Security Dilemma's Shadow: Historical Analysis of North Korea's Nuclear Motivations during the 1950s– 1960s

Purpose-This article explores the motivation driving the North Korean leaderships pursuit of nuclear development during the 1950s and 1960s, employing the security dilemma as a theoretical framework. Design, Methodology, Approach-The study examines historical evidence from the early Kim Il-Sung era...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNorth Korean review Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 87 - 103
Main Author Jo, Wooyun
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Jefferson McFarland & Company, Inc 01.04.2024
Subjects
Anglophones
Aspiration
Historical analysis
Historical text analysis
International relations
Korean language
Leadership
Literary criticism
Military weapons
Motivation
Nuclear weapons
Policy making
Power
Realism
Regional security
South Korea
United States > US
Korean Peninsula
Ukraine
North Korea
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Summary:Purpose-This article explores the motivation driving the North Korean leaderships pursuit of nuclear development during the 1950s and 1960s, employing the security dilemma as a theoretical framework. Design, Methodology, Approach-The study examines historical evidence from the early Kim Il-Sung era to illuminate the origins of Pyongyangs nuclear ambitions. The primary focus lies in elucidating the leaderships impetus for seeking nuclear armament in relation to the US-South Korea Alliance. Methodologically, the article places emphasis on investigating North Korean historical documents. Findings-The study concludes that the motivation behind North Koreas pursuit of nuclear weapons cannot be attributed to a single factor, but the security dilemma stemming from the US-South Korea Alliance played a significant role in shaping Pyongyangs nuclear ambitions. Practical Implications-Understanding the complex underpinnings of North Koreas nuclear development holds crucial implications for resolving the security dilemma in the region. Policymakers should consider the historical context and motivations when dealing with Pyongyangs nuclear weapons. Originality, Value-This article contributes to the existing literature by highlighting the significance of primary documents from North Korean sources. The introduction of these documents to Anglophone literature with translation will provide an alternative empirical perspective on early-stage Pyongyangs nuclear ambitions.
ISSN:1551-2789
1941-2886
DOI:10.2307/NKR.20.1.87