North Korean Nuclear Weapon and Reunification of the Korean Peninsula

This book explains the origin and historical development of North Korean nuclear weapon dated from the aftermath of World War II. The story of North Korea's nuclear program began when the United States dropped atomic bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 which led to Japan's immediate defeat. Surprised by the speed of Japan's surrender, North Korea's founding leader Kim Il-sung vowed to secure nuclear capability to avoid suffering the fate of its eastern neighbor. Based on the author's extensive experience in the academia, government, and intelligence circles, the book traces how the nuclear program has evolved since and explores wide-ranging issues including the positive function of nuclear weapon in Pyongyang's local politics, the history of negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang, the prospects of denuclearization in the Korean Peninsula, the diplomatic and military options presented to US President Donald Trump in dealing with the nuclear threat, and the future scenarios of the North Korean regime and the possibilities of a reunified Korea.

With the nuclear weapon crisis likely to persist in the foreseeable time, is it feasible for South Korea to achieve reunification in the Korean Peninsula? Will the six-party members like the US, China, Russia and Japan agree with reunification without denuclearization? Can the issues of nuclear weapon and unification be settled simultaneously in the future? The book seeks to address these questions and more.
Contents: The Beginning and Progress of North Korea's Nuclear DevelopmentNorth Korea's Nuclear Quest and ComplexityAfter the Fifth and Sixth Nuclear Tests of DPRK, the Situation in Northeast Asia and the US ResponseThe US Denuclearization Policy toward North Korea: Trump's Choices — Diplomacy and Military OptionsDiplomatic Negotiation between US and DPRK: SummitDenuclearization and Financial IssuesDPRK's Nuclear Weapon and Geopolitical Dynamics in East AsiaContingency and Determinants of Stabilization Strategy in North KoreaUnification of Korean Peninsula: Is It Possible?
Readership: Scholars, undergraduate students, policy makers and those interested in Korean studies, international relations and East Asian politics.North Korean Nuclear Weapon;The Six-Party Talks;Denuclearization;Reunification of the Korean Peninsula0Key Features:Future scenarios pertaining to denuclearization and reunification of the Korean Peninsula are projected for the first timeWide-ranging issues are tackled by linkage analysisDiscussions are grounded with the author's theoretical and practical experiences in academia, government and intelligence services on North Korea and China