The North Korean crisis
North Korea`s recent decision to withdraw from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) after the International Atomic Energy agency (IAEA) challenged its plutonium declarations is an unprecedented blow to the NPT regime and a serious threat to future stability in Northeast Asia. Fortunately, there is broad international consensus that Pyongyang must be persuaded to rescind its precipitous action and bring itself into conformity with its treaty obligations. North Korea`s action reflects either a fundamental change in its nuclear policy or simply a bargaining chip to seek better terms in its international relations. And it is not yet clear whether North Korea`s incomplete plutonium declarations involve very small amounts or enough for several weapons. The world will clearly be far better off with North Korea under the NPT and IAEA safeguards, even with some uncertainities about past production, than with a full-scale unsafeguarded weapons program. At the same time, any retreat from the IAEA`s newly established authority for special inspections would drastically weaken the agency`s future effectiveness.
- OSTI ID:
- 44968
- Journal Information:
- Arms Control Today, Journal Name: Arms Control Today Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 23; ISSN 0196-125X; ISSN ACOTEB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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