North Korea and Nuclear Weapons (Winter 2007)

In February 2005, North Korea declared that it had nuclear weapons, and that it would no longer participate in the six-party talks that were designed to end North Korea's nuclear program. The announcement marked North Korea's first public declaration that it possesses nuclear weapons.

In October 2006 North Korea backed up its claim that is it has nuclear weapons with its declaration that it had exploded a nuclear warhead. After careful review, it was determined that this claim was true. The ambiguity about the status of North Korea's nuclear program is over; they have nuclear weapons and want the world to know it. At the end of the month, the North Koreans agreed to return to the six-party talks. Six-party talks resumed in December 2006.

This lesson, which explores a range of contrasting policy options, has been developed by the Choices Program at Brown University's Watson Institute for International Studies. It is designed to help teachers to engage their students in consideration of this important international issue.

The Choices Program has been built on a belief in the responsibility--not just the right--of all citizens in a democracy to voice their opinions and be heard. Inherent in this belief is a commitment to informed, reasoned, and respectful dialogue among people who hold differing perspectives on the issues of the day.

As we weigh our policy options, students should consider some fundamental questions.

What are the consequences for the United States if North Korea has nuclear weapons?
What are the consequences for the world?
Why does North Korea want nuclear weapons?
What role do North Korea's neighbors have in addressing this issue?
What should U.S. policy be toward North Korea? Toward its neighbors?
What role should the United States play in the world today?

This lesson includes:

Lesson Plan: A suggested one-two day lesson plan.

Policy Options: The format of alternative policy directions that appears at the heart of every Choices curriculum unit is designed to help students to think about divergent policy alternatives, each driven by different underlying values, each with merits and tradeoffs. We have applied this approach to the current situation with North Korea.

Background Reading: North Korea and Nuclear Weapons offers a brief summary of U.S. - North Korean relations from the close of World War II to the present.

Additional Resources from the Choices Program

The Challenge of Nuclear Weapons is a one-week curriculum unit that introduces students to the history of nuclear weapons and the concept of deterrence. It examines arguments for and against nuclear weapons and looks at three challenges facing us today: the leftover arsenals of the Cold War, proliferation, and the threat of nuclear terrorism.

Mapping the Nuclear World is an online lesson on the status of nuclear weapons today.

Scholars Onine resources for The Challenge of Nuclear Weapons provide video taped interviews with researchers designed for use in classrooms, for homework, and for professional development.

Online Survey: Nuclear Weapons Policy - What do you think? provides an opportunity for students to make their views on nuclear weapons known.

Supplemental Materials for The Challenge of Nuclear Weapons provides additional resources relevant to this topic.

Additional Online Resources

1994 Agreed Framework The Arms Control Association web site offers a complete text of the 1994 Agreed Framework.

BBC News Online analyzes the North Korean nuclear threat in Q&A: North Korea's Nuclear Threat. This site includes many useful links to news and analysis on other aspects of the North Korean situation.

The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer (PBS) has posted North Korea: Nuclear Standoff. This site includes links to a series of background pieces on the subject.

NOTE
This online lesson is an excellent entrée into the larger question of America's role in the world. The U.S. Role in a Changing World is a one-week curriculum unit that provides a substantive look at this larger question. The online student ballot on this topic provides an avenue for students to express their views after they have considered a range of perspectives.

Let us hear from you: If you join our mailing list, we will notify you via email when new Choices curriculum units or Teaching with the News mini-units are developed.

Review a list of Choices publications: In addition to its online resources, the Choices Program publishes a wide range of curriculum units on historical turning points and current issues. All published units include extensive background readings and accompanying lesson plans. Ordering is available online.