북핵 문제와 NPT 체제의 재검토 - 핵 문제에 대한 국제법과 국제정치의 교차 -

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons(NPT) is one of the most significant instruments dealing with non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. In addition to preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, its main objectives include promoting cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and further achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament. The three major objectives of the NPT are, namely, nuclear non-proliferation, peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and nuclear disarmament. The treaty was opened for signature in 1968 and it entered into force in 1970. Twenty-five years later, states parties of the NPT met in May 1995, as required by the text, and agreed to extend the treaty indefinitely. More countries have adhered to the NPT than any other similar arms limitation and disarmament agreement. As of June 2017, 191 states have adhered to the treaty. North Korea, which acceded in 1985 but never came into compliance, announced its withdrawal from the NPT in 2003, following detonation of nuclear devices in violation of core provisions. North Korea has continued developing nuclear weapons against all odds, against all the sanctions from the international community since then. North Korea’s repeated violations of the duties of non-proliferation stipulated in the NPT imply a bleak future for the peaceful coexistence regime in the Korean peninsula. Also, nuclear proliferation in the Northeast Asia is a serious threat to the stability and security of the international community. Taking into account this context, this essay addresses legal and political aspects of the NPT regime with special reference to the interrelationship between international law and international relations. Specifically, it examines several issues, including the process of the development of nuclear weapons in North Korea, the review of the NPT regime, the law and politics of nuclear weapons, and possible solutions as concluding remarks.