North Korea’s possession of nuclear weapons is increasingly worrying the international community, a worry that has only escalated in the present as the threat becomes more and more legitimate. The...Show moreNorth Korea’s possession of nuclear weapons is increasingly worrying the international community, a worry that has only escalated in the present as the threat becomes more and more legitimate. The international community attempts to pacify North Korea to avoid the repercussions of a North Korean nuclear weapons launch using large and diverse amounts of aid in exchange for the demise of the North Korean nuclear program. This thesis explores the effectiveness of North Korea’s intimidation strategy against the international community through the lens of previous agreements, treaties, and aid given to North Korea by the United States, China, and South Korea. The findings identify a repeating pattern within the case studies concerning North Korea’s lack of commitment: it will agree to treaties to receive aid but will not sacrifice its nuclear weapons. Simply put, all aid agreements hoping for the dismantlement of the North Korean nuclear program will not achieve their goal of North Korean denuclearization. The strategy employed by North Korea can be deemed effective based on three unique criteria: advantage gain, recurrence, and diversification of aid. However, the strategy is only effective in the short term as aid can be rescinded as soon as an agreement is broken. More research is needed on the longevity of the strategy and how long it can continue to benefit North Korea.Show less
