Korean Crisis, 1994

The Korean crisis of 1994 is a seldom studied incident the in timeline of US efforts to halt North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Realistically, the ’94 crisis was the starting point. In June of that year the United States found itself dangerously close to war with North Korea. It was becoming evident that North Korea was committed to developing nuclear weapons. The primary concern in Washington at the time was that any action the US might take could result in war on the Korean peninsula. The North Korean government had made it clear that even an act such as the implementation of sanctions would be regarded as an act of war. Tensions were rising and the possibility of war was quite real. On 15 June, 1994 Secretary of Defense William Perry and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff briefed President Clinton on three military options available to contend with the crisis. One option was a substantial reinforcement of US forces in and around Korea and the simultaneous evacuation of US citizens from the potential warzone. Another option was a pre-emptive strike on the North Korean nuclear reactor at Yongbyon. As fate would have it, however, former President Jimmy Carter contacted Clinton shortly after the meeting and said he wanted to go to Pyongyang and attempt to defuse the situation. Clinton gave his support, Carter went to talk with the North Koreans, and the Agreed Framework came about. War was been averted and it appeared as if North Korea’s nuclear ambitions were halted. Twenty-three years later and we are facing a nuclear-armed North Korea and potentially a very similar crisis on the horizon. Perhaps a pre-emptive strike at the time would have been worth the risks it carried. This scenario examines how a US pre-emptive strike may have looked in 1994. Detailed information will be available in the briefing document. Follow on scenarios (If they are created) will look at how a possible North Korean response may have played out and how a similar a