North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, is one of the most enigmatic nations in the world. Situated in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula, it is surrounded by Russia, China, and South Korea. Over the recent past, North Korea has been in focus due to the direct hostility it has been exhibiting towards western nations and other non-aligned countries. But in spite of international pressure from the United Nations Security Council, North Korea continues to remain a closed and tightly-controlled nation.
Although North Korea is considered as one of the most isolated nations in the world, it is also one of the most heavily militarized countries in the entire world. Large portions of North Korea’s land and resources are devoted to military hardware and training. North Korea spends close to 25% of its GDP on defense, which makes it a significant threat to the regional and international peace and stability. North Korea is estimated to possess anywhere between 10,000 to over 15,000 artillery pieces, Scud missiles and multiple launchers.
The most potent weapon believed to be in North Korea’s arsenal is its nuclear arsenal. North Korea is estimated to possess one to two dozen nuclear warheads, as well some intermediate nuclear warheads ranging from 250 to 550 km ranges. To make matters worse, North Korea is actively pursuing ballistic missile systems. Despite United Nations condemnations and resolutions, North Korea is continuously conducting missile tests in its pursuit of a credible deterrence capability.
In addition to its nuclear ambitions, North Korea has been involved in a number of other threats that have raised international concern. These include cyber warfare, biological and chemical weapons testing, long-term kidnappings of foreign citizens and mass human rights violations. North Korea also has a history of using hostage diplomacy which often creates tension between itself and the United States.
North Korea remains largely closed to outsiders, but there have been some occasional contacts. For instance, in September 2019, the two Koreas held their first summit in three years at the border truce village of Panmunjom. Following the summit, both Koreas agreed to denuclearize the Korean peninsula, respect each other’s sovereignty, and cooperate in various fields. Unfortunately, negotiations between both sides have hit a roadblock since then, and it is unclear when or if the two Koreas will reach an agreement.
The relationship between North Korea and the outside world is strained and unpredictable. North Korea’s stringent isolationism has made it a pariah state in the international system, with North Korea’s people suffering the most from a lack of freedom and economic opportunities. This makes North Korea one of the last remaining dictatorships in the world, with its citizens living under an oppressive regime that has been in power for over seven decades.
North Korea’s Resource Constraint
With its heavy military spending comes the challenge of sustaining a country that is barely able to supply its citizens with basic needs such as food and energy. To compound the existing economic problems, North Korea has been subjected to multiple international sanctions, which has further hindered its economic development. North Korea has little natural resources and hence imports 80 percent of its oil and gas requirements.
The economic decline in North Korea has led to an increase in cross-border smuggling. Desperate to obtain food and other necessities, North Korean citizens risk arrest and imprisonment by crossing over the border and engaging in borderline illegal activities. Although international sanctions have been imposed to stop North Korea from engaging in nuclear proliferation, there have been mixed results. This is due to the fact that North Korea benefits from the black market that it operates in, as the regime continues to rake in huge sums of money which it can then use for its military programs.
Moreover, North Korea’s malnourishment and lack of access to healthcare is creating a growing number of homeless and destitute citizens. In recent years, a series of reports and publications have revealed that North Korea is facing a serious famine due to a lack of food production, inadequate distribution and a rapidly deteriorating economic situation. As a result, many citizens are malnourished and open to numerous medical conditions. This has increased the mortality rate significantly.
Human Rights Violations
One of the major black-marks on North Korea’s international stance is the country’s documented history of serious human rights violations. These violations include torture, public executions, arbitrary detention, censorship, and forced labor. In recent years, there have been several reports that indicate North Korea’s continuing human rights abuses, with the country’s reported system of prison camps where political and religious prisoners are often subject to extreme physical and psychological torture.
The North Korean government has also been known to use its security officers to carry out arrests and searches without warrants. In addition, the government controls the media and disseminates information in an unconventional, secretive manner. This is done to control the population and instill an atmosphere of fear and obedience. North Korea is also known to practice gender inequality as well as military conscription.
It is also believed that North Korea’s recently adopted juche, or self-reliance policy, has caused tremendous economic suffering throughout the country. The policy was implemented in the 1970s and has centered around the idea of supplying all of the nation’s needs domestically, abandoning any foreign influence. This policy has kept North Korea in a state of self-imposed isolation and economic deprivation. In addition, it appears that North Korea has been engaged in illegal activities such as counterfeiting foreign currency and producing and trafficking narcotics.
Stability in the Region
The current international atmosphere surrounding North Korea has created a great deal of tension. The United States, South Korea, and Japan are constantly on the lookout for potential threats from North Korea. All three nations have jointly expressed their concerns over North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and have urged North Korea to abandon any future attempts at acquiring nuclear weapons. In addition, North Korea’s actions have led to a number of international sanctions which have crippled the North Korean economy.
In February 2019, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un met with President Donald Trump in Hanoi, but the much-anticipated summit ended in a stalemate due to disagreements on the issue of denuclearization. While the talks have not resulted in the desired outcome of denuclearization, the fact that the two leaders have agreed to meet again is a positive indication. In order to ensure regional stability, it is imperative that the two leaders reach a compromise.
The United Nations is also attempting to engage North Korea in dialogue and establish a better system of communication and understanding between the two nations. Moreover, South Korea has sent food, medical supplies, and other resources to North Korea in order to ease the nation’s economic suffering.
External Influences and Sanctions
In an effort to contain North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, various nations and international organizations have imposed harsh economic sanctions on the nation. The sanctions have severely limited North Korea’s access to international trade and to the latest technology and equipment. In addition, foreign aid has been completely cut off. This has led to a drastic decrease in the country’s GDP and to severe food shortages in some areas.
The international community has also applied diplomatic pressure on North Korea’s government. For example, the United States has pressured China to take a stronger stance against North Korea by halting almost all of its trade activities with the nation. In addition, South Korea has urged North Korea to follow through with the launches of inter-Korean development projects, including railway connections between both nations.
The global community has repeatedly called for North Korea to halt all of its nuclear activities and to immediately come back to the negotiating table. To this end, the United Nations has passed multiple resolutions, condemning North Korea’s actions. At the same time, other nations have enacted unilateral sanctions, such as that by the United States, in an effort to change Pyongyang’s behavior.
The Way Forward
The international community is closely watching the developments in North Korea. Many experts agree that any negotiation with North Korea should be done peacefully and gradually. In addition, any settlement should ensure that North Korea is able to transition to a more open and liberal society that is governed by the rule of law. Economic sanctions must be carefully balanced with incentives so as to not cause harm to the North Korean people.
At the same time, North Korea should be encouraged to be more transparent and to allow United Nations inspectors to access and monitor the country’s nuclear sites. Such inspections will allow the international community to verify North Korea’s denuclearization commitments and to maintain global peace of mind over the nation’s nuclear capabilities.
Moreover, North Korea should be persuaded to enter into a broader dialogue with the global community and to be more willing to cooperate with foreign nations. North Korea should be encouraged to abandon its juche policy and embrace the idea of greater integration with the outside world. Finally, North Korea should be given access to international assistance and development resources that could help to reduce poverty, improve health and education, and create more economic opportunities.
