Thousands of soldiers today in the war in the Middle East would not have died if we would have done more action in limiting the weapons the North Korean’s have. The Department of Defense released information showing as early as the 1960’s and 1970’s China and the Soviet Union have been supplying Korea with Scud missiles, supporting technologies, and missile training. With even a little bit of training, anyone can be taught to fire a weapon or push a button to fire a weapon that may destroy our troops in South Korea or even those living here in the US. North Korea has received a lucrative bonus from selling mass weapons, uranium, and plutonium to Iran, Yemen, Syria, and Pakistan (“Nuclear Offense” 22). The North Korean’s can pass on the weapons and skills they learned using their weapons to those several countries including ones we are at war with. Dangerous, you bet. If both North Korea and Iran go nuclear, experts fear the final collapse of the 35-year-old nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, leading as many as 20 to 30 nations to seek nuclear weapons to protect or use on each other (“Nuclear Offense” 22). With everyone attempting to obtain nuclear weapons, the allies of all nations will fire upon enemy nations and their allies causing a great world nuclear war of destruction. We assess that North Korea has the capability to develop, produce, and arm many biological warfare agents including bacterial spores causing anthrax and smallpox and the bacteria causing the plague and cholera (“Excerpts of the 2000 report...” par. 3). If we know they have this technology and are openly ready to use it, how do we know that they did not sell any of these weapons to the Middle Eastern countries? They may also be ready to attack the US and its allies if the US doesn’t step in and do something. The International Atomic Energy Association has talked with Iranian officials and they have stated, “… that they have attempted to acquire technologies and programs focusing on nuclear weapons…”(Sciolino Elaine A1). Still with this knowledge, the United States and its allies have not confronted North Korea to put a stop to their dealing or creating of destructive weapons.
Many people say that North Korea is not a threat to the world mainly because of their decline economically and militarily and that they are in no position to fight. David C. Kang, an associate professor of government at Dartmouth College, an adjunct fellow at the Center for National Policy, and a senior fellow at the Korean Institute for International Studies in Seoul, says “…it would be suicide for North Korea to attack the US or its allies”(Kang par. 4). Well, if they are low on funds, it would make perfect sense to sell their strong weapons to other countries to better the economy and increase their military quota. “While North Korea denies possession of nuclear weapons and has frozen its nuclear program at Yongbyon, we remain concerned the North Korea could revive a weapons production program....”, says Robert S. Norris, a senior research associate with the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), an environmental action organization, and an expert on nuclear arms control and nonproliferation efforts (qtd Norris in Handler par. 3). Nobody knows the plans Kim Jong I has for North Korea, but the US should watch out for any possible warning signs or problems in the near future.
The United States still isn’t doing its all to prevent a nuclear disaster or preventing North Korea from injury or selling any of its nuclear, chemical, or ballistic missiles to any country willing to pay top dollar to help their economy and military standing. North Korea and its secret aliases will continue to hurt the US and the world if someone doesn’t step in and monitor Korea’s activities very carefully.
Works Cited
Department of Defense. North Korea is a Serious Military Threat to the U.S. Department of Defense Source Database.
Dudley, William. "Excerpts of the 2000 Report to Congress, Military Situation on the Korean Peninsula," 2003. 15 Mar. 2005 <www.defenselink.mil>.
Handler, Joshua. At Issue Series. Vol. 59 ed. Chicago: Green haven Press, 2005.
Kang, David. At Issue Series. New York: Columbia University Press, 2003.
"Nuclear Offense." Newsweek 21 February 2005: p22.
Sciolino, Elaine, and David Sanger. "Iran Admits It Discussed Acquiring Tools for Nuclear Arms." The New York Times February 2005.
