Pols210 American Government : Economics Assessment Answers

Answer:

Introduction:

In the current global political scenario, one of the prominent conflicts is going between the United States of America and North Korea regarding the nuclear arsenal of the later. This is due to the reason that, North Korea follows the communist principles and United States follows the capitalist theories. Thus, there is always a core conflict remained from the past. However, in the recent times, under the leadership of Kim Jong Un, North Korea is aggressively enhancing their stockpile of nuclear weapons to counter the supremacy of United States. Thus, they placed themselves in the direct conflict with the United States (Chanlett-Avery and Rinehart p. 341). Moreover, without the active participation of all the super powers such as China to refrain North Korea from increasing their nuclear warheads, United States has not been able to put holistic pressure. This essay will discuss about the issues being faced by both the countries along with importance of changing the existing policy being promoted by United States.

Major issues being faced by the countries

United States maintain the political superiority in the global political scenario with the help of their huge economy and military power. Majority of the global politics are being influenced by the policies of United States. Thus, any other countries emerging as the potential challenger for them will have negative impact on their global superiority. Thus, United States is the one who is most vocal against the stockpile of nuclear warhead of North Korea. Moreover, as discussed earlier, there is a historical conflict between these two countries due to the difference in the ideology being followed by them. North Korea along with China is one of the torch bearers of communism in the global political scenario (Plant and Rhode p. 61). Thus, there is less instances of having favorable relation between them and capitalist United States. Due to this reason, North Korea is increasing their nuclear stockpile to challenge the superiority of United States. In the recent time, they are also threatening to attack the American region of Guam. Thus, United States is facing the issue of nuclear attack from North Korea along with reduction in the global superiority.

On the other hand, North Korea is also facing various issues mainly for their national economy and politics. This is due to the reason that, United States has already applied various economic sanctions to put pressure on them. In addition, in the recent times, more countries along with the United Nations have initiated various sanctions, which are degrading the national economy of North Korea. They are being refrained from doing international business with other countries. Thus, importing and exporting is rapidly decreasing, which is creating food shortage in the country along with other issues. Moreover, due to the reduction in the exports, inflow of the foreign reserve has also been reduced for them. In addition, due to their aggressive foreign policy to counter with United States, internal relations with other countries have also faced negative implications.

Current foreign policy of United States

Currently, United States have issued various sanctions on North Korea to put pressure on them along with trying to create consensus among other global super powers to holistically put pressure on them. In addition, United States is also using their military might in order to counter the aggressiveness of North Korea, though they have not opted for military option as of now (Snyder p. 99). However, there is an urgent need of change in their current foreign policy to effectively counter North Korea. This is due to the reason that, in the current scenario, though United States has opted for various counter measures but majority of them is being failed to put pressure on North Korea.

Available options to be considered

One of the key options that are being available with United States is the creation of consensus with the communist countries. This is due to the reason that, despite of all the sanctions being applied on North Korea, they are still being able to counter due to the continuous support gained by them from the communist countries such as China. Though in the recent time, China is being vocal against the activities of North Korea but they are against putting aggressive sanction on them. Thus, one of the available alternatives for United States will be to enhance the relationship with the communist super powers in order to make them aware about the danger of having nuclear warheads of North Korea. This will help United States to put holistic pressure on North Korea, which will refrain them from developing warheads.

Another available option remained for United States to counter North Korea is to provide more support to them. This will be one of the most radical steps for United States. Every year, United States maintain a separate fund for the foreign countries to provide aid. Thus, one of the key options available for them is to provide more aid to the North Korea in developing their economic stability. Thus, it will help United States to create a favorable environment for discussion with North Korea. The trustworthiness of United States will get enhanced with North Korea. This will help to reduce the aggressiveness of North Korea against United States.

Costs and benefits of the available options

One of the key benefits for creating consensus among the nations will help to create the positive environment, which will further help United States to enhance their reputation and goodwill in the global scenario. However, on the other hand, they have provide huge amount as aid to these countries along with compromising their foreign policy to some extent in order to attract the communist countries. On the other hand, benefits of providing aid to North Korea include enhancing the friendship with them. This will help United States to initiate the discussion without creating any conflict. However, due to this, United States has to shell out a huge amount as aid and still they cannot be sure that North Korea will accept the aid.

Conclusion:

Thus, it can be concluded that, United States along with other countries are facing the threat of nuclear weapons from North Korea. Thus, it is being recommended that, a consensus among the countries should be created in order to have singular approach towards them. It is being discussed in this essay that, aggressive countering North Korea will not be fruitful rather it will worsen the situation. Thus, a more effective foreign policy is important to deal with this situation.

Reference:

Chanlett-Avery, Emma, and Ian E. Rinehart. "North Korea: US relations, nuclear diplomacy, and internal situation." Current Politics and Economics of Northern and Western Asia 22.3 (2013): 341.

Plant, Thomas, and Ben Rhode. "China, North Korea and the Spread of Nuclear Weapons." Survival 55.2 (2013): 61-80.

Snyder, Scott. "US policy toward North Korea." SERI Quarterly 6.1 (2013): 99.