The Multifaceted Threats from Iran and North Korea

Most of the focus, when it comes to threats from both North Korea and Iran, concentrates on their nuclear weapons programs. This should be the main focus, but this only scratches the surface of national security threats coming from these countries. Both of these rogue nations have been testing the ability of the Obama administration to build a global coalition to stop their nuclear ambitions. Since Obama has taken office, both Iran and North Korea have been provoking Obama and the West to see if it merits a response or any action. Both countries have arrested and detained American civilians that accidently crossed borders into their territory. North Korea has recently sunk a South Korean war ship killing 46 soldiers. Iran has used force to quell protestors unhappy with the current regime and their apparent fraudulent victory in their recent election. Thus far, Iranian and North Korean defiance has yielded absolutely no consequences or actions from the United States or any nation.

The most dire national security threat from both North Korea and Iran is the nuclear threat. Since Obama’s election both countries have test fired dozens of intermediate to long range missiles, which unequivocally states the true intent behind their nuclear program. North Korea has performed two nuclear tests and has expelled the Atomic Energy Agency from inspecting their sites. Iran is believed to have enough enriched uranium for two atomic bombs. The chief concern if North Korea and Iran obtain nuclear weapons is it will lead to global nuclear proliferation. Japan and South Korea will counter North Korea’s nuclear buildup with weapons of their own. Turkey and Egypt would counter Iran’s nuclear buildup with nuclear weapons of their own. Japan could theoretically develop nuclear weapons in a very short time frame since they already have many tons of enriched uranium used in their nuclear power plants.

Another threat from North Korea and Iran is they provide rogue nations and terrorists groups with conventional weaponry. In fact, North Korea has been shipping various missiles and guns to both Iran and Syria. Iran is responsible for providing arms to Hezbollah to fight Israel and to both al-Qaida and Taliban factions fighting U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. If Iran and North Korea obtain a nuclear weapon, this proves they have the ability to get these weapons into the hands of terrorists.

Another huge global security risk from both North Korea and Iran is their ability to use cyber warfare. Both countries employ thousands of people whose aim is to infiltrate the security systems of enemies to obtain top secret information or to infect them viruses. The goal would be to wreak havoc on financial markets, energy grids, transportation tracking systems, and so forth. In 2009, cyber attacks from North Korea were blamed for shutting down web sites in South Korea, Germany, and the United States. Iran pours 100 million annually into its cyber program which has already had some success infiltrating Israeli sites, which incidentally are some of the most robust in the world.

The final threat from both North Korea and Iran is counterfeiting. North Korea not only counterfeits U.S. currency, but also drugs such as Viagra. Most of the highest quality counterfeit money injected into the U.S. economy comes from both North Korea and Iran. Over the past decade it is estimated that North Korea alone has produced over 1 billion in counterfeit 100 dollar bills. It costs the United States billions each year to fight counterfeit operations. The United States tries to stay ahead of counterfeiters by redesigning the hundred dollar bill every 7 years.

In summary, North Korea and Iran are more than just a nuclear threat to our national security. Both countries are armed with cyber and counterfeiting technology as well as the ability to ship weaponry to rogue nations and terrorist groups around the globe. Still, the Obama administration has done very little to tackle any of these national security threats.