“Preventing Nuclear War with North Korea” by Dr. Van Jackson was recently published by Foreign Affairs magazine.

In the article Jackson discusses N. Korea’s fifth and largest missile and nuclear testing.  In the last four years, N. Korea under Kim Jong Un has conducted 35 missile launches and three nuclear tests.

According to Jackson, “North Korea’s nuclear program is now more accelerated, less constrained, and more openly linked to its missile program than at any point in its history. Pyongyang is rushing to deploy a nuclear force that can ensure the regime’s survival by guaranteeing that any attempt to replace it or invade to North Korea leads to nuclear war. But Washington and Seoul are dealing with North Korea as if it were still the 1980s.”

In the author’s opinion, the Korean Peninsula’s best chance at avoiding conflict is to adapt to, not downplay, the requirements of deterrence.    You can read the full article online at: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/north-korea/2016-09-11/preventing-nuclear-war-north-korea

 

A second article, “Why North Korea’s Fifth Nuclear Test is Not Like the Others,” was published by “Beyond Parallel.”  In this OpEd, Jackson again discusses the significance of the recent testing and how under Kim Jong-Un, North Korea seeks an “assured retaliation” posture.    He follows up with recommendations on “what not to do” and how the U.S. can change its deterrence efforts to better adapt to this new environment.

You can read the full OpEd online at: http://beyondparallel.csis.org/why-north-koreas-fifth-nuclear-test-is-not-like-the-others/

 

Dr. Van Jackson is an Associate Professor at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.