Chair’s Welcome Letter
Dear Delegates,
We would like to welcome you all, as members of your respective delegations, to this year’s SIDMUN Security Council simulation. We are pleased to serve as the five co-Executive Directors for this year’s Sewanhaka Intra-District Model United Nations Security Council.
A Crisis Committee
Having been selected to participate as a delegate of the Security Council committee, you are expected to be well-versed on Model UN parliamentary procedure. The SC committee is the most advanced and fast-paced committee at this year’s SIDMUN, and unlike a regular committee you will receive constant news reports to inform you about the developments of the issue/situation at hand; not only will you be dealing with a current global issue and be expected to formulate a feasible solution to the problem, but will also have to take immediate action on events that will be happening on “real time” through Directives.
There are three types of Directives:
Action Orders:
Action Orders are used to direct the actions of the committee. Action orders are sent in note format to the dais who will read them in front of the council; every action order sent to the dais, (i.e. send 1000 UN troops to Egypt) must be voted on by the whole committee and it must gain 2/3 majority in order to pass; unless one of the permanent members vetoes the request.
Communiqués:
Communiqués are used in order to inquire about a country’s position regarding a certain subject that does not require immediate action. For example, if China desired to ask Russia and France if they would agree on sending troops to Egypt in order to calm public protests, China would send a communiqué to France and Russia asking them about their individual policies in note form. Furthermore, if a delegate is unsure if their country would act a certain way in regards to the situation at hand, the delegate can send a communiqué to the dais inquiring about their own country’s position.
Press Releases
Press Releases (PR) are used to make information public to the whole committee. For example, if a country strongly disagrees with an action the committee has taken, they can send a PR to the dais to be announcedto the council. Furthermore, crisis updates will be made public through press releases to the committee.
Lastly, taking part of the Security Council committee is a challenging task, thus we encourage you to not only research the topic we will be discussing to the best of your ability, but also take into serious account every aspect of your countries’ foreign policies. This committee will demand you to serve as a true ambassador of the countries you will be representing.
Sincerely,
Your Executive Directors,
Harry Bassi (NHP)
Marina Testani (HFC)
Alexa Moreno(FPM)
Andreas Pavlou (SEW)
Ashley Reese (ELM)
.
Introduction to
The Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the six main bodies of the United Nations. It is comprised of 15 member-states ofwhich 10 are elected by the United Nations General Assembly on two-year terms; the other five members which are: the People’s Republic of China, the French Republic, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America hold permanent seats as well as reserve the privilege to exercise veto-power[1] when voting on any action a member of the committee may propose.
According to Article 25 of the UN Charter, “the Members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council in accordance with the present Charter” (UN Charter). In other words, the UNSC not only serves as a regular body of the UN, but also has executive powers that allow it to implement UN resolutions as the members of the committee decide. The UNSC, unlike the General Assembly, is able to execute UN resolutions as well as perform other actions such as implement economic sanctions on a member-state, or send military aid to conflict-areas.
Since its founding, the UN Security Council has dealt with issues ranging from Cold War tensions between the US and the USSR, genocides like that of Rwanda, famines like the on-going Sahel Crisis , wars such as the Korean War, poverty, and even issues pertaining to global warming. Most recently, the UNSC has discussed issues such as the volatility of the Syrian armed conflict, as well as the impact that an Iran with nuclear capabilities could have in the Middle East and international security.
The North Korean Cris
1985: North Korea Ratifies theTreaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
1991:
North Korea Signs Accord on Atom-Plant Inspections
“After years of promises and false starts, North Korea today signed a nuclear safeguards accord calling for international inspection of its nuclear plants but left it doubtful whether inspectors would gain access to the appropriate installations any time soon” (Weisman).
However, even after the ratification of such accords at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) offices in Vienna, US intelligence experts warned that North Korea may be in violation of not only the just-signed accord, but also the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaties as it seemed like they were carrying out nuclear-weapon testing in a North Korean military facility. North Korea promptly withdrew from the treaty in 1993.
1993:
North Korea conducts first Mid-Range Missile Test
On May 29, 1993, Pyongyang conducted its first successful Mid-Range Missile test, raising fears in Japan that if North Korea advances its mid-range and long-range missile capabilities, it may be able to reach some of Japan’s most populous cities. Not to mention the South Korean capital city of Seoul.
1994:
February; North Korea grants IAEA experts access to some Atomic Plants for international inspection
May; IAEA Inspectors Return to North Korea
Inspectors give notice to the US that the North Korean officials are in the process of destroying evidence regarding the production of any nuclear fuel from Atomic Plants; US warns the DPRK of possible economic sanctions due to protocol violations of international treaties.
June, North Korea Withdraws from the International Atomic Energy Agency
“North Korea announces its withdrawal from the I.A.E.A. and says the agency's inspectors will no longer be allowed in the country. It also threatens to turn its stockpile of nuclear fuel into bombs; the C.I.A. warns that North Korea may already possess one or two bombs” (North Korea Quits Atomic…).
1994:
9 August: President Kim Il-Sung Dies; Kim Jong-Il becomes leader
21 October: US and North Korea Sign Pact
North Korea signs pact with the United States, promising to dismantle an atomic complex and replace it with light-water reactors; less dangerous than their previous nuclear reactors in exchange of the US uplifting oil sanctions on the country. The US and allies agree to export oil to the DPRK.
October 2002: North Korea admits to be conducting a Major Nuclear Program with Enriched Uranium; breaks US-North Korean agreement to not conduct Nuclear Weapons Research and Development.
2003:
9 August; Six-Nation Talks Begin
Representatives from the US, Russia, China, Japan, and South Korea meet in Beijing to begin talks with North Korean officials regarding their Nuclear Program.
2006: First Nuclear Test
“North Korea says it has set off its first nuclear test, becoming the eighth country in history, and arguably the most unstable and most dangerous, to proclaim that it has joined the club of nuclear weapons states” (Chung Sung-Jun).
The test was enough to raise a regional security alert, and it was quickly condemned by neighbor states, as well as by the United Nations Security Council.
2009:
5 April; North Korea Launches Rocket over Pacific, Claiming it was Meant to Launch a Satellite into Space; Raises fears North Korea has far more Advanced Capabilities than Previously Thought
25 May; North Korea Conducts Second Nuclear Test
27 March 2010: South Korean Ship Sinks in Disputed Waters
South Korea and its Allies believe that the North Korean Military may have sunk the ship; 46 crew-members killed.
19 December 2011: Kim Jong-Il Dies; Kim Jong-un becomes Leader
2012:
12 February; Kim Jong-un Freezes Nuclear Program
Kim Jong-un’s first major policy move as the new leader of the DPRK is to halt North Korea’s nuclear program and allow experts to go into estranged nation and conduct inspections of its nuclear power plants.
12 April; Rocket Launch Fails
“North Korea launched a rocket that the United States and its allies called a provocative pretext for developing an intercontinental ballistic missile that might one day carry a nuclear warhead.
But the much-publicized launching fails when the rocket carrying the satellite explodes in midair about one minute after liftoff. The rocket and satellite — which cost the impoverished country an estimated $450 million to build, according to South Korean government estimates — splintered into many pieces and plunged into the Yellow Sea.
The failed launching drew swift international condemnation, including the suspension by the United States of food aid” (Associated Press).
12 December; Successful Rocket Launch
After being humiliated by its failure to launch its first rocket into space that same year, North Korea was able to successfully launch its second rocket into orbit, thus proving that after its failed attempt, North Korea is mastering new weapons technology.
2013:
12 February; Third Nuclear Test
March; UN Security Council Further Sanctions North Korea
11 March; North Korea says 1953 War Truce is Invalid
Current Crisis
Nature of North Korea
In an effort to pacify the hostile nation of North Korea, South Korea has recently offered humanitarian aid through United Nations programs like UNICEF, providing food, medicine and money to the impoverished nation (Sang-Hun). However nations are mainly concerned with the potential nuclear threat that North Korea poses and because the nation remains silent on their nuclear program it is hard to decipher exact truth.
Nuclear North Korea
The issue most concerning to world leaders today is the nuclear strength that North Korea, a radical and very unstable nation, has acquired since the 1990s. North Korea has decided to venture in talks with the United Nations to end their nuclear deterrence in exchange for the end of the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission[2]which in turn has only increased tension and hostility between North and South Korea (North Korea…).
Another troubling concern border nations and enemy nations have is the continued tests by North Korea on its long range missiles. These missiles, although not nuclear, are believed to be sample missiles whose job is to see the exact distance a nuclear missile would be able to go. Although North Korea has never confirmed the exact usage of the missiles many government officials wonder exactly why these tests would need to be run if North Korea is not interested in nuclear war (Herman). Because North Korea is so adamant on secrecy it is again difficult to understand why they launch certain missiles or launch certain orbits which increase suspicion.
On February 12, 2013 North Korea announced its third nuclear weapons test forcing U.N. member nations to put severe sanctions on the nation (Herman). North Koreans have reported that their use for nuclear power would be that to further industrialize their undeveloped nation. They also credit American hostility for their need for the nuclear programs currently in place.
More recently, on August 7, 2013, A study conducted by the Institute for Science and International Security reported that “North Korea appears to have doubled the size of the area used to enrich uranium at its Yongbyon reactor complex in recent months, raising new concerns that the country could increase production of weapons-grade fuel” (Gladstone).
With North Korea’s nuclear program moving at astounding speed, world leaders are still puzzled as to what side to take or what actions to implement regarding the current North Korean Crisis. The committee will be focused on working towards diplomatic and peaceful solutions to increase nuclear program transparency and to facilitate peace between North Korea and the world.
Bloc Positions
European Union
The nations of the EU have taken action regarding the North Korea issue in recent years. The EU has passed a number of sanctions on North Korea to hinder their nuclear weapons program from developing. The EU supports the reestablishment of regular political dialogue between North Korea and other nations of the world, such as the six party talks. Although the EU is not part of the six party talks, some attempts have been made to maintain some form of direct or indirect communication (Berkofsky 2). Goals of the EU regarding North Korea include peace and security, human rights, and nuclear non proliferations (EU external action 1). In the past, EU member states have sent food and humanitarian aid to North Korea in an attempt to combat human rights issues and food crises. Maintaining peace and security on the Korean peninsula are vital to the EU and the world due to the large world economies affected by this issue. South Korea is the world’s 15th largest economy and Europe’s 9th largest trading partner; while Japanis Europe’s 7th largest trading partner and China is their 2nd. If the issue with North Korea erupts into armed conflict then this can be detrimental to the economies of the EU and the world (Bond 1). All in all, the EU’s economic interdependence with Asia makes this an issue of great importance for Europe.
Asia
The nations in the Asian bloc have been very active in the North Korea issue. Many of the nations in Asia are in support of peace talks, denuclearization and decreased tensions on the Korean peninsula. The relationship between North and South Korea have been generally tense. An example of heightened tensions is the sinking of a South Korean patrol ship in March of 2010 (Korea 1). South Korea seeks out a peaceful solution with its neighbor to the North, and is in support of Korean cooperation, which can be seen through offering aid and suggesting to reopen the joint North-South Korean industrial complex.
China, North Korea’s closest ally, has recently taken a firm stance regarding North Korean peace and denuclearization. China is an important provider of aid and a large economic partner to North Korea, and therefore, holds great influential power to the small radical nation. Recently, China has urged North Korean officials to denuclearize and reopen six party talks (Sang-Hun 1). Japan’s relations to China and North Korea play a role in this issue as well. Japan has strained relations with China over territorial disputes. Due to these disputes with China, Japan has begun to increase defense spending, and seek military partnership with the United States (Tabuchi 1). While hoping for peace and denuclearization, Japan remains defensive against hostile actions. It is important to keep in mind that the main goal of many nations of Asia is to reduce tensions, as to prevent war at all costs.
North America
In President Obama’s Berlin speech,he made it clear that his main focus was to reduce nuclear armaments by roughly one-third. Furthermore, he deeply emphasized that he would“reject the nuclear weaponization that North Korea and Iran may be seeking” (The White House). These two commitments by President Obama are clear indications of America’s disdain for North Korean nuclear programs. Immediately following North Korea's diplomatic gesture, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Caitlin Hayden said, “We will judge North Korea by its actions and not its words and look forward to seeing steps that show North Korea is ready to abide by its commitments and obligations” (ABC News).
Middle East
There has been suspicion that Iran is sharing nuclear test data with North Korea, and this poses a high proliferation risk. Iran has been under investigation for more than a decade over alleged nuclear-weapons work and maintains strong weapons ties with the secretive Asian regime.Iran claims it doesn’t need a nuclear weapon nor would need to test it in the future. Similarly, Syria and North Korea have maintained military and economic ties. Washington has cited Syria as a major client for North Korean missile parts and technologies, a major source of financing for the Pyongyang regime and its nuclear weapons program. (Sang-Hun, Buckley)
Latin America
Recently is has been reported that the once in allied during the cold war nations, North Korea and Cuba, may be in the process of enriching bilateral agreements. These allegations came to surface due to the recent seizure in the Panama Canal of a ship carrying obsolete Cuban missiles that were on their way to be repaired in North Korea. North Korea and Cuba were both have rich socialist regimes and a history of cooperation. And even though Cuba may have made attempts to better themselves economically by placing new market mechanisms in there economy and finally stepping out of isolation. North Korea has yet to take steps forward in success much like Cuba. North Korea continues to threaten the peace of the U.S and their allies. But North Korea does still seem interested in expanding relationships that may help decrease their dependence on China. And many analysts believe that with increased cooperation with Cuba may be a plan to help improve Kim Jong-un’s partnerships with other countries.