Nuclear North Korea's Challenge to Deterrence Theories and Policies

This book analyzes the challenges of North Korea's nuclear threat today and the shortcomings of nuclear defense theory. With North Korea openly threatening to attack the United States and South Korea using nuclear weaponsfollowing its successful development of hydrogen bombs and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs)deterrence against the regime has become both urgent and increasingly uncertain. Furthermore, North Korea's formal de facto alliance with Russia, established in 2024, raises the possibility that its nuclear forces could disrupt the strategic nuclear balance between the United States and the RussiaChina bloc. As North Korea directly challenges the credibility of the U.S. nuclear extended deterrence, or nuclear umbrella, for South Korea, the traditional deterrence modelbased on the threat of overwhelming retaliationmay no longer be effective. To advance the discourse on nuclear deterrence and address these emerging challenges, this book introduces several new concepts, including Balance of Fear, Institutional (Nuclear) Deterrence, Alliance Correctness, and Line of Nuclear Deterrence. The primary audience for this book includes academics and students specializing in international relations, particularly those focusing on nuclear deterrence. Additionally, policymakers, government officials in diplomatic and security organizations, and military personnel in the United States, NATO member states, and other regions will find this book valuable for understanding and responding to North Korea's evolving nuclear threat.

Responds to heightened global attention on North Korea's nuclear issue Connects North Korea's nuclear threat to nuclear deterrence theory Introduces new deterrence concepts, such as the Balance of Fear and Institutional (Nuclear) Deterrence

Autorentext

Dr. Hwee-Rhak Park is Visiting Scholar at the University of Massachusetts Boston. He previously served as Professor and Dean of the Graduate School of Politics and Leadership at Kookmin University, Seoul, and Colonel in the South Korean military. His work has been published in international journals, including Comparative Strategy, Defense & Security Analysis and Asia Policy.

Inhalt

Chapter 1: Introduction.- Part I: Denuclearization.- Chapter 2: Nuclear Balance in Northeast Asia.- Chapter 3: Comparative Analysis of Denuclearization Cases.- Chapter 4: North Korea's Deception Operations in its Denuclearization Negotiation with the United States.- Part II: Nuclear Deterrence.- Chapter 5: Balance of Fear.- Chapter 6: Alliance Correctness versus Alliance Frankness.- Chapter 7: Institutional Nuclear Deterrence.- Part III: Policies.- Chapter 8: South Korea's Rapprochement Policies Toward North Korea.- Chapter 9: United Nations Command and North Korea's Nuclear Threat.- Chapter 10: Conclusion.