The policies that should be considered by the United States in terms of their relationship with North Korea and their own status as the ‘world’s security’ are letting China become the region’s Hegemony, also to be considered is the use of sanctions in North Korea alongside the furthering of negotiations with the North Korean government, as well as the building of relations with the countries surrounding the Korean peninsula.
China as the Regions Hegemony
One of the main reasons the United States is hesitant to provide any means of force by extending their troops to safeguard the North Korean peninsula to keep the North Korean government from using their nuclear power is the current economic situation in the United States caused by the Global Financial Situation. Current defence budget spending is estimated to be cut down by nearly 60 billion dollars as of next year and kept under 900 billion until the year 2016 (Chantrill 2012). As of June 2011, the United States government has over 200,000 men deployed in over 19 countries and territories. To ensure the budget spending is lowered troops in certain nations including Iraq will be withdrawn in the coming years, with hopes ‘to end the combat role for international troops [in Afghanistan] by the end of 2014’ (USA Today 2011). However the current U.S government would also like to guarantee that their power is stable amongst the Asia-Pacific region by employing a new regime that will inevitably cut into their defence spending.
However it would be more economically fitting and better for the image of the United States to allow China to become the region hegemony and keep the focus on the Middle East and finish the job that ex-President George W. Bush began when he infiltrated in 2003. Even though there is much anticipation and uncertainty toward the growth of China and their vision to become another global power, it could benefit the United States in term of national security, including economic growth to allow China to take responsibility for the wellbeing of the nations in the Asia-Pacific region.
By taking a step back from trying to govern the world, it would benefit the United States economical situation as well as their reputation. Many people consider the United States position as the ‘world’s bodyguard’ as being old-fashioned and colonial and it would seem to many people that having troops in over 19 countries with more than 160 troops is somewhat an excessive use of power.
It could then be a successful move for the U.S government to impart some power to China and to let them deal with North Korea, as China are known to be strongly opposed to the actions of the North Korean government to do with nuclear power. The North Korean government relies heavily on China for trade and for opposing harsh sanctions against them because it will destruct their own economics as well, therefore it seems fitting that when the Chinese power is more thorough and demonstrative by becoming the Asia Pacific’s region hegemony, that because they oppose to the use of nuclear weaponry as shown when they signed under the ‘NPT’ then they could therefore influence North Korea out of using nuclear power as a rogue state, and sign under the treaty as well.
However, this policy of allowing China to become region hegemony also leaves the United States in an ugly position. This is due to the fact that many of their allies in the region including Australia, Indonesia, Singapore and South Korea could feel betrayed as they do not trust the actions of the Republic of China. For the allies in close proximity of both China and North Korea, they feel it is important to have the influence and strength of the United States, but China is yet to prove that if given the same kind of power and influence that they would use it to their own, selfish advantage and would not consider the futures of the states surrounding them, which would also prove a negative move for China itself as they would lose trade and esteem, particularly with the Australian government.
Continued Transfer of Focus to the Asia-Pacific with Sanctions
In response to the last policy proposition of allowing China become region hegemony, the policy of engagement with the Asia-Pacific, namely North Korea, is a different angle that could prove to be more effective for the United States government. As proven in previous years, continued deliberation and talks with the North Korean government can lead to positive changes in their attitude and willingness to work with the global community including the United Nations. Up until 2012, 6 Party talks could be deemed successful as they led to serious consideration by the North Korean government to allow the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
However, attitudes changed and deliberation failed to reach a complete denuclearization or even having the North Korean government sign under the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty alongside the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, China and France. In 2012, following talks with the other nations to discourage nuclear testing, North Korea announced plans for a mid-April launch of a satellite using ballistic missile technology ‘to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il-sung’ (U.S Department of State 2012).
It is therefore the United States duty to persist in deliberation over nuclear weaponry use, as well as partaking in acts that would encourage trust and positivity in their relationship. A way to do this without angering the potentially dangerous government by sending in troops as they did in Afghanistan is to continue in the trade agreement reinforced by Barack Obama which is a form of sanctions that ensures the U.S importers of North Korean goods to check that the goods imported were not produced by any companies that have allegiance to nuclear produces or are themselves manufactures of nuclear commodities (U.S Department of State 2012). These sanctions are a way of continuing trade with North Korea so that the United States has reason to keep a close watch on the movements of the government, as well as having the ability to determine the amount of economic flow the North Korean government can have.
The problem with enforcing sanctions against the North Korean government is the likelihood of retaliation that could cause much larger problems and could actually induce the use of nuclear power prematurely, rather than causing the opposite effect which is hoped to be the denuclearization of North Korea altogether. This goal of denuclearization of the peninsula is of higher priority as they are not willing to join the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty since their withdrawal in 2003 following sanctions by the U.S over fuel oil shipments due to allegations by the U.S that North Korea were dealing in illegal enriched uranium programs (Yang 2003). Therefore sanctions must be used with caution and other techniques to establish a healthy, growing relationship should also be considered.
This trade agreement also allows grounds for the United States to bring troops in to watch the Korean peninsula. This action would be legitimised by the trade relationship because the United States would have the right to safeguard their imports and make sure with a micro-management system that their goods were not being sabotaged or produced by companies that are highly involved in nuclear power production.
By having the troops stationed to safeguard the products and trading, the countries surrounding North Korea, in particular South Korea, would find themselves in an extra position of security if the North Korean government were to do anything radical with decisions based on wanting to show their power, for example wanting to once again join the two Korea’s back together in a forceful manner rather than in a deliberatory manner by use of nuclear weaponry.
Furthered Relations
Current United States president Barack Obama is yet to visit the North Korean government and has only set foot in the demilitarized zone in North Korea. It could therefore be seen as a positive act to visit the government in North Korea. This could seem risky for an American government but it will also show a message to North Korea itself as well as to the rest of the international community that the United States and their allies are not scared by their nuclear testing antics and are willing to grow in relations and achieve a common goal alongside North Korea not against it.
This act of visiting the North Korean president and government in North Korea may be a simplified foreign policy but may also prove to be the most effective in improving relations and influencing North Korea in changing their views on nuclear testing altogether. This is, I believe, the best strategy in dealing with North Korea. If the visit fails to make a change in North Korea’s attitude then other policies discussed should be implemented.
Reference List
Business Standard 2012, ‘Obama visits border with North Korea ahead of nuclear summit’, March 26 2012, < > accessed 29/5/2012
Chantrill, C 2012, ‘US Defence Budget: US Federal Budget Spending Estimates’, June 2 2012, , accessed 28/5/2012
United Nations 2012, ‘Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons’ , accessed 28/5/2012
USA TODAY 2011, ’10,000 U.S Troops to leave Afghanistan’, December 22 2012, < > accessed 29/5/2012
U.S Department of State 2012, ‘North Korea’, April 4 2012,
, accessed 29/5/2012
VOA News 2011, ‘US Reinforces Tough Sanctions on North Korea’, April 19 2011, Federal Information & News Dispatch Inc, Lanham, United States.
Yang J 2003, ‘U.S Imposes Tough Sanction on China and North Korea’, September 2003, Arms Control Association, Washington, United States.