Faculty perspectives on North Korean crisis differ

Military tension is rising on the Korean peninsula as the U.S. military reports it may order 2,900 soldiers to remain in South Korea an extra six months. \nTension has been high between the U.S. and North Korea since October when North Korea announced possession of a second nuclear weapons program, which is in direct violation of the 1994 Nonproliferation Treaty.\nAs the crisis in North Korea escalates, IU professors who are considered experts on U.S. relations with Korea expressed their views about the conflict.\nMichael E. Robinson, a professor of East Asian languages and cultures, said he does not agree with how the Bush administration is dealing with North Korea. \n"They have overturned what was becoming a successful policy in the Clinton years," Robinson said. \nRobinson said Bush's reference to North Korea as an "axis of evil" in his 2002 State of the Union Address played into the worst paranoia of the North Koreans.\nHowever, Heejoon Kang, a native of South Korea and professor of business economics and public policy, said he agrees with the Bush administration's belief that North Korea's behavior is unacceptable.\n"I think North Korea is desperate because their economy has not been growing the last 10 years," Kang said. "This is their plea for help."\nThe threat posed by North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has been compared to the threat extended from Iraq.\n"I think North Korea is a bigger threat because they are farther along with building bombs than Iraq," Robinson said. "Iraq just looks more aggressive because of its history."\nKang said North Korea is not such a big threat.\n"I don't think North Korea is such a big threat because they didn't have to reveal they were building nuclear weapons," Kang said.\nSPEA professor Roy W. Shin, also a native of South Korea, said the threats from North Korea and Iraq are equal, but the end result is different.\n"The difference between North Korea and Iraq is the end result: We are looking to modify the belligerent behavior of North Korea, but we are seeking a regime change in Iraq," Shin said.\nShin discussed three policy options the United States is currently considering: U.S. military action against nuclear installations, tightening economic sanctions in North Korea and encouraging Japan and South Korea to also become nuclear.\nRobinson, Kang and Shin all said the most important action the U.S. needs to take right now is dialogue. \n"The talking is not very costly," Kang said. "Whether we talk or not, they still have the weapons"