Social Origins of Nuclear Policy: A Niebuhrian Dilemma of the US Policies toward North Korea

U.S. deals with North Korea have not been smooth. For a less-than-medium power like North Korea, the United States has had to employ too wide a scope of policies. In this study, the fluctuating U.S. policies are interpreted to be normatively driven. Societal indecisions about the intention of North Korea with its nuclear capability had the policymakers widely swing between containment and engagement. In Reinhold Niebuhr's term, relative justice of world politics in the nuclear age took a coherent policy posture away from the United States, leaving only relatively acceptable options available over such controversial issues as sovereignty and national security of North Korea. The normative struggles are examined in the history of U.S. North Korean relations.