To understand the ongoing nuclear crisis, view the conflict from a North Korean perspective

Imagine a foreign state that has no deterrence capabilities. On top of that, this particular country is experiencing serious poverty and a famine crisis. For an outside state, like the U.S., invading this country would be simple. There would be no option for the government of this state to retaliate if it had inadequate defense to deter. The presence of nuclear weapons, however, would completely change this dynamic. Now, you have a state that is able to deter outsiders from invading and implementing any type of regime change. This is where we stand with North Korea today. A country that is fully capable of deterring in order to sustain regime success.

The presence of nuclear weapons in North Korea is as much strategic as it is threatening. Kim Jong-Un wants the world, including the United States, to fear North Korea. In doing so, North Korea can control the outcome. The United States and its allies are understandably afraid of Kim Jong-Un and his regime. In the foreign policy realm, fear can give an unfair advantage. The United States now cannot easily pry at North Korea without Kim firing off a ballistic missile towards Japan or implementing a seventh nuclear test. By instilling fear, the United States is really only given two options; to attack North Korea to hinder them from progressing their nuclear program or back off.

The United States has limited options when it comes to military action. Implementing a first strike policy would end in serious casualties. A North Korean defector has given multiple statements confirming that if North Korea senses an imminent attack of any kind, North Korean officers have orders to immediately attack South Korea. Why doesn't the United States simply take out North Korean nuclear silos with air strikes or other means? First of all, there are nuclear facilities in North Korea that the U.S. intelligence community isn't aware of. These facilities are most likely far underground, out of view from satellite imagery. Secondly, take Chernobyl as an example and multiply the effects. Destroying nuclear facilities in North Korea would cause a radiation crisis never before seen in the world.

North Korea is critically aware of the limited options the United States faces. Yet, North Korea has no intention of launching a nuclear missile at the United States. For one, North Korea does not have the capability to do so. Secondly, Kim is concerned with regime survival. Striking the United States would surely end the North Korean regime, something Kim Jong-Un has worked so hard to maintain.

Instead, Kim Jong-Un has chosen a tactic of dealing with the situation from a position of strength. North Korea wants to eventually negotiate with the United States. However, they are only going to do so from their own terms. North Korea will not turn to diplomacy if asked to do so by the United States. Accepting this type of offer would surely mean the U.S. would control the flow of the negotiation process. Instead, North Korea will continue to threaten and instill fear in its enemies. When the time is right, Kim Jong-Un will call on others to come to the negotiation table if outsiders want nuclear and missile tests to cease. That way, Kim can control the dialogue and the terms of diplomacy and ensure regime survival.

The United States has yet to intervene because of the delicacy of the situation. A wrong move could end in millions of South Korean lives. As an ally to South Korea, the U.S. cannot risk those lives. Calling North Korea's bluff is also too risky and could end in a similar outcome. Moving forward is not simple. Backing off and trusting that North Korea will not strike is a frightening policy decision. The Trump administration has followed a policy that is directly in the middle. To instill fear in the North Korean's by continuing Navy drills off the coast of the Korean Peninsula but making sure as to not cross a line that would trigger Kim Jong-Un to attack. Furthermore, the United Nations security council has implemented sanctions on North Korea aimed at economically starving the nation until it stops progressing its nuclear program. To the surprise of many, the economy of North Korea is continuing to grow at a rate of 4% under these sanctions.

Theoretically, the United States cannot stop North Korea from continuing missile and nuclear tests.What it can do is increase pressure on North Korea until it's only option is to come to the negotiation table. The question is, who will budge first? Will Kim Jong-Un's tactic of fear bring the U.S. to the table under North Korean terms or will the North come to the table under U.S. terms after it realizes it cannot continue under so much pressure from the international community?