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The current crisis over North Korea's nuclear programme
poses the greatest immediate threat to East Asian security and one of the
most serious long-term challenges to the viability of the international
non-proliferation regime. A number of different policy options have been
advanced to deal with this issue, including pre-emptive military attacks,
diplomacy, containment, sanctions and regime change.
In addition to chapters on North Korea's nuclear, chemical and
biological weapons programmes, and its ballistic
missile programme, this IISS net assessment
includes chapters on the history of efforts to negotiate limits on North Korea's military capabilities and on
conventional military balance on the Korean Peninsula. Each chapter has been written
and reviewed by recognized experts.
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Importantly, the IISS does not
advocate any particular policy option in dealing with North Korea. The
objectives of North Korea's Weapons Programmes:
A Net Assessment has been to assess, as accurately and dispassionately as
possible, North Korea's current military capabilities
in order to foster a well-informed public debate.
The International Institute for
Strategic Studies (IISS)
The IISS, founded in 1958, is an
independent centre for research, information and debate on the problems of
conflict, however caused, that have, or potentially have, an important
military content.
Rolf P. Knierim, Claremont Graduate University
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