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A Study on the US WMD Counter-proliferation Policy

임채홍 1

1원광대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

WMD Counter-proliferation led by US DOD constitutes a part of national grand strategy as well as a core of new national security policy. Apart from international law and practices, so-called rogue states and non-state actors coaxes others to develop, produce and transfer WMD such as nuclear and chem-bio weapons, and ballistic missile since it causes huge damage to a superior enemy to themselves in cheap price. WMD proliferation has been constrained by the international nonproliferation regimes based on diplomatic negotiation in the past, but today, reportedly even UN Security Council faces their ongoing brinkmanship tactics with no substantive progress in solution for North Korean and Iranian nuclear cases. Now it is suspected that at least 25 countries possess or in the process of acquiring and developing capabilities to inflict mass casualties and destruction, and also predicted that those number will continue to be increased over years. The US Counter-proliferation Policy was initiated under the perception that nonproliferation policy of diplomatic means failed, and more practical, aggressive action involving military response is required since worldwide proliferation of WMD directly challenges US national interests. In December 1993 Leslie Aspin, the Clinton Administration's Secretary of Defense launched the Defense Counter-proliferation Initiative, followed by establishing the Counter-proliferation Council the mission of which is to supervise overall mission as for counter-proliferation-related works. The counter-proliferation objectives and direction of the Bush Administration are well explicated in a number of presidential speeches and three major policy declarations such as the National Security Strategy of the United States of America, National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction, and National Security Strategy for Combating Terrorism. Under the circumstances that global peace and stability are threatened by rogue states, terrorism, and the universalization of WMD, the US is to deter proliferation, restore the world order, and protect its vital national interests and security of the allies through a number of vehicles embracing PSI, MD, Global Partnership, and international cooperation.

Citation status

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