North Korea

Key Issues

A major point of contention between North Korea and the United States has been annual US-South Korea joint military drills. On February 27, 2014, North Korea launched four short-range SCUD missiles from its southeastern coast into the sea in objection to joint military drills being held by the US and South Korea. North Korea had been testing and launching short-range missiles since 2004. Subsequent tests occurred from 2005-2007, as well as 2009 and 2013. (https://www.nknews.org/2014/02/north-korea-launches-four-short-range-missiles-into-east-sea/) On March 26, 2014, North Korea fired another two medium-range ballistic Rodong missiles into the sea as the US convened talks with Japan and South Korea in The Hague. (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-north-korea-missiles/obama-brokers-japan-south-korea-talks-as-pyongyang-fires-missiles-idUSBREA2O1XM20140326) On March 31, North Korea conducted a live fire drill off its west coast. (https://twitter.com/cnbcSri/status/450476894639509504)

In its March 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review, the US Department of Defense cited North Korea as a growing threat to the United States due to its development of long range missiles and nuclear weapons. (https://fortunascorner.com/2014/03/05/dodqdr-says-north-korea-poses-growing-threat/)

Relevant History

The Role of Russia

Russia has long played a role on the Korean Peninsula. During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, Russia fought unsuccessfully to keep Korea from falling under Japan’s rule and control. During as well as after the Korean War, Russia supported the communist North against the US-allied South. After the breakdown of the Soviet Union, Russia shifted sides in favor of the South, reverting back to a more neutral stance when Putin assumed power in 2000. (https://www.nknews.org/2014/04/how-an-assertive-russia-views-the-korean-peninsula/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter )

Related Blog Entries

References

O'Carroll, Chad. "North Korea launches four short-range missiles from East Coast," NK News, February 27, 2014. (https://www.nknews.org/2014/02/north-korea-launches-four-short-range-missiles-into-east-sea/) 

Escritt, Thomas, and Sieg, Linda. “Obama brokers Japan, South Korea talks as Pyongyang fires missiles,” Reuters, March 26, 2014. (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-north-korea-missiles/obama-brokers-japan-south-korea-talks-as-pyongyang-fires-missiles-idUSBREA2O1XM20140326)

Jegarajah, Sri, March 31, 2014. (https://twitter.com/cnbcSri/status/450476894639509504)

“DOD/QDR says North Korea poses ‘growing’threat,” Fortuna’s Corner, March 5, 2014. (https://fortunascorner.com/2014/03/05/dodqdr-says-north-korea-poses-growing-threat/)

York, Rob, and Sugarman, Joseph. “How an assertive Russia views the Korean Peninsula,” NK News, April 18, 2014. (https://www.nknews.org/2014/04/how-an-assertive-russia-views-the-korean-peninsula/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter )