o North Korea has little interest in being a member of the international community,

o It does not belive in having allies or in collective security.

o Its trade linkages are limited to a series of bargaining transactions, and

o It does not pay heed to international standards of behavior.

♤ Some argue that North Korea wants nuclear weapons for regime security, an analysis that would suggest that North Korea is simply warning predatory states to stay away or else.

♤ However, North Korea’s contempt for its neighbors suggests that it would hold them hostage with its nuclear weapons. North Korea notoriously threatened to reduce South Korea’s capital city to a “sea of fire.” Such a threat takes on new meaning when a country holds nuclear weapons.