Abstract

This article investigates the North Korean nuclear crisis from various contending international relations theoretical perspectives analyzing North Korea's weapons of mass destruction (WMD), the possibility of regime survival, and various policies for coping with North Korea's nuclear threat. North Korea's nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) programs should guarantee Pyongyang's security enough, but Kim Jong-un's intention in developing various strategic weapons, such as multiwarhead tactical nuclear missiles, nuclear-warhead-tipped ICBMs and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), nuclear-powered submarines, and continuing enrichment of high enriched uranium and plutonium pose dire security threats to the USA and its alliances. As for countermeasures against North Korea's WMD, the US-ROK should upgrade their missile defense system based on the 4D principle. The alliance should conduct regular military drills anticipating various possible North Korean preemptive tactical nuclear weapon and missile attacks. Also, the USA and South Korea should make continuing efforts to persuade Kim Jong-un to give up his nuclear weapons and ICBM programs.