"The lack of a 'world police' to punish states if they break an agreement makes enforcement of international agreements difficult." What does this statement from the text actually mean? Focusing on the recent developments in North Korea's nuclear weapons policy, discuss whether you agree with this argument. What do you think the North Korea case implies regarding the enforcement of norms in international relations?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The ideal answer should include:
1. Discuss what the argument is referring to. For example, states seek to preserve their sovereignty in the international arena, and the anarchical system of international relations makes it difficult to impose rules on sovereign states.
2. Explain whether you agree with the argument, using North Korea's nuclear weapons policy as an example. Students might cite North Korea's violation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in the 1990s when it stopped allowing inspections of its nuclear facilities; North Korea's withdrawal from the NPT in 2002 and its building of nuclear bombs, one of which it exploded in 2006; or North Korea's continued work on its nuclear program and missile delivery systems in the years since, including tests of both in 2016 and 2017.
3. Discuss the implications of North Korea's behavior in the international arena. The examples above show the difficulty of enforcing international norms in the sovereignty-based international system.
4. Provide a concise summary and effective conclusion.