Title: Preparing for the possibility of a North Korean collapse /
Authors: Bennett, Bruce W., 1952-; Rand Corporation.
Year: 2013
Subjects: Korean reunification question (1945-  ); Failed states Korea (North); Korea (North) Politics and government; Korea (North) Economic conditions; United States Foreign relations Korea (North); Korea (North) Foreign relations United States.; Failed states Korea (North)
Abstract: A North Korean government collapse would have serious consequences in North Korea and beyond. At the very least, a collapse would reduce the already scarce food and essential goods available to the population, in part due to hoarding and increasing costs. This could lead to a humanitarian disaster. Factions emerging after a collapse could plunge the country into civil war that spills over into neighboring countries. Weapons of mass destruction (WMD) could be used and even proliferated. This report examines ways of controlling and mitigating the consequences, recognizing that the Republic of Korea (ROK) and its U.S. ally will almost certainly need to intervene militarily in the North, likely seeking Korean unification as the ultimate outcome. But such an intervention requires serious preparation. North Koreans must be convinced that they will be treated well and could actually have better lives after unification. The allies need to prepare to deliver humanitarian aid in the North, stop conflict, demilitarize the North Korean military and security services over time, and secure and eventually eliminate North Korean WMD. Potential Chinese intervention must be addressed, ideally leading to cooperation with ROK and U.S. forces. Plans are needed for liberating North Korean political prisons before the guards execute the prisoners. Property rights need to be addressed. The ROK must sustain its military capabilities despite major reductions in force size due to very low birthrates. And ROK reluctance to broadly address North Korean collapse must be overcome so that plans in these areas can move forward.
Contents: Introduction -- Possibilities for collapse -- The potential consequences of collapse -- Addressing North Korean thinking about unification -- Challenges of and responses to humanitarian disaster -- Challenges of and responses to conflict and military forces in North Korea -- Challenges of and responses to security services and human rights disasters -- Challenges of and responses to ownership issues -- Challenges of and responses to potential Chinese intervention -- Addressing the prerequisites of collapse preparation.