Conflict Diagnosis: North Korea

Conflict Diagnosis: North Korea

Kimberly Amat

Com/470

August 5, 2013

Dawn Casas

Conflict Diagnosis: North Korea

Where ever an individual turns there are conflicts being broadcasted within some type of media. Television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and the Internet has some facet of conflict that is happening in other countries, national, state, and even local conflicts that are faced on a daily bases. In dealing with conflict there first must be an objective to determine what the root cause of the conflict is by conducting a conflict diagnosis. According to Coltri (2010) "there are nine basic steps to conflict diagnosis." In this essay the nine steps will be discussed in regard to conflict diagnosis of North Korea in view of their relationship with China, South Korea, and America. North Korea has been threating these countries on a daily bases in different ways. What does North Korea have such a conflict against these countries will be discussed along with a conflict resolution that maybe will help this country to heal and allow what is deemed as enemies to be seen as allies. No one wants to go to war and with the threats of nuclear war by North Korea this conflict needs a resolution that will all each of these countries to find a middle ground that will satisfy all involved.

The First Stage

To start a conflict diagnosis first there must be an understanding of the conflict as well as describing the conflict. In retrospect North Korea has been a preverbal thorn in the United States, side since before the Cold War era. As stated by Chanlett-Avery and Rinehart (2013) "Analysts believe that North Korea's behavior is likely driven by two main factors: Kim Jong-un's domestic standing and pressuring other countries (particularly the United States) to return to negotiations. Pyongyang may be calculating that it can gain concessions from other countries despite the international condemnation and increasing isolation of the reclusive nation" (pg. 1). The main reason for the conflicts is the string of provocations by Kim Jong-un who is North Korea's new leader. Kim Jong-un has been launching long-range rockets and has been conducting nuclear testing. Along with these acts he has intensified public speaking against the United States and South Korea. These threats have also included attacking with nuclear weapons directed at both countries. Along with the United States and South Korea, as stated by Williams (2013) "China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei stated "We do not want to see chaos and conflict on China's doorstep," he said. In fact there are signs that China is rethinking its policy toward the North. President Xi Jinping stated "that no country should be allowed to throw a region and even the whole world into chaos for selfish gain" (par. 3-5). ). An issue concerning such conflicts as described as stated by Coltri (2010) is " that perception and judgment about conflicts are distorted by general perceptual processes, conflict escalation, and culture, compromising the ability of disputants and their allies to plan and act effectively" (pg. 12).

The Second Stage

This stage is focusing on observing the conflict's personality to identify whether or not it is a positive disagreement or a damaging conflict. Once that has been determined there must assessed the amount of trust between each party. Strategies must be formulated that will help each party in gaining trust with each other and maintaining this trust for further negotiations. From the first stage it has been easy to identify as to what type of conflict that is being faced by each of these countries. The conflict's personality has been focused on damage from the start and the amount of trust is nil between the North Korea and the other parties involved. The obstacles that are hindering the resolution of this conflict rest on Kim Jong-un as he is not willing to meet the other countries leaders half way in finding a solution to this conflict. His stance has been to meet these attempts at negotiations with more threats of nuclear weapons. His stand point has been egocentric beliefs about intent of others. As stated by Coltri (2010) "Perceivers have a tendency to believe, egocentrically, that actions of others are directed at them, more often than is actually the case" (pg. 17). In the mind Kim Jong-un the world is out to get him and with this mindset trying to establish trust and maintaining that trust is impossible at this time. Until he realizes that the United States, South Korea, and China are seeking a peaceful resolution to this conflict it will not be resolved at this time.

The Final Stage

If it was possible in this conflict diagnosis this stage would be to determine how each party in the conflict negotiations reacted to each other and to take into account