North Korea’s defiant launch of a long-range ballistic missile, has given President Obama his first major security 
crisis. As many of us watched the news to see how Obama would react to this diplomatic challenge, across the ocean some of our allies provided their own analysis of the situation. One particular contact – Dr. In-Young Kim – gave us a sneak peak of his paper that he will be presenting at the Heritage Resource Bank. Dr. Kim is a professor of Political Science at Hallym University in South Korea, and has a vast amount of experience studying the security challenges of the Korean peninsula. Here is an excerpt from his paper, which he has kindly allowed us to share with everyone:
North Korean’s missile launch holds multi-purpose cards, as follows. First, it is a bargaining card for the Obama Administration. Second, it is a threatening card for South Korea and Japan. Third, it is a demonstrating card for future missile customers. Fourth, it is a strengthening card for its domestic power-grip. What, then, are the main grounds for the missile launch? First, North Korea expects that nuclear and missile capabilities are too important to be ignored by the US. Second, it is time for Kim Jong-il, the North Korean leader, to dispel worries about his weak health and push North Koreans into a new stage of mobilization.
Heritage has also written a piece, which has clear policy recommendations for a US response to the recent rocket launch. If you are interested in hearing more from Prof. Kim, or about Missile Defense in general be sure to register for the Heritage Resource Bank, as there will be panels on both topics.
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