Introduction
North Korea appears on the international stage as a country existing beyond the world we all know. It isolates its citizens from the rest of international community and does not obey any rules determined by international law, but requires respect and recognition. Moreover, North Korea is one of the countries that remains aggressive towards its neighbors and applies various terrorist techniques, i.e. illegal contraband, political terror and mass abductions of other countries’ citizens in its foreign policy. The reasons for which the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) behaves so unpredictably and irrationally are diversified. First of all, the DPRK as a country is managed very irrationally – regimes of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il are based on centrally planned economy which main aim is to sustain a 1-million army (by the population of North Korea of c. 23 millions). Additionally, utopian and unreasonable idea of self-reliance (kor. juche) causes the DPRK to be in a permanent state of economic ruin. Thus, North Korea still remains as a country that has never undergone an “economic miracle” and is highly dependent on help from abroad since the 1990s of 20th century. Lack of technological development and frozen system of Kims’ succession does not help to improve the country’s situation. Unfortunately, although North Korean authorities are aware of the DPRK’s situation, they would never admit their guilt due to their desire to keep the power, especially as Kim Jong-il is much less impressive leader than Kim Il-sung.
Why terrorism?
North Korean terrorism has its roots among others in the succession of power’s system. In the mid-1970s young Kim Jong-il was preparing to take over the leadership in the Worker’s...
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...on), Instytut Studiów Policznych Polskiej Akademii Nauk, Collegium Civitas, Warszawa 2009.
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Salter, Christopher L., and Charles F. Gritzner. "Introducing North Korea,." North Korea. 2nd ed. New York: Chelsea House, 2007. . Print.
1984 demonstrates a dystopian society in Oceania by presenting a relentless dictator, Big Brother, who uses his power to control the minds of his people and to ensure that his power never exhausts. Aspects of 1984 are evidently established in components of society in North Korea. With both of these society’s under a dictator’s rule, there are many similarities that are distinguished between the two. Orwell’s 1984 becomes parallel to the world of dystopia in North Korea by illustrating a nation that remains isolated under an almighty ruler.
Yun, Tae-gyu. The Constitution of North Korea: Its Changes and Implications. [New York, N.Y.]: Fordham University School of Law, 2004. Print.
There are a number of similarities between North Korea, The United States and China. That statement could be said about certain aspects of the three countries when looking purely at what is written on paper. According to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Fact Book all three countries have the essential three branches of government; executive, legislative, and judicial (2012). But it takes little effort to peel away the first layer and see the vast differences between The United States and the communist countries of China and North Korea. This paper is designed to peel away that second layer and reveal the differences between the communist countries of China and North Korea. By examining the aspects of how each country selects their leaders, how their government is structured, the political culture of each country, human rights or lack thereof, and the economic environment of the two countries, the paper will illuminate numerous contrasts between how the two countries choose to operate.
China and North Korea are strong supporting allies; they are trading partners. The Chinese back the North Koreans in the Korean War (1950-1953). North Korea is traders’ of fuel, food and arms with China. The Chinese’s’ helps the North Korean political leaders’ example; Kim Jung-un’s, with offering him diplomatic protection against other powers. The North Korean’s were the main supporters of Kim Jung-un’s regime; the Chinese in the past had opposed to harsh international sanction on North Korea, and they wanted North Korean’s to collapse; that their influx refuges would share the eight hundred-mile border. Unfortunately after the nuclear test from Pyongyang’s in February 2013 launched, the China was more skeptical about North Korean’s. The nuclear testing in North Korean’s had Beijing threatened. The first nuclear test had launched in 2006; another in 2009 and this has destroyed the North Korean’s relationship with Beijing, as they were apart of the Six Party Talks. The nuclear test was the main concerned to China and Beijing; they aimed to denuclearizing the North Koreans nuclear test. In 2013 the people executed Kim Jong-un’s uncle and close advisor; this had destroyed the relationship with Beijing; which has helped the Chinese relationship with Beijing. China has maintained the peace between the six-nations, and served North Korea economically, politically and has denuclearizing the nuclear program in North Korea.
Relations between North and South Korea have seen a spectrum of phases. From a once unified kingdom, to being under colonial rule, to the division created after WWII, the Koreas have endured all different types of stresses that have resulted in two very different and often hostile nations toeing the line of war. In this literature review, we will see that scholars have argued about various situations and factors that could result in an unknown future, including one that could potentially lead to nuclear attacks in regards of effectiveness of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT). We will look at the scholarship regarding the history that has shaped the Asian region, particularly the Korean peninsula, and what is happening now and why. Also, we are going to evaluate whether the NPT is effective or not and what that means for security implications in the Asian region and the world.
Rogue states under dictatorial rule threaten the fragile peace, which exists in our modern world. Constantly as a society Americans have always fought against these said foes. However all too often we pass a blind eye to the humanity of the enemies’ civilian populations. For more often than not, those who live within these systems are chronically oppressed. The nation of North Korea is no exception, with “Bing-brother always watching.” The government in North Korea pervades all aspects of life.
Since the end of the Korean War, the United States has enacted policies to isolate and undermine the Kim Dynasty in North Korea. A key development took place in the past several decades where North Korea broke away from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to develop their own nuclear weapons and while lacking launch capabilities, they have been successful in their development. During this process, the United States took active policies to deter the North Koreans in pursuit of their goals. It is easy to assume that the United States took this stance in order to maintain a military edge in the region. But under closer examination, this neo-realist perspective does not explain why the United States pursued this policy. In reality, North Korea to this day does not pose a significant military threat, even with limited nuclear capabilities. A constructivist perspective is more able to explain US policy in this instance because it does not focus on sheer militaristic power. It takes into consideration the state's identities which drives their interests. The identities of the US and North Korea and the interactions between them drove both nations to the point of acquiring and deterring nuclear use.
Kim, Yongho and Yi, Yurim “Security Dilemmas and Signaling during the North Korean Nuclear Standoff”, Asian Perspective, Vol. 29, No. 3, 2005, pp. 73-97
The individual's’ basic rights are severely restricted and their fates belong to the Great Leader. Even though North Korea has always been mysterious and inaccessible, the National Geographic Documentary, “Inside North Korea,” reveals some of the real life dangers of the violation of human rights. As shown in the video, North Korean citizens continuously suffer from denial and abuse of every aspects of their rights. The people are subjected; they are isolated with the purpose of protection from the outside world by the Great Leader. North Korea is one of the most restrictive media environments in the world. The media solely focuses its attention on national unity; there is no independent media, highlighting civil society, or freedom. The fear of torture is utilized to silence protests. There is exclusively one way for the rebels to survive the punishment: escape. The government constantly brainwashes the people. People praise the Great Leader; they believe that they were given a life by him and that loyalty compensates his political trust and thoughtfulness. Additionally, people are taught to follow certain guidelines without questioning. In the video, a child sings, “the pathetic Americans kneel on the ground; they beg for our mercy.” The The song clearly shows that the government has a major impact in shaping the children’s personalities and traits. In North Korea, the ideological upbringing and loyalty to the regime
The year was 1949, and in the years after World War II (WW II), U.S. and Soviet forces were withdrawing from the Korean peninsula. American intelligence capabilities and responsibilities of the area were piecemeal (Finnegan, 2002). This drawdown reflected Korea’s low priority on the world stage.
"Reports of Jang Song-thaek, Kim Jong Un’s Uncle, Execution May Signal Unstable Regime in North Korea." FSI Stanford. Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, 13 Dec. 2013. Web. 1 Apr. 2014. .
Throughout the global media North Korea’s isolation and Harsh rule has become increasingly secretive, although some facts have been detected (“North Korea Profile”, 1). According to data collected from The Guardian, eighty-one out of one-hundred people in South Korea have access to the internet, yet in North Korea around .1 out of one-hundred people have access to the internet . Not only is the greater population of North Korea disconnected from outside sources, yet leaders in North Korea are also isolated from outside sources; putting themselves at a disadvantage. North Korea may launch a war, but they are unaware as to what they are up against because of its secrecy . Around one million are serving in the North Korean Army, but when South Korea’s army; combined with the U.S’s army (their ally), the ratio of the North Korean Army is signi...
Relations between the United States and North Korea have been unstable since the second world war and with each passing decade the relations have become more tense. The U.S has never have formal international relations with North Korea , however the conflict has caused much controversy in U.S foreign policy. North Korea has been the receiver of millions of dollars in U.S aid and the target of many U.S sanctions. This is due to the fact that North Korea is one of the most oppressive regimes on the planet, that uses unjust techniques such as murder, torture, and starvation to get their citizens to be obedient. They restrict contact from their citizens to the outside world, through censorship of technology and rarely allowing visitors to the country. The root of the US-North Korea conflict however ,has been on the basis of nuclear weapons and North Korea threatening to use those weapons against the U.S and neighboring South Korea. The U.S and other nations have been working for the last few decades to stop the regime from purchasing and utilizing destructive nuclear weapons.
South Korea, once a broken country filled with broken families, has transformed itself into a fine example of perseverance in a tough situation. South Korea and its neighbor to the north have developed past where they were before the Korean War, but in different ways. The two countries, while certainly dependent on each other, are vastly different. Their conflicting styles of government and their differing cultures speak for themselves in this case. South Korea has, over the years, changed dramatically from the crippled country of the Korean War into a blossoming beacon of Asian cultural and economic changes. The combination of its recent economic importance, its heavy cultural influence, and its constant danger of participating in a war makes South Korea one of the most influential countries in the world.