When the weak challenge the strong: The North Korean nuclear crisis. Master`s thesis
This thesis examines the political behavior of weak states in crises through a detailed case study of the recent North Korean nuclear crisis. In the early 1990s, North Korea initiated a political challenge that threatened both U.S. nonproliferation and South Korean defense interests. North Korea manipulated the shared risks of the ensuing crisis to achieve political objectives rather than military victory, which was unobtainable due to U.S. and South Korean defense efforts. It is puzzling how a small state, such as North Korea, could nevertheless successfully challenge more powerful states and not be punished. Indeed, North Korea was rewarded for its challenge. Asymmetric conflict theory states that a weaker state, even after assessing its disadvantages vis-a-vis an opponent, can successfully challenge stronger adversaries to political and strategic advantage. In the North Korean nuclear crisis, its limited aims/fait accompli strategy-namely, developing nuclear weapons and gaining economic benefits from the West and changing domestic politics were the driving force behind its challenge. The findings of this study provide some theoretical insights as well as policy implications for the United States and South Korea in their policy toward North Korean nuclear behavior.
- Research Organization:
- Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 432687
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A--316728/5/XAB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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