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| DPRK Leader: Kim Jong-un (File Photo) |
By Andy Morimoto
We can be incensed by North Korean bellicosity, but we shouldn’t be surprised.
North Korea’s political behavior often seems as inscrutable as it is hostile. From its incessant threats and its December hack into Sony Entertainment, to its recent offer to stop nuclear tests, North Korea’s actions always manage to create confusion and consternation amongst U.S. analysts and policymakers. Pyongyang’s latest round of hostility has sparked a predictable debate over how to best respond, with some calling for more sanctions, others calling for more diplomatic engagement, and still others making the case for full-on regime change. But a preoccupation with the question of how to punish or manage North Korea has led us to neglect a more fundamental question: What causes North Korea to be so erratic, hostile and bizarre, so frequently?
Let’s first consider a point that is frequently – and unfortunately – ignored: North Korea’s actions are not irrational. Notwithstanding a popular perception to the contrary, behind all the strangeness and bellicosity of the regime, there is a logic that underpins its behavior. And the first step in understanding this logic is appreciating North Korea’s strategic interests.
Read the full story at The Diplomat