Inside North Korea: Fire and Fury (Full Episode) | SPECIAL | National Geographic

Key Concepts

• Korean War & Division at the 38th Parallel
• Juche Ideology (Self-Reliance)
• Kim Dynasty (Kim Il-Sung, Kim Jong-Il, Kim Jong-Un)
• Nuclear Proliferation & Ballistic Missile Development
• Agreed Framework (1994)
• Six-Party Talks
• Denuclearization
• US-North Korea Relations
• Sanctions
• Diplomacy & Negotiation

Origins of the North Korean State and the Korean War

• Post-WWII Division: After World War II, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel, with the Soviet Union backing the North and the US backing the South. This arbitrary division led to the formation of two separate nations.
• Kim Il-Sung's Rise: Kim Il-Sung, a revolutionary nationalist, established a unique and isolated dictatorship in North Korea. The military became the foundation of the Kim family's power, dominating all aspects of North Korean society.
• Korean War (1950-1953): Kim Il-Sung's army invaded the South in June 1950, aiming to unify the peninsula. US-led UN forces intervened, resulting in a deadly conflict with immense civilian casualties, particularly in the North (estimated 2 million deaths, 70% civilians).
• Impact of the War: The war fostered a deep-seated hatred of the United States in North Korean society. North Koreans hold a different narrative of the war, believing Kim Il-Sung led his troops to victory against the Americans and South Koreans.
• Exclusionism: North Korea inherited a Korean political culture of keeping foreigners at arm's length, described as exclusionism rather than isolationism.
• Juche Ideology: Kim Il-Sung developed the Juche philosophy, emphasizing self-reliance and rejecting outside influence. This ideology resonated with North Koreans, who had experienced centuries of occupation and invasion.

Economic Development and Military Buildup

• Post-War Modernization: Despite the devastation of the Korean War, North Korea rebuilt and flourished in the post-war era, becoming an urban industrial society.
• Industrialization: The Japanese had initiated industrialization in North Korea in the late 1930s, establishing steel mills, iron factories, and chemical plants.
• Economic Boom: Supported by Stalin, North Korea experienced rapid economic growth with double-digit rates for two decades after the Korean War.
• Military State: The economic boom funded the development of a large military, eventually becoming the fourth largest in the world.
• Low-Intensity Conflict: A low-intensity war continued between the North and South in the 1960s and 70s, marked by incidents like assassination attempts and border skirmishes.
• Pueblo Incident (1968): Kim Il-Sung seized the USS Pueblo, an American spy ship, holding the crew for 11 months until the US signed a document stating they apologize.
• Shooting Down of US Reconnaissance Plane (1969): North Korean MiGs shot down an American naval reconnaissance plane over the Sea of Japan, killing 31 aboard. President Nixon did not retaliate.

Nuclear Ambitions and the Agreed Framework

• Economic Decline: In the 1980s, South Korea's economy surpassed the North's, and the Soviet Union, North Korea's benefactor, began to falter.
• Nuclear Reactor at Yongbyon: Facing economic hardship, North Korea built a nuclear reactor at the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center with Soviet assistance, claiming it was for electricity production.
• Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT): North Korea signed the NPT in 1985, but its commitment to the treaty was questionable.
• Bargaining Chip: Kim Il-Sung viewed nuclear weapons as a bargaining chip with the US.
• 1993 Crisis: North Korea threatened to withdraw from the NPT in March 1993, leading to a crisis during the Clinton administration.
• Jimmy Carter's Intervention: Former President Jimmy Carter traveled to Pyongyang in 1994 to meet with Kim Il-Sung, securing a commitment to freeze the nuclear program.
• Agreed Framework (1994): The Clinton Administration and North Korea signed the Agreed Framework, under which North Korea would freeze its nuclear weapon production in exchange for regular inspections, heavy fuel oil, and the construction of two light-water reactors.
• Missile Test (1998): Kim Jong-Il tested an intermediate-range ballistic missile in 1998.
• Perry Review: President Clinton tasked former Secretary of Defense Bill Perry with reviewing North Korea policy. Perry advocated for engaging with North Korea "as it is."
• Albright's Visit to Pyongyang (2000): Secretary of State Madeleine Albright visited Pyongyang, meeting with Kim Jong-Il and discussing missile limits and currency needs.
• Albright-Jo Agreement: The US and North Korea signed the Albright-Jo Agreement, aiming for normalization of relations and a buyout of North Korea's medium and long-range missiles.

The Bush Administration and the Collapse of Agreements

• Transition of Power: The election of George W. Bush led to a shift in US policy towards North Korea.
• Axis of Evil: President Bush labeled North Korea as part of an "axis of evil," along with Iran and Iraq.
• Collapse of the Agreed Framework: The Bush administration believed Clinton's approach was appeasement and that the agreements were unverifiable.
• Uranium Enrichment Program: The discovery of a secret uranium enrichment program further strained relations.
• Withdrawal from NPT: North Korea withdrew from the NPT, and the Bush administration ceased negotiations for several years.
• Six-Party Talks: China initiated the six-party talks, involving Russia, Japan, South Korea, and the US, to address North Korea's nuclear program.
• First Nuclear Device Test (2006): North Korea exploded its first nuclear device in 2006.
• 2007 Agreement: An agreement was reached in 2007 for North Korea to shut down and seal the Yongbyon reactor and allow inspectors into the country.
• Verification Issues: The agreement ultimately failed due to North Korea's refusal to allow full verification.

Obama's "Strategic Patience" and Kim Jong-Un's Rise

• Obama's Policy: President Obama adopted a policy of "strategic patience," refusing to engage in negotiations for the sake of reaching an agreement that had been reached before.
• Kim Jong-Un Takes Power (2011): Kim Jong-Il died in 2011, and his son, Kim Jong-Un, assumed power.
• Purges and Nuclear Acceleration: Kim Jong-Un consolidated his power through brutal purges and accelerated the nuclear program.
• Provoke and Get Paid: North Korea continued its strategy of provocation to gain American attention and concessions.

Trump's Summit and Current Stalemate

• Trump's Rhetoric: President Trump initially adopted a confrontational approach, using strong rhetoric and threats.
• Singapore Summit (2018): A summit between Kim Jong-Un and President Trump took place in Singapore, but little progress was made on denuclearization.
• Stalled Talks: Talks between the US and North Korea have stalled, while South and North Korea continue to engage in dialogue.

Conclusion

The history of US-North Korea relations is marked by cycles of engagement, agreement, and breakdown. Key factors contributing to the ongoing challenges include differing narratives of the Korean War, the North's Juche ideology and exclusionist tendencies, the Kim dynasty's grip on power, and disagreements over verification and implementation of agreements. The shift in US administrations and policies has also played a significant role in the fluctuating dynamics. Despite periods of progress, the fundamental issues of denuclearization and security guarantees remain unresolved, leaving the Korean Peninsula in a state of precarious stability.