Chip's Current Event

"North Korea's Test"

At some point from April 4 to April 8, the North Korean government plans to launch a rocket to place a satellite in orbit as they have claimed for weeks.  Or so they say.  Many, including the United States, believe that North Korea is actually testing a long-range missile and certain precautions have been taken to that effect.  Japan has ordered its military to destroy the missile if the launch fails and begins to endanger any of its territory.  The U.S. currently has two ships near the Korean coast that have been specially designed to intercept missiles, but they will only do so if there is imminent danger to American soil.  In addition, North Korea has threatened the United Nations Security Council with “strong steps” if the council reprimands it for the launch.  China, North Korea’s chief supplier of oil, needs to place more pressure on the country in order to achieve any progress.  In 2005, North Korea agreed to shut down the reactor at Yongbyon and to get rid of all bomb-making programs.  However, it tested a nuclear device and a long-range missile in 2006, causing the Security Council to impose sanctions that were never fully carried out.  If there is indeed a launch of a missile in the coming days, against the conditions imposed by the Security Council, there has to be a unified response if there is a hope of ending North Korea’s nuclear program.

This editorial is especially relevant to our discussion regarding the ethical implications of nuclear weapons, and helps to expand the discussion into our current global politics. Hopefully this will be a nice segue into the atomic bomb conversation on Friday.

Is the United States obligated to play an active role in the dismantlement of the North Korea nuclear program, or should we allow the Koreans to govern their own country as they see fit? 

"North Korea's Test," The New York Times 31 March 2009. 1 Apr 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/01/opinion/01wed1.html?scp=7&sq=nuclear&st=cse