Ends, Ways and Means of Us Policy Towards N. Korea
The ends, ways, and means of US policy towards North Korea
By
Major Shawn Owens
International Security Studies
Lesson 5
9 June 2013
Instructor: Dr. Bruce Bechtol, Jr.
Air Command and Staff College
Distance Learning
Maxwell AFB, AL
“Ends are defined as the strategic outcomes or the end states desired. Ways are defined as the methods, tactics and procedures, practices, and strategies to achieve the ends. Means are defined as the resources required to achieve the ends, such as troops, weapons systems, money, political will and time.”
MG Dennis J. Laich, USAR, Retired
President Obama stated in the 2010 National Security Strategy that his administration “has no greater responsibility than the safety and security of the American people” (Obama, 2010, 4). In order to successfully safeguard and secure America, the administration must have clear foreign policy delineating how it will deal with the various states across the globe that pose potential threats to America. One of these is North Korea. The US policy ends this essay will focus on are denuclearization and the improvement of North Korea’s human rights record.
The Obama Administration inherited a difficult situation with regard to North Korea’s continued attempts to advance its nuclear weapons program. The ends of US policy regarding North Korea’s nuclear weapons program is successful denuclearization of the Korean peninsula (Obama, 2010, 23). President Obama stated in his 2010 National Security Strategy, “if they [North Korea] ignore their international obligations, we will pursue multiple means to increase their isolation and bring them into compliance” (Ibid, 24). During his first term, President Obama chose to continue the Bush Administration’s policy of direct, bilateral diplomacy in effort to reduce North Korea’s nuclear threat (Klingner, 2009, 1). This effort included enforcement of existing sanctions, expansion of the Proliferation Security Initiative and demanding North Korean
By
Major Shawn Owens
International Security Studies
Lesson 5
9 June 2013
Instructor: Dr. Bruce Bechtol, Jr.
Air Command and Staff College
Distance Learning
Maxwell AFB, AL
“Ends are defined as the strategic outcomes or the end states desired. Ways are defined as the methods, tactics and procedures, practices, and strategies to achieve the ends. Means are defined as the resources required to achieve the ends, such as troops, weapons systems, money, political will and time.”
MG Dennis J. Laich, USAR, Retired
President Obama stated in the 2010 National Security Strategy that his administration “has no greater responsibility than the safety and security of the American people” (Obama, 2010, 4). In order to successfully safeguard and secure America, the administration must have clear foreign policy delineating how it will deal with the various states across the globe that pose potential threats to America. One of these is North Korea. The US policy ends this essay will focus on are denuclearization and the improvement of North Korea’s human rights record.
The Obama Administration inherited a difficult situation with regard to North Korea’s continued attempts to advance its nuclear weapons program. The ends of US policy regarding North Korea’s nuclear weapons program is successful denuclearization of the Korean peninsula (Obama, 2010, 23). President Obama stated in his 2010 National Security Strategy, “if they [North Korea] ignore their international obligations, we will pursue multiple means to increase their isolation and bring them into compliance” (Ibid, 24). During his first term, President Obama chose to continue the Bush Administration’s policy of direct, bilateral diplomacy in effort to reduce North Korea’s nuclear threat (Klingner, 2009, 1). This effort included enforcement of existing sanctions, expansion of the Proliferation Security Initiative and demanding North Korean
Bibliography: Laich, MG (ret) Dennis J. ENDS = WAYS + MEANS. Generally Speaking. mglaich.blogspot.com, 29 July 2010. http://mglaich.blogspot.com/2010/07/ends-ways-means.html. (accessed 9 June 2013). Obama, Barack H. The National Security Strategy (NSS) of the United States of America, 2010. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 2010. Chanlett-Avery, Emma. North Korea: U.S. Relations, Nuclear Diplomacy, and Internal Situation. Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS Report R41259, 17 June 2011. Klingner, Bruce. America’s North Korean Policy: Adding Lanes to the Road. Backgrounder No 2252, The Heritage Foundation. 20 March 2009.