We hear a lot about North Korea in the news these days, but many people are not really familiar with the history of the “Democratic Republic of North Korea” (DPRK), its government, and especially the everyday lives of its people. This module pulls together resources from a number of places to attempt to fill in the gaps in our knowledge in order to better understand the current geopolitical issues pertaining to North Korea.
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
Please see your Canvas course space for a complete listing of this lesson's required readings, assignments, and due dates.
If you have any general course questions, please post them to our Course Questions Discussion located in the General Information Module in Canvas. I will check that discussion forum regularly to respond as appropriate. While you are there, feel free to post your own responses and comments if you are able to help out a classmate.
These resources help us understand that the current manifestation of a North and South Korea date back to the Korean War—an extension of Cold War political struggles that waged war on the Korean Peninsula.
Please watch the following video: Korean War Remembered (3:15).
Please read the following article that provides an overview of the Korean War.
The Korean War [1]
Despite North Korea’s relative isolation from the global community, it has gained prominence as a geopolitical threat to many in the region and throughout the globe because of its nuclear ambitions. The articles and timelines below discuss North Korea’s military capabilities. The extensive timeline highlights the development of North Korea's military arsenal as well as attempts at negotiations, and economic sanctions, towards a diplomatic solution.
North Korea’s Military Capabilities [2]. (read the entire page – all sections)
The US and North Korea on the Brink: A Timeline [3]
North Korea profile – Extensive Timeline [4] (including nuclear negotiations)
In addition to North Korea’s nuclear and missile developments, it has also engaged in cyber operations in an effort to disrupt the status quo operations of perceived enemies (whether state or non-state actors, ie/ Sony). Watch and read the resources below to learn more about North Korea’s cyber capabilities.
North Korea’s Cyber Capabilities: Assessing the strategic and analytical implications of North Korea's cyber operations capabilities [5] (video, 16 minutes)
Executive Summary: North Korea’s Cyber Operations: Strategy and Responses [6]
Lastly, but certainly not least, these aforementioned developments (nuclear/missile and cyber warfare) tend to mask a large-scale humanitarian crisis that has been unfolding in North Korea for quite some time. The articles below highlight the humanitarian crisis ongoing in the DPRK and also posit that any strategy for dealing with the collapse or fall of the North Korean government will need to address a large-scale famine and mass-migration (towards China) in its aftermath.
Preventing a Post-Collapse Crisis in North Korea: How to Avoid Famine and Mass Migration [7]
Significant Food Shortages Likely in North Korea [8]
Fearing the Worst, China Plans Refugee Camps on North Korean Border [9]
Foreign policy/politics are unfolding at a very fast rate, such that previous stakeholder analyses do not always hold up to the quick-changing winds of the current US administration. Nonetheless, there have been key stakeholders on this issue that maintain relevance. The analysis below discusses China’s role in stabilizing Northeast Asia. Indeed, given Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent reception of DPRK Leader Kim Jong-Un, it seems that China will maintain its prominent role in any upcoming negotiations, dialogues or discussions.
A Sharper Choice on North Korea: Engaging China for a Stable Northeast Asia [10]
Please visit the Lesson 10 Module in Canvas for a detailed assignment description.
You should now be able to:
You have reached the end of Lesson 10! Double-check the Lesson 10 module in Canvas to make sure you have completed all of the activities listed there before you begin Lesson 11.
Links
[1] http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/coldwar/korea_hickey_01.shtml
[2] https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/north-koreas-military-capabilities
[3] https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/the-u-s-and-north-korea-on-the-brink-a-timeline/
[4] http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-15278612
[5] https://www.csis.org/programs/korea-chair/korea-chair-project-archive/north-koreas-cyber-capabilities
[6] https://csis-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/legacy_files/files/publication/151123_Cha_NorthKoreaCyber_handout_final.pdf
[7] https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog128/sites/www.e-education.psu.edu.geog128/files/Articles/Preventing%20a%20Post-Collapse%20Crisis%20in%20North%20Korea.pdf
[8] https://www.38north.org/2017/10/adinville101617/
[9] https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/11/world/asia/china-north-korea-border.html?_r=0
[10] http://www.cfr.org/report/sharper-choice-north-korea