The Threat Called North Korea essays

The Threat Called North Korea essays Nearly a year ago, George W. Bush first labeled Iraq, Iran, and North Korea, as the axis of evil. So why then have we heard so much about how Iraq is such a threat to U.S. national security, and hardly a word about North Korea? There is no doubt in Americas mind or in anyone elses outside of Baghdad that Sadaam Hussein is a menace to society. Hes both a threat to his own people and to the rest of the world. He has broken sanction after sanction; and received nothing more then a smack on the hand for it. Meanwhile, with the worlds view pointed in Iraqs direction, and Iran trying not to anger anyone, North Korea has decided to try to steal some of the limelight. Always a problem, and sometimes referred to as a rogue-state, North Korea is stirring up quite a mess in Washington, and the worry is well warranted. For the following reasons North Korea has become more of a threat than Iraq: For their development of nuclear technology, their willingness to sell weapons to the highes t bidder, their disregard for several treaties, and their emerging capabilities to hit the continental U.S. with a nuclear tipped missile. North Korea has proven time and time again that they are more then willing to sign a treaty, or agree to sanctions, and then continue on without the slightest regard to international law. On October 21, 1994, the Unites States avoided a deadly and costly showdown with North Korea by signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) along with South Korea, and Japan, a treaty that North Korea would then break only a few years later. This treaty gave North Korea a package of benefits in return for a freeze of their nuclear program. The benefits were to include: light water reactors totaling 2,000 electric megawatts and shipments of heavy oil to North Korea (50,000 tons in 1995 and 500,000 tons annually beginning in 1996 until the first reactor was...