Assess the U.S.'s options for dealing with North Korea

Overview: North Korea is reactivating nuclear facilities and might resume ballistic missile tests. North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations is placing the blame for escalating tensions over the country's nuclear program squarely with what it says is the open hostility of the United States. The Bush administration is open to talks with North Korea, but says it will not negotiate under blackmail.

After students read "U.S. considers talks, but no deals, with North Korea" and watch the first segment of CNN Student News (the video can be accessed from CNNStudentNews.com) pose the following questions:

RESOURCES • CNN.com: N. Korea blames U.S. for nuclear crisis  • CNN.com: Timeline: North Korea's nuclear weapons development  • CNN.com: How dangerous Is North Korea?  • CNN.com: Special-Korea: States of War  • CNN.com: Special: Two Koreas

1. Direct students to the Holt, Rinehart and Winston map of Asia (http://go.hrw.com/atlas/norm_htm/asia.htm) to locate the country of North Korea. Then ask: From what international treaty did North Korea recently withdraw? What is the status of North Korea's nuclear weapons program? Who is Bill Richardson? What news did he bring back from his meetings with North Korean diplomats? How has the U.S. responded to North Korea's threat that it might resume ballistic missile tests? What is President George W. Bush's position on having talks with North Korea?

2. Refer students to the links in the "Resources" box to review the history of North Korea's nuclear weapons development and the recent escalation of U.S.-North Korea tensions. After students discuss their findings, point out that there are essentially three options available to the U.S. to get North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program: agree to talks, threaten to use force or impose economic sanctions. Next, divide your class into three groups and assign each group a different option from the list. Instruct each group to investigate the pros and cons of pursuing its assigned course of action. Have groups share their research. Then, poll students to find out what they think is the best strategy for the U.S. to take with regards to North Korea.