue of legitimacy and western domination which makes the USA the main adversary.

Noteworthy, the country has not taken any initiative about changing the foreign policy approach towards the western countries, and this is informed by the existent threat of ceasing its plan of creating a confederation. Obama administration denounced the nuclear program by North Korea as to have been lacking efficacy, but, this issue has gained momentum because it forms the national conversations of the country`s politics and matters development. Significantly, the nuclear weapons development program conversation has permeated international diplomacy and forms in defense strategy. However, the puzzle that exists in country`s nuclear campaign is the use of propaganda which deceives the world that its military capability could match that of the global powers. Many analysts have given a wrong impression Kim`s government has given military development precedence over the economy, but the accurate information is these aspects of the state are running parallel.

Nuclear weapons are at the center of the strategic policy that was adopted by Kim after taking over the leadership of North Korea with the ultimate motive being to negotiate peace and prevent instances of war from a position of strength and advantage to Pyongyang. Possession of a nuclear deterrent will enable the country to affect the trends on the international stage and more significantly, control Northern Asia and Korean Peninsula. The rationale for North Korea developing the nuclear capabilities can be understood from a perspective of the country`s aggressive media which brings to fore issues relating to self-defense and in some other cases for purposes of deterrence. Competitive legitimation is at the center of the narrative that is to improve the country`s reputation nationally and by the subjugation of the neighbor may explain some of the aggressive tendencies of the North Korea regime.

The government officials believe that interventions by the US government are meant to undermine its socialist system and they will do so in the false pretext that they are defending human rights. Essentially, a common notion that has been created around the world is that countries exercise restraint in invading other states that have nuclear weapons as it has been evident in history. Economic considerations have also played a role in the current puzzle that has created a stand-off between the USA and Kim Jong government as economic sections have not been implemented by the traditional allies to Pyongyang.

The focus by Pyongyang with their nuclear strategy is in some cases viewed to be offensive, but the outcomes that are expected involve compelling the South to accept under their terms of reunification. Kim`s remarks in the past have reinforced this narrative concerning nuclear arsenal as a figurative sword that will ignite the process of reunification with South Korea. Kim Jong Un's strategy has also produced a propaganda campaign that assures support for the anti-USA cooperation by painting the western countries as the imperialists, and their nuclear power will be used to demonstrate their might in propelling this revolution (Kim 2012, p 34). Necessarily, the committee of reunification has highlighted the weapons as a defense mechanism that will protect the country from puppet forces that are created by the USA and South Korea.

North Korea is now trending on shaky grounds after Kim Jong took over the leadership as the development and manufacture of the nuclear arms has been institutionalized by a change of laws to focus military enhancement. The acts of belligerence by North Korea have brought a foreign policy puzzle to the USA analyst exposing challenges that are existent on how to deal with the resilient and hostile Kim Jong. For the Americans, the nuclear capabilities of North Korea are to a great extent compromising their policy objectives on security because of matters relating to non-proliferation and the mere fact the East Asian region will be unstable (Pollack 2017, p 31). Another puzzle that is underlying the hard diplomatic exchanges is that South Korea might be the victim in case the crisis reaches the critical stage of actual military engagement. The presidency of Moon Jae-in has reinforced the need for the US government to implement tougher measures against the continued violations by Pyongyang with the aim of eliminating the current leadership.

The approach by the US government to diplomatically coerce Pyongyang through economic aid and encourage them to cooperate with other states but essentially, this did not work. The current nuclear power of developed by this country that was estimated to have the ability to fire to South Korea and surprisingly, even Japan (Sagan and Waltz 2013, p 53). Notably, if this trend by the country is not controlled the country will have the capacity to fire nuclear weapons to the American soil, a security issue which is not anticipated currently. Kim Jong is not a reformer as many people had expected and thus he is hell-bent of implementing his father`s dream and the only way that this leader will agree to institute a disarmament program is when he will be under duress. Pyongyang threat to America will only be defeated if the current administration by Donald Trump will enhance efforts to end the current arrangement in which the policy is on subsidizing and putting sanctions on North Korea.

Provocations by Kim Jong

The constant provocations by Pyongyang can be viewed as a signal to their patron who has been China to demonstrate that they are now an independent power. Furthermore, there are impressive views the nuclear testing by North Korea is meant to show to the world their mastery of the technical aspects that are necessary for their deterrence strategy. The puzzle to the US government is on how to deal with Pyongyang threat without endangering the security of South Korea and Japan who are their allies in the region. Undermining the leadership of Kim Jong and sabotaging the country's economy will only serve to make the resilient in the nuclear program as retaliation. Understanding the causes of nuclear proliferation in the country is essential as this totalitarian regime will only stop the programs if the country feels secure and the trajectory to prosperity established. Essentially, it is evident that the leader of Pyongyang is worried about the destruction of his country and this informs the policy that is directed towards self-preservation.

The solution to the puzzle that is the continued acquisition of nuclear weaponry by North Korea has been contentious because close allies to the country such as China and Russia oppose the use of military action by the USA. President Trump is supporting an approach based on the expansion of economic sanctions directed towards Pyongyang, and a possible military confrontation is also an option to the US government. In essence, countries such as China and Russia have differing interests from the USA about the Korean Peninsula and the interplay of these motives has an impact on the overall control of Pyongyang nuclear programs. The argument that is used by the North Korean officials relates to the lessons learned from Libya and only guarantee to a long-lasting peace according to them is by building their strength. Options for diplomatic engagement can only be cultivated through Russia as the channel because of the considerable influence this country has on the Korean Peninsula.

The North Korea problem exposes the greater challenge that the US government has to address as Kim Jong seems to be very smart in implementing his strategy and provoking the Americans in a military and the response by the US must be hinged on the long-term interests in Korean Peninsula. The broader context of the challenge that Trumps administration is that constant provocations by Pyongyang leave the country with only a few working solutions with military action being the last resort. The balance in Northern Asia can only be achieved if the USA can strengthen an alliance of its allies Japan and South Korea (Kihl and Kim 2014, p 29). The other option that is available to the US government is the appeasement policy which is not attractive to North Korea because of the advances they have made in the modernization of their military and expansion of the nuclear program. Supporting alliances that will assure the American government of a balance of power in the region is crucial in controlling the rise in power of Pyongyang as possible regional hegemony.

Conclusions on Understanding Kim Jong`s Strategy in the Context of Geopolitics

Security Council resolutions about continued the violations by North Korea are ineffective and have to a great extent been supported by China and Russia they have little interest in a weaker Pyongyang and Putin puts this into perspective by claiming that it was possible to address the problem by employing pressure and in other instances economic sanctions. Kim Jong is daring and inciting the idea of going to war with America, and a current provocation is a direct act of war bearing in mind that the USA is a superpower. Trump`s government is avoiding this confrontation because this would require an international consensus because some of the friendly nations will be affected directly such as South Korea and Japan.

The spontaneity of the speech by Donald Trump can only be taken as a rebuttal against Kim`s continued threatening remarks of bombing the USA to notify the government that it was advancing its nuclear arsenal. However, there is an effort by the North Korean government to adopt a peacetime management policy where the nuclear weapons will be used for prestige. The projection of an image of responsibility in handling nuclear arsenal is meant to create a sense of responsibility and legitimacy in handling the weapons (Umbas 2016, p 13). The preconditions that have been put forth by the Pyongyang regime to accept disarmament shows clearly that the country is committed to the program and the economic incentives that will be presented by the USA and other Security Council members will not lead to the abandonment of the program.

The contemplation of deserting the program has been highlighted in some instances, and North Korea government has asserted this could only be accepted if the hostile policy that is adopted by the USA in the region is terminated. The other critical issue that is pertinent is the exchange for the withdrawal of American troops in South Korea which a defining factor as this would give China and Russia an advantage of the control of Northern Asia hence changing the power dynamics. Additionally, consideration for disarmament can materialize if other preconditions such as the lifting of the embargos and normalization of relations are implemented by the US government.

Conclusively, the strategic move by Kim Jong to openly challenge the superiority of America through constant provocation can be viewed from a perspective of the need to gain legitimacy and prestige as regional power far from the historical dependence on China. The conditions identified as crucial for Pyongyang to give in to the pressure of disarmament cannot be met at the current circumstances, and the standoff with the USA will likely continue into the future. The US government opportunity right now is to collect intelligence on the intent of Kim Jong in upscaling the program and identifying whether the developments in Pyongyang are an imminent threat to US security. However, security analysts have identified Russia as possibly the best mediator that can reach out to North Koreans to put a cap on their nuclear arsenal to avoid confrontation with the Americans.











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