North Korea— Brief History and Latest Diplomatic Developments.
Many people — when they think about North Korea and the dictatorship, or the military or nuclear weapons, nuclear missiles, those things — tend to forget ordinary citizens are living there.
-Lee Hyeon-seo
When the U.S. claims the right to invade any country unilaterally and then defines a country like Iran or North Korea as ‘evil,’ then it is a rational response for these countries to develop nuclear weapons as the only military deterrent to invasion. We create what we most fear.
-Dean Ornish
Every one must be familiar with the Nuclear Programme of North Korea, missiles being launched into the Sea of Japan, launch pads moving here and there and the Big Military Parades in the Heart of Pyongyang showing the Might of the DPRK.
With latest diplomatic developments in the Korean Peninsula, which clearly show that North Korea is ready for a breakthrough for the first time in its history, by giving up Nukes and looking forward to Brotherly relations with the United States and the South Korea. Certainly, there is an element of surprise expected in this story as well.
Basic Intro to North Korea
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea(DPRK), popularly known as North Korea is a country in East Asia, bordering China and the South Korea, was formed in 1950 after the outbreak of Korean war and involvement of World Powers. Country which was once known as Korea become into two, namely the South and North respectively.
Capital of North Korea is Pyongyang, which is also its largest city. Korea was a united and a peaceful and prosperous nation in asia, until in 1910 when It was a annexed as a Japanese colony till 1945. It had adopted communism and socialism as soon after it was partitioned, a main reason why it is still in engaged in a lot of conflicts.
Foreign Relations of North Korea
North Korea, has its diplomacy tied with Communist world. Both South and North Equally claim the entire peninsula and has been trying to create a conflict. After the start of Cold war, North Korea managed to extend its ties to Non Aligned Movement .
Today, North Korea has Bilateral relations with majority of the world nations except a very few including the US and the France.
It is heavily dependent on the Russian and Chinese aid, without out which its survival is very tough. With South Korea, it has a very cold relations; as both these nations are a part of armed conflict for decades.
India and Pakistan are also a great friends of North Korea which much of the world doesn’t know or none of them just bother to care.
North Korea is also said to have supported the Strong People Liberation Army in the Chinese Civil War.
Government, Politics and the People.
North Korea works has highly Centralised Single Party System according to western Media.
Kim Jong Un, is the present Supreme leader of DPRK, who took power in 2011, from his brother Kim Jong-il. His father Kim II- Sung, was known as the founder and leader of North Korea, who ruled till 1994.
North Korea, is believed to be one of the most secretly functioning nations in the world, where only the rich and powerful has the access to resources.
Like any other communist region, you don’t have Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Movement or Freedom of Religion.
Also, Public executions, food shortages, economic crisis, dismal public health are also a big problem.
The Korean War
When World war 2, formally ended in 1945, the western nations divided the Korea into two by the 38th parallel, where North was taken by the Communists and South by the Capitalist nations. Korea was previously annexed from Japan which had made it a colony.
In 1949, Kim ll Sung seeked the support of Stalin, in invading the South Korea. On August 4, the troops of the North successfully crossed the 38th parallel into the South and claimed the border territories. Stalin was ready to support only in one condition that Mao, the leader of China will send in Reinforcements to NK.
In May 1950 it was planned that the troops will encircle Seoul and will capture and destroy all the soldiers of SK. Kim worried about the progress and demanded a change in strategy from Stalin. Only after June, the PLA left to NK for an attack by the Chinese. All combat equipments were supplied by the Soviets while the South Korea was heavily trained by the US.
On 25 June, the war broke out, the North Korea claimed that the South Korea made the first move by Capturing the city of Haeju. The ill equipped South Korean army, then blew the Bridge across the Han river, and on the same day Seoul fell for the North Korea. Later on South Korea lost the battle.
On the same day, UNSC meeting was called to condemn this move. This meeting was boycotted by the Soviets. On June 27, US President Truman ordered US assistance to South Korea. Later on, South Korea saw continues battles in Seoul, Incheon and other cities.By August UN troops crossed the 38th Parallel.
It was clear that now victory was in the hands of US and later on turned out be a greater Chinese Support for the DPRK till early 1952. It took till 1963 July, for all parties to meet on an Armistice Negotiation to end the fighting. With that war came to an end with none claiming the victory.
The inter Korean Relationship
Later, A heavy demilitarised Zone was created between the two nations. Since, the war till Today South Korea has US military presence. Until 1960s, North Korea had higher Economic Growth than the South. With the decline in the Soviet influence and decreasing aid, DPRK became weak, while South Korea saw a Capitalist Economic Boom.
In 1994, Kim Jong ll died midst of the US- NK Standoff on the Nuclear Development. North Korea later on, with a deal with the Clinton Govt decided to stop the Nuclear Programme.
Corruption and Famine still was a big issue in the 1990s.
After President Bush was elected in 2000, He rejected the Sunshine Policy of the South Korea which saw North Korea as a friend and he called DPRK, a “Rogue State”, while it doubled its nuclear programme, to stop the same fate as that of Iraq.
On 9 October 2006, DPRK successfully conducted its first Nuclear weapon. Barack Obama had a totally different approach from that of predecessor. He took initiative to ease the tensions. In 2010, Ties deteriorated as it sank a South Korean Ship and Shelling of Yeonpyeong Island. Kim Jong il died in 2011, of heart attack and his successor was Kim Jong Un.
Controversial Nuclear Programme
North Korea within few years made tremendous achievements, in the field of Nuclear weapons, Hydrogen Bombs and Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs).
By 2016, all its ICBMs were capable enough to carry a nuclear warhead to any part of Asia which raised a concern that it will attack South Korea or Japan.
In 2017, it carried out a test launch of 4 missiles simultaneously. On July 4, (which also happens to be the Independence Day of US) it made its biggest test of ICBMs. North Korea stated that it can hit any US city and that the Entire US was under its Radar, which undoubtedly shook the entire world, putting everyone on the brink of a world war outbreak.
War of Words started raging between the newly elected controversial US President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un. This indicated at that time that both of them are ready for a war and that US would be turned to ashes by the DPRK. Later on, the US government held different meetings with leaders of Japan, Republic of Korea and China. Trump also ordered the US military to arm Republic of Korea with THAAD missiles as a deterrence and defensive move. Because that has the capability to counter ICBMs fired by North Korea towards America. Trump also instructed China to cut off oil and food trade with North Korea. If not done, he threatened to punish China for the same with economic sanctions.
North Korea on other hand has 1 million active troops, with over 800,000 reserve troops. It has largest number of submarines in the world and is said to have 10 nuclear warheads. Every year it holds a military parade in the Heart of Pyongyang observed by its Supreme leader, showcasing its military strength to entire world.
Great Korean Thaw
After Trump announced Kim to drop nuclear tests on Twitter, within days North Korea sends its delegation to South Korea headed by his sister Kim Yo Jong to South Korea for negotiations, on sending a unified Korean Delegation to the Winter Olympics which was held in February 2018 in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
This was considered as a great movement in Korean history amid High Tensions. This move was very well Applauded by Trump, he wished all the best for this Move and he stated in Twitter that he is looking Forward to meet Kim in late May or June this year.
Trump never spoke to Kim over the phone, unlike other Presidents, instead he likes to tweet his official White House statements through Twitter and that his perhaps the most humorous part of Trump’s Presidency.
By March in Official Statement, Kim Jong Un confessed to end the nuclear missile programme officially and he is ready for the peace between the North and the South. This was the best transition from highest tension in the history to lowest positive mood ever.
Meeting of Heads of state of both countries were set to meet in April end, near the Korean Border. This was a significant meet especially a fortnight after Kim’s meet with the Leader of China Xi Jinping in China, that too a surprise visit by travelling in a train to China.
To everyone’s greatest surprise, President of South Korea, Moon Jae In and Kim Jong Un, met on the South Korean Side of the Border making him “ first North Korean leader to enter the South when he meets President Moon Jae-in for talks at the Panmunjom border crossing.” Credits :- BBC
A deal was set for denuclearization, to continue peace in the border and also, to open military hotlines on the border. North Korea also decided for a rollback on its decision to have a separate time zone. Following this tremendous progress, Kim denies Trump’s claim that International Sanctions and pressure forced DPRK to give up on its Nuclear Ambitions.
The June 12 at Singapore.
Their body language was surprisingly warm. Both Kim and Trump were smiling and laughing, as they walked along a colonnade towards their meeting. Mr Kim greeted his American counterpart with the words: “Nice to meet you Mr. President.”
This day in Singapore was marked by, the “Historic Handshake” as depicted by the World community and media, at the Sentosa Island, Singapore. Credits :- Telegraph UK.
Trump had exclaimed earlier that he will know within the first minute on the meet whether the summit will go on well, seemed to show a great satisfaction within the first hour of the meeting.
The meet was followed by an exclusive talk without the delegation, a lunch meet and signing of the documents in the presence of the delegations of both The Nations.
Both the leaders accepted for sharing a Special Bond with each other and pledged to take forward the Singaporean legacy of June 12. Credits:- Thomson Reuters
Here, Kim who never made foreign travels outside North Korea and China, talked with President Assad and President Putin before leaving for Singapore. There he met the Prime Minister of Singapore and finally President Donald Trump. Trump took on a direct flight to Singapore from Quebec, Canada after mishandling the G7 summit.
All of these come at a significant point where the meeting of G7, SCO, and this historic Summit were scheduled at the same time. “Both leaders can now return back with extreme satisfaction and also something political that can be sold in their respective countries.” Credits:- Al Jazeera
What does it Mean for the World after the Thaw
Majority of the world leaders credited all the sides for working well for the thaw. World which was on a brink of WW3 has now been averted. But the exact 180 deg shift by the DPRK is pretty unclear to the entire world. Analysts say that Kim was on a deathbed, after sanction after sanction being imposed for its nuclear programme which made it suffocate for funds and resources. While others probably hints at a silence before a cyclone, as North Korea might continue after letting the heat down, for sometime and to manage more money for the nukes. Kim Trump meeting failed for the second time in Vietnam.
Kim and Trump were the Favorite poster boys of social media trolls and memes during their standoff. Majority of right wing and conservative men wanted to give full credits to President Trump and his policies, upto an extent even, awarding him with Nobel Peace Prize.
Whatever it means for the stakeholders, world views it in a completely different perspective. As a nuclear conflict has been avoided majority of leaders and policy makers are now asking nations which are presently on conflicts to approach together and make peace. These include, The Arabs and the Israelis, Iran and the US, India and Pakistan, China and Taiwan, Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan.
World now looks more closely as it’s not the first time North Korea has come up with a message of peace, but also that it had defied majority of the treaties that were earlier made to ease the tensions. This will surely bring uncertainty to the entire world. To say that all is well is never possible in a World like ours, but its a temporary relief and one step closer to our aspirations and UN’s major agenda of a Peaceful World Community.
Credits:-
The author would like to give the credits to Wikipedia, Business Insider, Google Images Search, CNN, Thomson Reuters, BBC, The Telegraph UK, and Al Jazeera English for providing useful facts which were necessary for the completion of the article. Quotes from different sources have been abstracted from the above mentioned credible sources and due credits are given to them as well.
Also Read:- https://medium.com/@jairamrprabhu/why-trump-got-it-wrong-again-97998f78fe94