Rogue States: Unconventional Weapons and Unfriendly Regimes

Rogue State. The infamous designation has been applied to a number of nations, often under the control of authoritarian regimes suspected of promoting terrorism, proliferation of unconventional weapons, or both. For the U.S. government, Iran and North Korea represent the greatest potential “rogue” threats. The Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea (DPRK) has proven it possesses nuclear weapons, and Iran is suspected of developing a nuclear arms program under the guise of an energy production effort. Diplomatic efforts have failed to freeze these nuclear development efforts. These programs pose a threat to international security. They also have the potential to ignite regional nuclear arms races as neighboring countries seek to safeguard themselves. This policy brief will consider rogue states and examine the ongoing issues surrounding the nuclear programs of Iran and the DPRK, both of which have been identifed as rogues.