What Efforts Can External Parties Take to Prevent the Proliferation of Nuclear Materials?

As North Korea steps up nuclear testing in the recent years, the fears of nuclear materials proliferating beyond the control of state-level actors have reemerged.  Not since the mid-2000s, when al-Qaeda sought to acquire nuclear weapons from Pakistan (primarily via its nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan) has the worry of nuclear proliferation been so realistic, probable, and risky.  The situation in North Korea calls for redoubled efforts to ensure that all the incentives align to prevent spread of nuclear materials. 

For the US in particular, as the primary target of North Korea, Iran, various Islamic extremist organizations, and other rogue international actors, there needs to be concrete actions to prevent a large number of unidentified sources having access to the materials for weaponizing.  Unfortunately, current strategy remains highly reactionary, whereby the US (and other national) governments passively respond to rumors and information on the current progress of nuclear developments, with proactively seeking to limit their spread short of outright military conflict. 

Indeed, the most significant aspect of the nonproliferation efforts should not be how to stop nuclear materials from entering the hands of anti-American groups, but how to make these groups realize that it is not in their interests to arm and use nuclear weaponry. Their change in attitude can be assisted by the US in the following two ways. First, the development of economy, in short-term, will make the anti-American nations, such as North Korea and Iran, reluctant in using brinkmanship to achieve their interests, much less launch nuclear devices at US.

The idea is to increase the costs for these nations from potential American (conventional or nuclear) retaliation. The wealth gained from economic development would change the situation where these nations have nothing to lose in attacking the US.  To do so, not only does the US must normalize the diplomatic relations and end sanctions, the government must provide economic aid and encourage investment in these nations. The affluence propelled by American investment should make the countries’ elites hesitant in pursuit of brinkmanship for fear of economic sanctions.

Even if the national governments and political leadership remains determined to oppose America despite economic damages, its citizens would not tolerate the threat of taking away their newly acquired wealth, pushing their leaders toward diplomacy and compromise. At the same time, if military confrontation does occur, the US can simply freeze its investments to easily bring these nations to their knees.  Second, a change in the image of US among the international community and the people of nations/organizations generally characterized as “anti-American”.

To do so, the US government must stop propagandistic demonizing of these nations/organizations and apologize. Previous actions by the US government, such as President Bush’s name-calling of “Axis of Evil” not only target the “rogue” governments of North Korea and Iran, but also unknowingly imply a verbal attack on the general population as well. Names such as “Axis of Evil” will only bind the people and governments of these nations together in an alliance united by common hatred of the condescending and falsely righteous views of the US government.

The US, along with other countries, must also take an even more active role in humanitarian aid effort in these nations. The failure of the US government to respond to the great famine in North Korea during the 1990’s, refusing to halt the economic sanctions and sending foodstuffs and basic living needs, reinforced the propaganda of the North Korean government and further exaggerated the common people’s hatred for the Americans. The US must act more decisively to show that it does sympathize with the suffering of the people, no matter from which political entity.

When the people are content with their lives as what they are, improved by the wealth brought by American investment and humanitarian aid, and their nationalistic pride satisfied by an American apology, the hardline anti-Americans will be left isolated and unpopular. At this point, the government will use the available nuclear material in nuclear power plants, both to please its citizenry and to recognize that to possess nuclear weapons can cause more unnecessary conflicts than fulfillment of national interests.