Preemptive Attack Against North Korea and Possible Trump's Response - Essay Sample

Introduction

The issues of a preemptive attack against North Korea by the United States has been a major topic of discussion both in the United States and other parts of the world. Recently, the Congressman Duncan Hunter Jr. called for a preemptive strike against North Korea to prevent the rogue nation from harming the U.S. first. However, various analysts have shown great concern about Hunter's call, terming it as immature and irrational. In reality, an attack against North Korea would be disastrous, as it will result in a global catastrophe. Such catastrophe would further exacerbate the military challenges, human costs and the upset of the regional balance of power that will further lead suppressed identity conflicts and uncontrolled disruptive ideologies. These consequences are based on the potential counter-attack that Kim is likely to launch. One golden rule of the authoritarian regime is that they never bend to any public and visible threat. This is based on the fact that any move to do so would profoundly invite internal accusations of the leadership and the weaknesses by its citizens. As an authoritarian leader, Kim Jong Un is tremendously allergic to such accusations and is likely to launch a devastating counter-attack. The attack would ensure that America suffers a great loss that has never been imagined throughout its history. Regarding Hunter's call for the preemptive strike, it is unlikely that President Trump will launch an attack on North Korea. First, President Trump is fully aware of how calamitous it will be in any case he passes and implements the policies that permit a preemptive attack. The Pyongyang had even warned that it was closely examining a strike that would create an enveloping fire around Guam, and Hawaii, which are the two most important U.S military base and home to more than 160,000 people. It is evident that striking the nuclear and missiles facilities would tremendously delay the programs and pressure Pyongyang to surrender them. The cyberattacks, launched alongside or instead of physical attacks could tremendously sabotage and disrupt the military command. However, Trump knows that this strategy cannot be a long-lasting solution to the rivalry that exists between the two nations. It is based on the fact that North Korea's program is indigenous rather than imported from abroad, the nation possesses the know-how to replace the destroyed facilities and thus making the setbacks temporary. A limited attack would, therefore, cause even a limited attack would probably prompt retaliation. An attack huge enough to seriously degrade the program could tremendously anger North Korean fears of an invasion or an assassination attempt of its supreme leader Kim. The move would potentially lead to all-out war, and the Americans would not let President Trump do it.

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It is important to note that the issues involving North Korea will greatly influence President Trump's re-election. Any move by Trump that goes beyond the expectations of the Americans will automatically make him a one-term president Because many Americans are against any move that would be catastrophic to the nation, Trump is keen to ensure that long-lasting solutions are used to sort out the issue of North Korea. Trump being a leader of a democratic nation has experience of how to handle international issues of common interests and values. According to De Mesquita et al., (1999), the international disputes of the democratic nations are in the hands of people who possess vast experience in the politics of competing values and interests. These people have further consistently responded within the normative guidelines of the bounded competition. In circumstances where two democracies face dispute, they would be forced to subscribe to norms in addition to being fully cognizant that the bounded competition is the norm for both. A closely related argument to support this fact is that the citizens in democracies abhor violence and therefore prevent their leaders from pursuing violent missions and foreign policies. Therefore, Trump would not want to go against this principle to fulfill his personal goals.

President Trumps fully understands that America, just like any other democracies is characterized by the institutional rules. Fundamentally, these rules pertain to the role that citizen play or have in influencing the selection of the government leaders, including the President (De Mesquita et al. 1999). The democracy is fundamentally a government of the people, for the people and by the people. This implies that the American citizens will play a crucial part in making the decisions regarding engaging North Korea in a war and consequently Trump's re-election. President Trump further knows that any blunder made in the process of decision-making on the North Korean issue will cost him a fortune, massive internal accusation, opposition and ultimately his presidency.

Conclusion

As a democratic leader, therefore, Trump should instead try hard to win his wars compared to the autocrats. If he does not expect to win, then he should avoid it by all means. He should pick and choose his fights very carefully as any decision related to war have great consequences. America should, therefore, rededicate itself to a thorough policy process that aims at identifying the objectives and disciplined in the strategy implementation.

References

De Mesquita, B. B., Morrow, J. D., Siverson, R. M., & Smith, A. (1999). An institutional explanation of the democratic peace. American Political Science Review, 93(4), 791-807.

Kim, S. H., & Chang, S. (2007). Economic sanctions against a nuclear North Korea: An analysis of the United States and United Nations actions since 1950. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland.