Application of Smart Power Strategy to Construct a More Effective Strategy to Denuclearize North Korea

The use of sanctions to coerce Pyongyang into abandoning its nuclear weapons and related programs is not working. North Korea continues to survive and expands its nuclear and missile capabilities. It is time for the US to construct a more successful North Korea strategy by applying a smart power strategy before the North Koreans can operationalize their nuclear ICBMs within the next several years. If and when that occurs, the US will inevitably consider the use of force to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue, but that will be too costly for the US and its allies. Washington must do all it can to avoid another war on the Asian mainland. The only practical uses of force are as defensive and enhanced deterrence measures to protect the US and its allies against North Korean nuclear and conventional provocations. Instead, the US should call for an immediate freeze of North Korea＇s nuclear and missile programs and demonstrate its willingness to co-exist with Pyongyang, Only by accepting co-existence with Pyongyang, Washington has an opportunity to persuade Beijing and Moscow to join its efforts with Seoul and Tokyo to denuclearize North Korea. It is time to engage North Korea by accepting it as it is and exercising strategic patience of a different kind to achieve US aims.

DPRK Nuclear Issue:Non-proliferation or Strategic Game?

Out of concern over nuclear weapons proliferation,the worry over DPRK nuclear testing is overwrought.The author sees the situation from the viewpoint of a geopolitical game in a non-proliferation mask.To attempt a geopolitical game using non-proliferation is wrongly directed,but this is the main reason the issue fluctuates and deadlocks occasionally.To solve the situation once and for all,the international community needs to recognize its geopolitical nature and cure the problem accordingly.Since DPRK leader Kim Jong-Un crossed the border April 27 to meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in,the destiny of the Korean Peninsula is,as it should be,in the hands of the Koreans,not Chinese or Americans.

Iranian Nuclear Program and Turkey＇s Nuclear Nonproliferation Policy

Turkey is a member of several international nonproliferation treaties and organizations. It has supported to prevent proliferation of nuclear weapons and furthermore suggested to establish a nuclear-weapon free zone in the Middle East. In contrast to its nonproliferation policies, it is hosting US tactical nuclear warheads in its own territory. In addition, Turkey＇s positive stance towards Iranian nuclear program was questioned. Despite the West＇s warnings and concerns over the Iranian nuclear program, Turkey has supported Iran＇s right to have a peaceful nuclear program as suggested in the Nonproliferation Treaty. It also opposed to further economic sanctions and military intervention against Iran and endorsed diplomatic solution as the only viable option for convincing Iran to respond fully to the concerns of the international community. Therefore, Turkey welcomed the Geneva Agreement reached by Iran and P5＋l. This article argues that the current uncertainties about the Geneva Accord and the comprehensive treaty necessitates Turkey to revise its nonproliferation policies, which should be based on the norm of nonproliferation, rather than the non-use and deterrence norms, in order to suggest long-term and permanent solution to the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Winter Olympics Diplomacy,South Korea-DPRK Contacts and US-DPRK Summit:Historic Changes for Korean Peninsula?

The ⅩⅩⅢ Olympic Winter Games in South Korea lit a flame for the dramatic development of inter-Korean relations. Rapid changes in the geopolitical situation on the peninsula since the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang have included high-level DPRK talks with South Korea, China and the United States. President Xi Jinping＇ s meetings with DPRK leader Kim Jong-un in Beijing and Dalian, and the upcoming Trump-Kim summit on June 12 are all about timing. A new diplomacy on DPRK＇ s part has unfolded out of the extemal pressure the DPRK experienced from the US, China and the international community but also out of the difficulties the DPRK faces in advancing its nuclear options. Unless the DPRK makes substantial concessions, the US will not alter policy. Real success means historic change, not only a reunion of families and an official end to the Korean War, but also a potential shift in the Asian power structure. There are diverse possibilities and much at stake. The fundamental way forward is restarting Six Party Talks and regional mechanism.