Survival Strategy Korea Utara Melalui KTT Korea Utara-Amerika Serikat 2018 (Studi Kasus: Perubahan Sikap Korea Utara Terhadap Perjanjian Denuklirisasi)

Abstrak

North Korea has dual policies, nuclear power and economic resilience that go hand in hand. But in the midst of carrying out its nuclear policy, North Korea has to endure an economic and food crisis that makes North Korea increasingly develop its nukes as a form of national defense. The escalating situation on the Korean Peninsula has also made North Korea increasingly aggressive in testing missiles with a range that could endanger other countries. Finally, various international parties imposed economic sanctions and embargoes on North Korea to suppress its nuclear program, especially the United States (US). In 2018, North Korea finally agreed to sitting down together at the U.S. collective bargaining table to discuss North Korea's denuclearization. North Korea's stance raises many questions for various parties. This study aims to explain North Korea's survival strategy through a change in its diplomatic style which can be seen from North Korea's decision to conduct denuclearization negotiations with U.S. at the 2018 Jong Un-Trump Summit. The analysis was conducted qualitatively using Chicken Game Theory and Rational Actor Model. Based on the interpretation of the data processing, the authors identify that North Korea's swerve attitude is a form of rational realist state survival strategy that has gone through cost-benefit calculations. Agreeing to reduce the activities of North Korea's nuclear program is the most advantageous option, since it would not only implicitly reduce U.S. military activity on the Korean Peninsula, but U.S. pledge to ease economic sanctions will also restore North Korea's economic crisis. Swerve does not mean North Korea loses its interest, rather North Korea is trying to restore its condition to survive in the midst of a crisis in order to achieve greater power.

Keywords : Denuclirization, North Korea, Rational Choice, Survival Strategy, United States