Intelligence Squared Kim Jong Un and The Bomb: is North Korea Really a Threat?
Oct 6, 2020
Guests Ankit Panda, a nuclear policy expert, and Patricia Lewis, director of the International Security Program, dive into North Korea's nuclear ambitions and global implications. They discuss the historical evolution of its nuclear program and the failure of past international diplomacy. The complexities of negotiating with North Korea are explored, alongside Japan's security dilemmas and South Korea's fluctuating stance on peace initiatives. They also examine future challenges, contemplating the implications of North Korea's nuclear strategy on U.S. policy and international relations.
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Nuclear Program's Longevity
- North Korea's nuclear program predates Kim Jong-un and will likely continue after him.
- Their program began in the early days of the nuclear age, not under Kim Jong-un.
Early Nuclear Ambitions
- North Korea's nuclear interest started after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
- Kim Il-sung established an atomic energy research institute in 1952, marking the beginning of their nuclear ambition.
Purpose of Nuclear Weapons
- North Korea's nuclear weapons primarily ensure the Kim regime's survival.
- They are not effective coercive tools for territorial revisionism.
