Increasing Peer Pressure on North Korea

Published in Segye Ilbo
(South Korea) on 30 May 2010
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Ryo Kato. Edited by Gheanna Emelia.
The United States is becoming more resolute with regards to the North Korean nuclear issue. The National Security Strategy released on May 27 differs from the George W. Bush administration's unilateral diplomacy in that it emphasizes multilateralism, yet the stance towards the North Korean nuclear issue is the same. The National Security Strategy report emphasized that "if [North Korea & Iran] ignore their international obligations, we will pursue multiple means to increase their isolation and bring them into compliance with international nonproliferation norms." This is a warning that if the North does not abandon its nuclear weapons, sanctions will be toughened. Secondly, the National Security Strategy made clear that the alliance with South Korea and other Asian countries would be strengthened.

The next day at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, 189 participating nations unanimously approved to press North Korea to “abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs” and made clear that North Korea will not be recognized as a nuclear state. This was the first time that a North Korean nuclear issue agreement was reached at a Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference.

As can be seen in the National Security Strategy report and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty final document, the United States and the international community are increasing their pressure on North Korea. Their will to realize a "World Free of Nuclear Weapons" is strong. The increased pressure by the United States on North Korea after the Cheonan incident is one example towards this trend. This is another reason why North Korea cannot afford to miscalculate.


미국이 북핵에 대해 더욱 단호해지고 있다. 미국이 27일 발표한 국가안보전략(NSS) 보고서는 다자협력 외교 등으로 조지 W 부시 전 행정부의 일방주의 외교와 차별화했지만, 북핵 문제만큼은 변화가 없다. 보고서는 “북한과 이란이 국제적 의무를 무시하면, 우리는 그들의 고립을 심화시키고 국제사회의 비확산 규범을 준수하게 하기 위해 다양한 수단들을 동원할 것”이라고 강조했다. 북한이 핵 포기를 거부하면 제재를 강화하겠다는 경고다. 보고서는 이어 아시아에서 한국 등 동맹국들과의 협력 관계를 한층 강화하겠다는 뜻을 밝혔다.

다음날 뉴욕 핵확산금지조약(NPT) 평가회의는 189개 참가국이 만장일치로 채택한 최종선언문에서 “북 핵무기와 핵 프로그램의 완전하고 검증가능한 폐기”를 강력히 촉구하고 북한의 핵보유국 지위를 인정하지 않겠다고 명시했다. NPT 평가회의에서 북핵 관련 합의가 이뤄진 것은 처음이다.

NSS 보고서와 NPT 평가회의 선언문에서 보듯 미국을 비롯한 국제사회는 북핵에 대해 압박지수를 더욱 높이고 있다. ‘핵무기 없는 세상’을 실현하려는 미국과 국제사회의 의지가 그만큼 강한 것이다. 미국이 천안함 사건 이후 대북 압박 수위를 높이는 배경을 짐작케 한다. 북한이 현 상황을 오판해선 안 되는 이유 하나가 추가된 것이다.
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