{"id":3502,"date":"2023-03-19T18:33:23","date_gmt":"2023-03-19T17:33:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.northkoreainfo.com\/?p=3502"},"modified":"2023-03-19T18:33:23","modified_gmt":"2023-03-19T17:33:23","slug":"how-did-north-korea-become-authoritarian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.northkoreainfo.com\/how-did-north-korea-become-authoritarian\/","title":{"rendered":"How did north korea become authoritarian?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 1948, after the end of World War II, the Soviet Union installed a communist government in the northern half of the Korean peninsula. The United States installed a democratic government in the southern half. This division of the country led to years of conflict, which culminated in the Korean War (1950-53). After the war, both North and South Korea were authoritarian regimes, but the North became increasingly repressive and closed off from the rest of the world. In the 21st century, North Korea remains one of the most authoritarian countries in the world.<\/p>\n

In his book, “The Tragedy of Great Power Politics,” John Mearsheimer explains how great powers have traditionally interacted with one another. He writes that the competition and insecurity that results from this interaction has always been a major source of war. North Korea became authoritarian because it felt it necessary to build up its military in order to protect itself from the competition and hostility of the great powers.<\/p>\n

What makes North Korea extremely authoritarian? <\/h2>\n

North Korea’s political system is based on the principle of centralization, with the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) having legal supremacy over other political parties. The constitution defines North Korea as “a dictatorship of people’s democracy”, and the WPK is the only party allowed to contest elections. The WPK’s monopoly on power ensures that North Korea is a one-party state.<\/p>\n

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea) is an authoritarian state led by the Kim family. The current leader is Kim Jong Un, who took over after the death of his father, Kim Jong Il, in late 2011. The DPRK is known for its rigidly controlled society and its nuclear weapons program.<\/p>\n

When did the North Korean dictatorship start <\/h3>\n