Introduction

Abstract

At the time of writing, over a year has passed since Kim Jong Un succeeded his late father, Kim Jong Il, in December 2011. There had been expectations that the Swiss-educated new leader might want to distinguish himself as a more modern ruler than his father and grandfather.¹ However, North Korea has ratcheted up tensions by conducting missile and nuclear tests and threatening to launch what it has called a preemptive nuclear strike against the United States and South Korea. The most recent wave of threats between December 2012 and April 2013 has been indicative of North Korea’s boldness in escalating tension toward a possible military confrontation or a calculated diplomatic maneuver. Since the long-range rocket launch in December 2012 and the third nuclear test in February 2013, the international community has imposed broad sanctions on North Korea and continued to strengthen and expand the scope of actions. In March 2013, United Nations Security Council Resolution 2094 amplified the arms embargo and increased financial pressure. Even China came on board with stepped-up restrictions in April 2013. North Korea revised its constitution during a parliamentary session on April 13, 2012 and proclaimed its status as a nuclear power. The Workers’ Party of Korea (KWP) Central Committee Plenary Meeting in March 2013 adopted a new policy line of parallel economic construction and nuclear weapons development.