UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL

Nuclear Program of North Korea

AMUN

2013

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LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

Delegates,

It gives me immense pleasure to welcome you to UNSC (United Nations Security Council) at

AMUN 2013. The issue that will be discussed is one of the most intriguing one i.e. Nuclear

Programs of North Korea. With each nation being represented by a delegate, each must

take note of the fact that they will be judged upon their debating skills, impeccable

knowledge and diplomatic courtesy. This Background Guide is designed to be the beginning

of your research process, and by no means should encompass the scope of your research.

The agenda of the committee is open-ended but requires focused research in certain key

aspects that have been listed in this guide. The delegates must research thoroughly and

explore the different aspects associated with the agenda. If there is something we want to

really stress on, then it is: Research well! That is the first step towards becoming a good

MUNer.

We encourage you to find how your particular country views these topics, what it is

currently doing to improve the related situation. You should also understand how these

issues are affecting other countries of the world. Your understanding of the topics through

research will be the key to a successful debate that would influence the Resolution writing

process. Also note delegates, there have been many resolutions for this agenda in the past

and it is our committee’s priority to see whether they are being implemented or not.

We look forward to working with you to debate and draft resolutions.

Regards,

Chairperson Vice-President

Ritwik Sharma Sparsh Chawla

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The United Nations Security Council

The Security Council is the executive body of the United Nations whose main responsibility

as laid out by Chapter V of the UN Charter is to maintain international peace and security.

The Security Council is designed to respond quickly and decisively to spontaneous out bursts

of conflicts.

The Security Council comprises of 15 member states, as per Article 23 of the UN Charter: 5

Permanent Members and 10 non- permanent states, which are elected for terms lasting

two years. The five permanent states (collectively known as the P5) are the United States of

America, Russian Federation, French Republic, The People’s Republic of China and the

United Kingdom of Great Britain and the Northern Ireland. The 10 non-permanent

members are Azerbaijan, Australia, Argentina, Guatemala, Republic Of Korea, Morocco,

Pakistan, Luxemburg, Rwanda, Togo.

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For all voting procedures regarding amendments and resolutions, nine affirmative votes are

required, including the collective consent of the P5 nations. Observer states may not vote

on substantial matters. The Security Council enjoys a number of special powers under its

jurisdiction that enable it to successfully accomplish its objectives as per the UN Charter:

Article 25: All member states must accept and carry out the decisions taken by the Council.

Articles 33-38: The Security Council can assess any conflict so as to ascertain whether it

poses a threat to international peace. It may call upon the parties to the conflict to adopt

specific means to bring the dispute to a pacific settlement. These recommendations are

non-binding in nature.

Articles 39-51: The Security Council may determine any threat to international peace and

can suggest a set of provisional measures to ease the tension. Furthermore, it enjoys the

power to impose enforcement measures, such as economic sanctions or collective military

action. These decisions are binding in nature. However, it should also be noted that the

Charter does not preclude the inherent right of self-defence of a nation or a group of

nations (Article 51), nor does it prohibit the existence of regional arrangements among

member states (Chapter VIII), provided that the activities of such agencies are consistent

with the Principles of the UN.

Security Council Resolutions are legally binding if they are made under Chapter VII (Action

with Respect to Threats to the Peace, Breaches of the Peace, and Acts of Aggression) of the

Charter of the United Nations.

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Historical Context

Korea has been a divided country since 1945, when it was liberated from the defeated Japan

after World War II. The Korean War was

fought from June 25, 1950 until an

Armistice Agreement was signed on July 27,

1953. As part of the Armistice, both sides,

including U.S. forces, conduct military

patrols within the Korean Demilitarized

Zone. However paragraph 13(d) of the

Korean Armistice Agreement mandated that

both sides should not introduce new types

of weapons into Korea, so preventing the

introduction of nuclear weapons and

missiles. In August 1957 NSC 5702/2

permitting the deployment of nuclear

weapons in Korea was approved. Paragraph

13(d) of the Korean Armistice Agreement

mandated that both sides should not

introduce new types of weapons into Korea,

so preventing the introduction of nuclear

weapons and missiles. The U.S. decided to

unilaterally abrogate paragraph 13(d),

breaking the Armistice Agreement followed by firing of armed Honest John missiles and

280mm atomic cannons which were deployed to South Korea in January 1958, a year later

adding nuclear armed Matador cruise missiles with the range to reach China and the Soviet

Union.

North Korea denounced the attempt to wreck the armistice agreement and turn Korea into

a U.S. atomic warfare zone. At the U.N. General Assembly in November 1957 the Soviet

Union and Czechoslovakia condemned the decision of the United Nations Command to

introduce nuclear weapons into Korea.

North Korea responded militarily by digging massive underground fortifications resistant to

nuclear attack, and forward deployment of its conventional forces so that the use of nuclear

weapons against it would endanger South Korean and U.S. forces as well. In 1963 North

Korea asked the Soviet Union for help in developing nuclear weapons, but was refused

.However instead the Soviet Union agreed to help North Korea develop a peaceful nuclear

energy program, including the training of nuclear scientists. China later, after its nuclear

tests, similarly rejected North Korean requests for help with developing nuclear weapons.

With the collapse of the Soviet Union, North Korean leaders recognized the need for a new

security relationship with a major power since Pyongyang could not afford to maintain its

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military posture. North Korean leaders therefore sought to forge a new relationship with the

United States, the only power strong enough to step into the vacuum left by the collapse of

the Soviet Union. From the early 1990s, throughout the first nuclear crisis, North Korea

sought a non-aggression pact with the United States. The U.S. rejected North Korean calls

for bilateral talks concerning a non-aggression pact, and stated that only six-party talks that

also include the People's Republic of China, Russia, Japan, and South Korea are acceptable.

North Korea refused to speak in the context of six-party talks, stating that it would only

accept bilateral talks with the United States. This led to a diplomatic stalemate.

North Korea and Non-Proliferation Treaty

North Korea ratified the NPT on December 12, 1985, but gave notice of withdrawal from

the treaty on January 10, 2003 following U.S. allegations that it had started an illegal

enriched uranium weapons program. Article X allows a state to leave the treaty if

"extraordinary events, related to the subject matter of this Treaty, have jeopardized the

supreme interests of its country", giving three months' (ninety days') notice. The state is

required to give reasons for leaving the NPT in this notice. On February 10, 2005, North

Korea publicly declared that it possessed nuclear weapons and pulled out of the six-party

talks hosted by China to find a diplomatic solution to the issue. "We had already taken the

resolute action of pulling out of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and have

manufactured nuclear arms for self-defence to cope with the Bush administration's

evermore undisguised policy to isolate and stifle the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of

Korea]," a North Korean Foreign Ministry statement said regarding the issue. On September

19, 2005, North Korea announced that it would agree to a preliminary accord. Under the

accord, North Korea would scrap all of its existing nuclear weapons and nuclear production

facilities, re-join the NPT.

On 2 October 2006, the North Korean foreign minister announced that his country was

planning to conduct a nuclear test "in the future", although it did not state when. On

October 9, the United States Geological Survey detected a magnitude 4.3 seismic event 70

km (43 mi) north of Kimchaek, North Korea, indicating a nuclear test. The North Korean

government announced shortly afterward that they had completed a successful

underground test of a nuclear fission device. On November 19, 2006, North Korea's Minju

Joson newspaper accused South Korea of building up arms in order to attack the country,

claiming that "the South Korean military is openly clamouring that the development and

introduction of new weapons are to target the North." North Korea accused South Korea of

conspiring with the United States to attack it, an accusation made frequently by the North

and routinely denied by the United States. The United Nations Security Council condemned

the test in Resolution 1874.

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In 2007, reports from Washington suggested that the 2002 CIA report stating that North

Korea was developing an enriched uranium weapons program, which led to North Korea

leaving the NPT, had overstated or misread the intelligence. On the other hand, even apart

from these press allegations, this could have been planted in order to justify the United

States giving up trying to verify the dismantlement of Pyongyang's uranium program in the

face of North Korean intransigence—there remains some information in the public record

indicating the existence of a uranium effort. Quite apart from the fact that North Korean

First Vice-Minister Kang Sok Ju at one point admitted the existence of a uranium enrichment

program, Pakistan's then-President Musharraf revealed that the A.Q. Khan Proliferation

network had provided North Korea with a number of gas centrifuges designed for uranium

enrichment. Additionally, press reports have cited U.S. officials to the effect that evidence

obtained in dismantling Libya's WMD programs points toward North Korea as the source for

Libya's uranium hexafluoride (UF6) – which, if true, would mean that North Korea has a

uranium conversion facility for producing feedstock for centrifuge enrichment.

Past International Action:

The United States persuaded the North

Korean government not to develop

nuclear weapons by offering them

incentives, or promises of economic and

humanitarian aid. The US agreed to

provide oil supplies and to help North

Korea build more powerful, but safer

nuclear power plants. South Korea and

Japan also agreed to provide energy

resources. In return, the government of

North Korea agreed not to develop

nuclear weapons and to let IAEA

inspectors investigate. These promises

became known as the 1994 Agreed Framework. To carry out the Agreed Framework, the

US, South Korea and Japan created the Korean Peninsula Energy Development

Organization (KEDO). This organization arranged the transport of food aid and oil,

implemented energy projects in North Korea, and helped maintain peace and stability in the

region. In the years following the creation of the Agreed Framework, North Korea received

food and oil through KEDO, but the government complained that KEDO was purposefully

delaying the construction of nuclear power plants.

By 2002, the Agreed Framework started to break down. North Korea revealed it was running

a uranium-enrichment program, needed for the development of nuclear weapons. KEDO

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responded by stopping heavy-oil shipments. North Korea then announced that it would

reopen nuclear facilities that it had closed under the Agreed Framework

In 2003, the IAEA adopted several resolutions calling for North Korea to comply with

international standards. When North Korea continued to ignore those resolutions, IAEA

referred the situation to the UN Security Council.

The North Korean government demanded to negotiate directly with the United States

government, which the US refused. Instead, the governments of South Korea, North Korea

and the United States, along with Russia, China and Japan, met several times to discuss an

end to North Korea’s nuclear program. These meetings—known as the Six Party Talks—

were repeated over three years without resolution, primarily because of disagreements

between the United States and North Korean governments.

In July of 2005, North Korea tested seven missiles over the Sea of Japan. The United States,

Japan, South Korea and Australia immediately condemned the test as an act of provocation

and South Korea suspended food aid in protest. The Security Council unanimously passed

Resolution 1695 condemning the tests and demanding that North Korea suspend all missiles

launches. North Korea is now the ninth nation known to possess nuclear weapons.

The international community reacted with shock and outrage. The Security Council again

convened and unanimously issued a resolution condemning North Korea’s actions.

Resolution 1718 also imposed sanctions on North Korea, preventing the country from

buying, selling or receiving a range of goods from other nations, and imposing an asset

freeze and travel ban on officials related to the nuclear weapons program.

In July 2007, North Korea opened its borders for IAEA inspectors. Soon after, North Korea

and South Korea signed an 8-point peace agreement on issues of permanent peace,

economic cooperation and renewed travel between the countries. This was the second step

of what was outlined in the Six-Party Talks in February 2007, and was an indication of

thawing of relations between North Korea and the countries involved in the Six Party Talks.

On October 11, 2008, the US removed North Korea from its list of states that sponsor

terrorism. In January 2009, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, visited North Korea and

offered to normalize economic ties if they agreed to abandon their nuclear program. Days

later, however, North Korea confirmed that they were preparing to test the launch of a

ballistic missile believed to be capable of reaching the United States, calling it a ‘scientific

satellite’.

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International Response to the events.

USA

After several announcement of DPRK,

the U.S condemned the announcements

as "highly provocative" and a direct

violation of Pyongyang's international

obligations. The US State Department

noted that U.N Security Council

Resolutions 1718 and 1874 banned

launches using ballistic missile

technology. It added that the planned

launch would pose a threat to regional

security and be inconsistent with

Pyongyang's recent undertaking to

refrain from long-range missile launches.

The launch, even though it was a failure,

called into serious question whether the

U.S. would still be willing to provide the

food aid program it had promised the

North if it returned to negotiations and

refrained from provocative actions such as this.

Following Kim Jong-il's death on 17 December 2011, his son Kim Jong-un inherited the

Korean regime. The latter announced on 29 February 2012 that North Korea would freeze

nuclear tests, long-range missile launches, and uranium enrichment at its Yongbyon plant. In

addition, the new leader invited international nuclear inspectors who were ejected in 2009.

After the Launch of Bright Star-3

White House spokesman Jay Carney said "Despite the failure of its attempted missile

launch, North Korea’s provocative action threatens regional security, violates international

law and contravenes its own recent commitments" and that "While this action is not

surprising given North Korea’s pattern of aggressive behaviour, any missile activity by North

Korea is of concern to the international community". Russia considers Pyongyang's decision

to launch a scientific rocket to place a satellite in earth orbit as disregarding UN Security

Council resolutions. The North American Aerospace Defence Command said the first stage

fell into the sea west of South Korea, and the remainder was deemed to have failed.

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Food Aid

Since 1996, the United States has sent just over 2 million metric tons (MT) of food

assistance, worth about $700 million, to help North Korea alleviate chronic, massive food

shortages that began in the early 1990s. A severe famine in the mid-1990s killed an

estimated 600,000-2 million North Koreans. Over 90% of U.S. food assistance to Pyongyang

has been channelled through the U.N. World Food Program (WFP), which has sent over 3.7

million metric tons (MT) of food to the DPRK since 1996. The U.S. is by far the largest

cumulative contributor to the WFP’s North Korea appeals. However, its share of the WFP’s

annual donations to North Korea has fallen markedly since 2002, and was suspended

altogether in March 2009 due to

straining ties between the two nations as a result of North Korea's refusal to return to the

six party talks until a peace agreement was reached with South Korea and the United States

and United Nation sanctions were lifted; the DPRK has additionally stated it does not intend

on ending its nuclear weapon program in exchange for aid, which was not their intention for

the program according to Kim Jong-Il's regime, as they allege they began their nuclear

weapons creation to maintain security in the face of an American threat. The United States

has hinted at restarting their distribution of food aid, which ceased after the North Korean

government refused to provide visas for Korean-speaking population. Prior to its cessation,

the program had contributed 169,000 tons of food aid between May 2008 and March 2009.

China

Following DPRK’s announcement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said in a

press briefing, "The Chinese side has taken note of the information released by the DPRK".

He called on all parties concerned to play constructive roles saying "To maintain the peace

and stability of the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia is not only in the common interests

of all sides concerned, but also the shared aspiration of the international community."

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, expressed concern about the launch and said Beijing

hoped for "restrained actions by the corresponding sides with the aim of preserving stability

on the peninsula". Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Liu Weimin, has also stated that

China did not receive specific notification before the launch of Bright-star 3, and declared

that China did not send any observers to witness the launch.

Arms Embargo Controversy – June 2009

Despite an embargo restricting North Korea's sale of weapons and limiting their imports to

small arms only, three shipments departing from the DPRK have been intercepted (legally

under the UN resolution authorizing the inspection of any-sized ship suspected of containing

North Korean-manufactured weapons) by a plethora of nations. The most recent of these

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involved two containers, alleged to be filled with bulldozers, of T-54 & T-55 tank parts and

various sorts of military equipment being loaded behind sacks of rice in a ship bound for the

Congo Republic in the Chinese port of Dalian; these were discovered by South Africa. The

People's Republic of China denies any involvement in the acts violating international

sanctions, which are said to have originated in the Chinese port and been shipped via a

French container vessel to Malaysia to be transferred.

Russian Federation

Russia expressed serious concern over North Korea's plan to launch a satellite and urged

Pyongyang not to create hurdles to the revival of six-nation talks over its nuclear

programme. A statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry said "We call on

Pyongyang not to put itself in opposition to the international community, to refrain from

actions that increase tension in the region and create additional complications for the re-

launch of six-sided negotiations about the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula".

On 4 April, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said "There should be no place for

emotions and we must not instigate a new loop of confrontation" and that the world’s

reaction to the launch should be "gauged". He added, "We are deeply concerned with such

plans and believe that they confront U.N Security Council resolutions".

On 10 April Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said Russia considers

Pyongyang's decision to launch a scientific rocket to place a satellite in earth orbit as

disregarding UN Security Council resolutions. Armed Forces spokesman said Interfax news

agency "In case of rejection of North Korea's rocket off course and a threat of falling into

Russian territory, Russian Aerospace Defence Forces are ready to shoot down the missile".

He said the attention of the Russian military in the North Korean missile launch was due to

the fact that the trajectory of a missile could pass close to the Russian Federation, and in

case of rejection of the rocket can fall on the Kuril Islands.

The government of Russia criticized North Korea for its rocket launch on Friday, saying that

Pyongyang had defied the U.N. Security Council and that neighbouring powers all opposed

it. In a joint news conference, foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said the U.N. Security Council

must respond to the North Korean launch, which Russia and other nations say violated

council sanctions, but suggested trade restrictions or military threats would be

counterproductive.

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Alexander Zheleznyakov from the Russian Academy of Cosmonautics Tsiolkovsky said the

failure occurred due to North Korea's primitive missile technology. He said, "I think it all

happened because of the imperfections of the North Korean technology. I have, a few

weeks before the launch, suggested that the launch would fail. In the DPRK, level of missile

development is low, which, of course, could affect to this situation. Failure was predictable

and predetermined".

Food Aid and Trade

Russia contributed aid to the DPRK in the past in

various forms, including supplying them grain(

Vorontsov 12). Russia’s trade with the DPRK

reached its peak in the 1980s and significantly

decreased in the 1990s following the collapse of

the Soviet Union, but has grown again in the

new millennium, reaching exports of US$168.7

million in the first 9 months of 2005, and US$3.6

million in imports; critics of Pyongyang-Moscow

relations have asserted the economic weakness

of Russia and its lacklustre role in the North Korean economy have allowed its influence to

wane. Products exported by Russia to North Korea include oil products (63%), steel products

and ferrous metals (8%), and machinery and equipment (8%). There is a greater level of

regional cooperation involving Russian Far-Eastern factories and provinces employing North

Korean workers and receiving tourists from that country, with expansion in cooperation in

construction and agriculture.

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United Kingdoms of Great Britain

After the announcement made by DPRK, a Foreign Office spokesperson of the UK said: "We

have seen the North Korean official government announcement that it plans to launch a

satellite between 12 and 16 April. We are deeply concerned that such a launch would

undermine North Korea’s recent efforts to engage with the international community. We

urge the North Korean Government to abide by its obligations under UN Security Council

Resolutions 1718 and 1874."

Foreign Secretary William Hague said on April 13th after the launch, "I am deeply concerned

about the DPRK’s satellite launch today. Such a launch uses ballistic missile technology and,

as such, is a clear violation of UNSCR 1874. Later today the Permanent Under-Secretary,

Simon Fraser, will summon the DPRK Ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

and make clear that the DPRK can expect a strong response from the international

community if it continues to develop its missile and nuclear capabilities. I strongly urge the

DPRK to suspend all missile and nuclear-related activity and to commit to re-engaging with

the international community.

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Questions to consider when formulating a resolution:

1. How should North Korea be persuaded to end its nuclear program? What

methods of persuasion should be used?

2. Should food aid continue in North Korea? What can be done to help North Korea

to become self-sustaining and encourage it to invest in its own legitimate

economy and agriculture industry?

3. Under what circumstances should force be used to resolve this conflict?

4. What type of action regarding North Korea does your country support?

5. Does your country have a history of trade or economic relationships with North

Korea?

6. Has your country provided aid, or supported the provision of aid, to North Korea?

Has your country issued sanctions against North Korea?

7. What has the Security Council previously done to deal with the situation, what are

they currently doing, and has your country supported their actions?

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References

[1]"North Korea's planned rocket launch raises missile concerns".

News.monstersandcritics.com. 16 March 2012.

[2] "White House Blasts N.Korea Rocket Launch". RIA Novosi. 13 April 2012.

[3]"China "takes note of" DPRK's satellite launch". Sina. 16 March 2012.

[4] http://news.hexun.com/2012-04-14/140395403.html

[5]"Ryabkov: Reaction to N.Korea Rocket Launch Should be Gauged". RIA Novosti. 4 April

2012.

[6] "Russia says N.Korea launch contradicts U.N. council". Reuters.com.

[7] "Foreign Office "deeply concerned" at the North Korean government announcement that

it plans to launch a satellite." Foreign and Commonwealth Office. 17 March 2012.

[8] "Foreign Secretary concerned by North Korea satellite launch"Foreign and

Commonwealth Office. 13 April 2012

[9] http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-

[10] http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-

CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/NKorea%20SRES%201718.pdf