Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Sauce for the goose: North Korea’s nuclear power play

By Syed Atiq ul Hassan - posted Friday, 4 August 2006


The issue of North Korea and nuclear weapons goes back to the Korean War when the US threatened several times to use nuclear weapons against North Korea.

After the war, United States forces remained in South Korea, and in January 1958 began deploying several types of nuclear weapons there. The first four deployed were the “Honest John” surface-to-surface missile; the massive 280-millimeter gun; the eight-inch artillery shell; and atomic demolition munitions.

Between 1960-64, the US deployed five more weapons systems: the Lacrosse and Sergeant ballistic missiles; Nike Hercules surface-to-air missiles; Davy Crockett nuclear bazookas; and 155-millimeter artillery shells.

Advertisement

The presence of US military might on North Korea’s doorstep motivated President Kim Il-sung to launch a nuclear weapons program for his country, and eventually pursue the world’s then second biggest power, the Soviet Union.

In the mid 1960s, the Soviet Union helped North Korea develop a large-scale atomic energy research complex near the small town of Yongbyon, and in 1965 provided a Soviet IRT-2M research reactor for the centre.

Many North Korean students trained in the Soviet Union to work at the centre, and from 1965 to 1973, with Soviet help, North Korea focused on the nuclear fuel cycle system, including refining, conversion and fabrication. China also provided support between the 1960s and 1980s.

In the 1980s, as its focus turned to the practical uses of nuclear energy and to completing a nuclear weapons development system, North Korea began operating uranium fabrication and conversion facilities. This involved building a 200MW nuclear reactor and nuclear reprocessing facilities at Taechon and Yongbyon, and high explosive detonation tests.

North Korea reached a milestone with its nuclear program by constructing a 5MW electric reactor that began operating in 1986.

Under international pressure, Pyongyang acceded to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in 1985 but refused to sign a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency - an obligation it had as a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Advertisement

In July 1990, a Washington Post report showed satellite photographs of a structure at Yongbyon which could possibly be used to separate plutonium from nuclear fuel. Then, again under high pressure, North Korea signed a nuclear safeguards agreement with the IAEA on January 30, 1992, and allowed IAEA inspections to begin in June.

However, North Korea's refusal in January 1993 to allow special inspections of two unreported facilities suspected of holding nuclear waste brought this promising development to a halt. Its refusal to allow IAEA inspections, and its operation of nuclear reprocessing facilities, made the world suspicious of its nuclear intentions. On March 12, 1993, North Korea announced its withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

United States intelligence discovered in mid-2002 that North Korea had been receiving materials from Pakistan for a highly enriched uranium production facility. Nearly two years later, in February 2004, the father of Pakistan’s nuclear technology, Dr Qadir Khan, confessed on national television that Pakistan had transferred nuclear technology to North Korea, Iran, and Libya during the 1980s and 1990s. The Pakistan and North Korean Governments, however, did not endorse Dr Khan’s claim.

During his State of the Union Address on January 29, 2002, President Bush referred to Iraq, Iran and North Korea as the “axis of evil”. Yet on August 7, 2002, 100 American and Japanese delegates attended a high-profile ceremony at Kumho, North Korea, where they met with Korean officials to lay foundations for two nuclear power plants.

The plants were given to North Korea by a US-led consortium as part of a $US4.6 billion package signed by the Clinton Administration in 1994 to get North Korea to end its nuclear weapons program and not invade South Korea. Despite this “bribe package”, North Korea withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in late 2002 and ejected UN weapons inspectors from the country. In November 2002, the CIA revealed North Korea had one, perhaps two, nuclear weapons.

Although North Korea never conducted nuclear tests, in February 2005 it declared itself a de facto nuclear power and claimed to have manufactured nuclear weapons to defend itself from the US. At the same time it withdrew itself indefinitely from international disarmament talks. Today, it is believed North Korea is the world's ninth nuclear power.

North Korea has a 1.1 million-strong army with newly fielded batteries of long-range artillery, rockets, and tactical and scud missiles which can deliver nuclear, conventional, chemical and biological weapons onto Seoul, as well as US airbases and all positions of the US 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea.

North Korea conducted a successful ballistic missile test in August 1998, followed by successful cruise missile tests in February and March 2003. With its latest tests of six long-range missiles on July 5, North Korea said: "If anyone tries to discuss the rights and wrongs about (future tests) and apply pressure, we will be forced to take physical actions of a different nature." The missiles included a long-range Taepodong-2, which some experts say could hit Alaska. According to a South Korean daily newspaper, North Korea might be looking to launch three or four more intermediate-range missiles.

In response to North Korea’s recent tests, President Bush, who perhaps believes only in hostile responses, and who already has enough adventure in Iraq and Afghanistan, has asked the top six countries to take united action against North Korea. Japan, South Korea and Australia joined the US in quickly condemning the tests. President Bush has also urged Russia and China to support a UN Security Council resolution requiring nations to freeze North Korea’s missile funds.

There should be no dispute that developing nuclear weapons is the most precarious act against this planet. Humans may not survive an atomic disaster. The international community must not only stop the development of all kind of nuclear armaments but nations that already have them must dismantle them.

Traditionally, acquiring nuclear power has been a secret process, including for the US. While the justification for acquiring nuclear technology has been that it is for peaceful purpose, almost every country has used the technology to develop atomic warheads. Addressing the UN General Assembly on December 8, 1953, President Eisenhower referred to the US’ atomic development as “Atoms for Peace” - despite the US being the first and only country at the time to have secretly developed the atomic bomb - and dropped it on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

According to a report, as of January 2005 there were about 5,300 operational nuclear warheads in the US, including 4,530 strategic warheads, 780 non-strategic warheads, and nearly 5,000 other warheads retained as a “responsive reserve force” - enough to destroy the entire globe within minutes.

The history of nuclear power states should leave one in no doubt that their prime objective has been to achieve armed superiority against their rivals, and to protect themselves against foreign threats.

These atomic states have stimulated the need for nuclear weapons among states owning conventional warheads and defence systems. Despite their limited resources, these non-nuclear states have followed in the footsteps of those possessing nuclear weapons in proclaiming peaceful purposes in the secret development of their weapons.

Pakistan, India, Israel and North Korea are about to be followed by Iran, and several other nations may be following the same tactics. These countries are proud of developing the atomic bomb, and consider it a measure of security against possible foreign threats. For example, Pakistan decided to go for nuclear technology after its humiliating defeat by India in 1971.

Within weeks of surrendering, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto called a secret meeting of nuclear and military officials and said he wanted the atomic bomb. A 125MW heavy-water reactor, built with Canadian assistance, became operational near Karachi the same year.

According to some sources, the US was not in the dark about these developments, and within a year there was clear evidence that Pakistan was buying nuclear technology and materials from European countries.

The US and other superpowers, officially or unofficially, commended Israel, India and Pakistan as members of their nuclear club when they secretly managed to achieve atomic capabilities and announce themselves as atomic powers.

India has not yet signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, but in March 2006 when President Bush visited, he made a nuclear technology fuel deal which the US describes as a “landmark” agreement on civil nuclear technology. The reasons are obvious: the US does not consider India a threat, and needs India to counter China in the region.

The way nuclear-power states behave, politically and militarily, towards smaller states basically motivates them - whether it is North Korea, Iran or others - to secure themselves by obtaining nuclear technology and developing nuclear warheads.

It’s a power game that will continue as long as non-atomic states consider atomic states a threat. The non-atomic states will continue to follow in the superpowers’ footsteps, using legitimate or illegitimate means to get control of atomic technology

A peaceful and threat-free world can be possible only if the atomic powers fairly and openly dismantle their weapons of mass destruction, and set an example to those who are secretly endeavouring to jump into the nuclear arms race.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. All

Article edited by Allan Sharp.
If you'd like to be a volunteer editor too, click here.



Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

1 post so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Syed Atiq ul Hassan, is senior journalist, writer, media analyst and foreign correspondent for foreign media agencies in Australia. His email is shassan@tribune-intl.com.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Syed Atiq ul Hassan

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Article Tools
Comment 1 comment
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy