Why does North Korea pursue nuclear weapon programs?

INTER KOREAN RIVALRY

There is a Korean proverb that a brother can be a treasure if he is good
and enemy if he is bad. This proverb shows us how South Korea and
North Korea view each other. North Korea and South Korea technically
remain at war since their 1950-1953 conflict without a peace treaty.
Furthermore, many analysts argue that inter Korean rivalry has also
motivated North Korea to acquire nuclear weapons. Eliminating the South
Korean government and reunifying the country on Pyongyangs term
would certainly resolve North Koreas main security. North Korea claims to
be the only legitimate government for all the Korean people and all of the
territory on the Korean peninsula. According to North Koreas Socialist
Constitution declares that the North Korean government represents the
interest of all the Korean people. Basically, Korean War and division of
peninsula make both Korean more concerned about their international
legitimacy. According to KCNA statement on 23rd April, a North Korea
military squad threatened to soon turn South Korean President Lee
Myung Bak and his government to ashes in three or four minutes. They
also claimed that their army has powerful modern weapons capable of
defeating its enemies.

SECURITY GUARANTEE

In 1945, United States of America (USA) have attacked Hiroshima and

Nagasaki using two atomic bombings. The destructive power of these
atomic bombs demonstrated the superior military capabilities of the USA
as major power in international system. Thus, North Korea leaders
believed that their country had been exposed to USA nuclear threat since
the Korean War. This is because USA is supporting South Korea as South
Korea is a democratic country while North Korea is one of the few
countries which still under nominally Communist rule.
For decades North Korea has been one of the worlds most secretive
societies. Therefore, North Korea wants to use the nuclear weapons as a
national security and regime recognition from the USA. Other than that,
they pressure the USA to recognizing North Koreas right to exist.
Externally, North Korea viewed nuclear weapon as a tool to make a
breakthrough in relationship with USA and also Japan. This is because
international isolation of North Korea has deepened since the end of the
Cold War. So, nuclear weapon is the option to get international
communitys attention, especially the USA and Japan.

ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES

Economic reasons are also behind nuclear weapons programs. North Korea
is experiencing three types of economic crisis which are food shortage,
energy shortage, and hard currency shortage. Due to natural disasters
likes flood, drought, and lack of seed and fertilizer, North Korea cannot
produce food enough to feed their own people. In March 2011, it is
estimated that over 6 million vulnerable person in North Korea urgently
required international food assistance to avoid famine. In one article,
South Korea said that North Korea should focus more on addressing
reported food shortage, not focus on development nuclear weapons. As an
illustration, South Korea President, Lee Myung Bak has once said that The
botched rocket launch cost Pyongyang an estimated $850 million,
enough to buy some 2.5 million tons of corn and solve its food shortages
for six years.North Korea have spend large amount of their Gross National
Product on men and weapons not like in Malaysia where our government
focusing on education. This is due to until now outside world countries like
Japan, South Korea have been providing food assistance to North Korea is
around. As a conclusion, for North Korea, its nuclear program is the best
leverage and the only option in order to receive attention, food, and
assistance from the outside world.